NEwS

Road Transport Operator Licensing for Light Commercial Vehicles involved in International Transport Operations

New European Union (EU) operator licensing requirements are being introduced from May 2022 that will have significant consequences for some operators of light Commercial Vehicles (lCVs). It is important that all affected operators are aware of the new requirements outlined below and make arrangements to comply with them.

Under EU Regulation 2020/1055 which comes into force in February 2022, operators who engage in international road transport operations for hire or reward using LCVs with a maximum permitted weight above 2.5 tonnes must hold an operator licence from 21 May 2022.

This development will bring a range of vehicles into the scope of operator licensing for the first time, for example large vans used for international hire or reward operations. The new licensing requirement applies regardless of the size of the transport undertaking; it affects both operators of fleets and individuals operating a single van for international transport operations.

Operators who are new to the licensing regime will have to take steps to ensure that they are able to meet the requirements.

NotE: The new requirement for an operator licence is NOT applicable to the following:

n LCVs that are used for hire or reward operations solely within Ireland n LCVs that are not above 2.5 tonnes maximum permitted weight n LCVs that are not used for hire or reward operations, e.g., suppliers transporting their own goods, tradespeople carrying their equipment

Operators of LCVs with a maximum permitted weight above 2.5 tonnes who use their vehicles for hire or reward internationally will have to apply to the Road Transport Operator Licensing Unit of the Department of Transport for an international Road Transport Operator Licence, which must be obtained by 21 May 2022.

In order to obtain a Road Transport Operator Licence, affected LCV operators will need to demonstrate that they meet a number of conditions, including:

n Good Repute n Financial Standing n Establishment n Professional Competence

In relation to the requirement of good repute, licence applicants must undergo Garda vetting and complete a self-declaration form. Operators must also hold a valid tax clearance certificate.

To meet the financial standing requirement, licence applicants must demonstrate that they have capital and reserves of at least €1800 for the first vehicle to be authorised under the licence and €900 for each additional vehicle.

Applicants must also have an effective and stable establishment in Ireland, including premises with appropriate parking spaces and facilities, where the core business documents are accessible.

To satisfy the requirement of professional competence, licence applicants must have a nominated Transport Manager who has the required Transport Management Certificate of Professional Competence (TM CPC). If the applicant does not themselves have the TM CPC qualification, they may contract in the services of a qualified Transport Manager. NotE: Applicants who have continuously managed an LCV-only transport undertaking for a period of 10 years or more leading up to 20 August 2020 may apply for an exemption from the TM CPC examination. An application form for this exemption will be available from the Road Transport Operator Licensing Unit (rtol@ transport.gov.ie) on request.

Applications for the licensing of LCVs engaged in international transport will be open by 1st March 2022 so that operators can make a timely application in advance of the applicable date of 21st May 2022.

If operators wish to clarify any aspect of the new LCV licensing requirements, they may contact the Road Transport Operator Licensing Unit at rtol@ transport.gov.ie. *Regarding whether the operator of these types of vehicles require to undertake the annual Driver CPC, the Department of Transport issued this reply to Fleet Transport’s query: ‘Where the vehicle being driven does not require a C or D driving licence there is no requirement for Driver CPC. However, only if the maximum authorised mass (MAM) of the vehicle does not exceed 3,500kg a B (car) category driving licence is sufficient. Therefore, it may be the case that some drivers of light commercial vehicles do require a CPC if they require a C driving licence’.

The new requirements for LCVs operators engaged in international transport for hire or reward are in relation to road transport operator licensing (EU Reg 1055/2020), as mentioned. However, Light Commercial Vehicles involved in international transport operations will be subject to Driving Times, Breaks and Rest period rules from July 2026.

Production has ended at Nissan’s three plants in Barcelona, with the last unit of the Navara pick-up manufactured at the Zona Franca factory.

Nissan started manufacturing in Barcelona in 1983 with the Nissan Patrol, and since then 3,345,000 vehicles and more than 15 different models have been made at the factory.

“The teams at Zona Franca, Montcada i Reixac and Sant Andreu de la Barca have played an essential role in Nissan’s history, making products that have been enjoyed by customers around the world,” said Frank Torres, Region Divisional Vice President, Business Transformation & Alliance for AMIEO and head of Nissan’s Industrial Operations in Spain.

“On behalf of Nissan, we extend a big thank you to all the workers at the three plants for their contribution to the

NEWS II | 61 Nissan concludes industrial operations in Barcelona

*Navara pick-up is the last vehicle made at the plant established in 1983

company over so many years. We remain committed to reaching an agreement on the re-industrialisation of Nissan’s Barcelona plants that will provide a solid alternative for the future for the employees at these sites.”

When production of the Nissan Patrol started in 1983 in Barcelona, it was the first Japanese car manufactured in Europe, with 196,000 units made over 18 years until 2001. The Patrol paved the way for the production of SUVs and pick-ups at the Zona Franca plant, which continued in 1993 with the Nissan Terrano II. A total of 375,000 units of Terrano were produced until May 2005, when the Pathfinder and the first version of the Navara pick-up were launched. Both vehicles were manufactured until July 2015 when the NP300 Navara was launched.

In 2002, production started of the Primastar, its light commercial vehicle (LCV), of which more than 732,000 units were assembled until 2014. In 2009, production of the NV200 van began. Five years later came the Nissan Pulsar and the e-NV200 electric van. From 2014, until this December, more than 49,000 units of e-NV200s have been manufactured in Barcelona, exported globally.

The frames and suspensions plant in Sant Andreu de la Barca was incorporated to Nissan Motor Ibérica (NMISA) in 2016. Since then it has manufactured a total of 200,000 frames and 2.3m suspensions for different models of the Alliance.

Nissan’s 74,000-square-meter stamping plant in Montcada i Reixac began its activity in 1958, although it was not until the 1980s that it became part of NMISA. In total it has produced more than 248m parts.

It has been reported recently that Chinese Manufacturer Great Wall Motor is interested in taking over one of the plants to produce its new pick-up, while Swedish start-up Volta Trucks is set to take up one of the other factories to produce its new Volta Zero electric distribution truck.

OBITUARY

Some words of remembrance about our friend and colleague Bosse (Bo) Norvinge International Van of the Year and International Pick-up Jury Awards member for Sweden.

Bosse (Bo) Norvinge has sadly left us, passing away suddenly on 22 November. He was born 13 March, 1970 and started his career in the transport industry as a truck driver and later became an owner operator in 1996. Over that time he also wrote articles for various road transport magazines and in 2012 he became a full time freelance journalist. Bo was a long time and much appreciated contributor to Förlags AB Albinsson & Sjöberg with well-written, informed articles. His broad knowledge was also extended to features in Trailer, Klassiska Lastbilar, Trucking, Traktor and Nostalgia magazines. He also wrote for Svensk Åkeritidning. In 2020, he was appointed the Swedish jury member for the International Van of the Year and International Pick-up Awards, representing Trailer magazine, one of the most influential commercial vehicle publications in Sweden and was enjoying his new role immensely.

Bo was most unassuming, quiet, pleasant and humble and a true friend to us all. Our thoughts go to his wife Catarina Norvinge, his mother Fukue Klarström, relatives and many, many friends and colleagues.

Bo´s funeral was held on Tuesday 28th December at Sundals Ryrs Church, Brålanda, Sweden.

May he rest in peace.

Rutger Andersson & Jarlath Sweeney