Reactions to this bad start could not be late, and while a protest scheduled last month was cancelled, complaints could not be wiped with a sponge. Cristina Trancioveanu, Vice-President of the Romanian Federation of Transport Operators (FORT) was kind enough to answer some of our questions about the current problems in road transport, perspectives in 2010, problems created by the authorities and measures expected from them.
RBT: Last year was marked by a wave of bankruptcies among road hauliers. Can these bankruptcies have the effect of reducing the transport capacity and hence an increase in tariffs?
Cristina Trancioveanu: Last year’s closures were not surprising, as the next avalanche of bankruptcies in 2010 should not be a surprise. However, we cannot discuss of an increase in tariffs, especially during January-March, any growth will be seen no earlier than April or May.
RBT: Setting aside the seasonal recoil, at what level will be the demand for transport services - will it sink further below the minimum reached in 2009?
Cristina Trancioveanu: The dive will continue and I think that in the first semester demand will be 30% lower than in the same period of 2009. Unfortunately, all investments envisaged by the Romanian authorities are negative news for transporters.
RBT: Will the new electronic vignette result in a fairer competition, since it is well known that some hauliers don’t pay the vignette now?
Cristina Trancioveanu: As it happened when the current paper vignette was introduced, the electronic vignette will bring new ways to avoid payment. Even within the National Company of Motorways and National Roads, there will be ”smart boys“ which will have the power to make changes in the electronic records, so that a friendly or generous haulier can be reported as having a valid vignette at the time of the control. There are problems in any system in place and there will be unfair competition as long as the structures of the Ministry of Transports and Infrastructure and will not do their job.
