VTK warns there are fewer and fewer drivers: There will be no one to transport passengers and goods from BiH

(Patria) - The Foreign Trade Chamber of Bosnia and Herzegovina (VTK BiH) has continuously demanded a solution and is still actively working and pointing out the importance of resolving the issue of the limited stay of drivers on EU territory for a maximum of 90 days in any 180-day period, as well as the issue of long delays and vehicle detentions at border crossings with the European Union (EU).

"The initiatives that the Foreign Trade Chamber of BiH has launched and is launching towards the competent authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Union must continue because these are two key issues, due to the failure to resolve which we have, not only cases of drivers being turned back from the Croatian border and cases of drivers being fined in EU member states, but also classic deportations of drivers from European Union member states. As a consequence, we have an increasingly noticeable shortage of drivers and this process will not stop, regardless of various campaigns and attempts to promote this profession," it was stated to Fena by VTK BiH.

The period when we had a trend of drivers leaving on their own initiative and looking for work in Western European countries is behind us. After that, as stated by VTK, a period began when domestic carriers started additionally opening companies in European Union member states, taking their own or other drivers from Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Recently, this issue has become even more topical for domestic carriers, both due to detentions at border crossings and the introduction of additional rules for carriers from outside the EU, as well as due to the rules on the stay of drivers within the EU for a maximum of 90 days in any 180-day period.

"There are no precise data on the number of drivers that are missing, except for frequent statements by carriers that they are missing one or more drivers, whom they cannot find on the market. Since passengers, goods, and raw materials to and from Bosnia and Herzegovina are mostly transported by domestic carriers (because due to the state of our infrastructure and congestion at border crossings, foreign carriers do not show interest in our transport market), it is clear that we could reach a position where we are unable to respond to the expressed needs for performing the transport of passengers or certain goods and raw materials," they add from VTK.

Professional drivers from BiH very easily find work in EU countries, and recently there has been a great demand for drivers with the so-called ADR license (drivers who have passed the exam for the transport of dangerous and liquid substances).

VTK BiH points out that there is a shortage of all, including these drivers.

"Despite a series of attempts to regulate the transport of dangerous materials at least by a framework law at the state level, procedures are still carried out based on entity regulations, according to which the entity ministries of transport and ministries of internal affairs are given competence for regulating the area of professional training, conducting exams, and certification in the field of transport of dangerous materials," they added from VTK BiH.

At the end of March, new rules on driving licenses in the EU were agreed upon, containing numerous novelties, especially for young drivers.

VTK BiH explains that the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament actually reached a provisional agreement on updating the Driving License Directive and that the adoption procedure is still ahead.

Therefore, they note from VTK BiH, it is necessary to review the finally harmonized provisions that amend this directive and only then analyze its possible impact.

VTK BiH believes that the announced changes may have a certain effect in the European Union member states, but it is not realistic to expect a significant impact on professional drivers in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

One of the novelties relates to lowering the age limit for a license for truck drivers from 21 to 18 years, and for bus drivers from 24 to 21 years due to the shortage of professional drivers.

"The associations of carriers of VTK BiH have submitted initiatives to reduce the age limit for drivers, but these initiatives have not yet been accepted and implemented. Such a provision in the European Union will probably have an impact on the adjustment of legislation in Bosnia and Herzegovina as well, if not due to understanding the needs of the transport industry, then at least due to the obligation to harmonize our legislation with the legislation of the European Union," they stated from the Foreign Trade Chamber of BiH.