The Freight Logistics Action Plan

Freight transport logistics play a key role in economic and social terms by ensuring
European competitiveness and contributing to growth and employment. Thus, efficiency has
to be maintained since the world of industry and business depend on the transport of raw
materials and finished goods across the EU and beyond. Logistics industry is contributing to
14% of GDP and is still on the rise. Consequently, the surge in containerized trade and liner
shipping has brought about high congestion in seaports and port-hinterland connections.
Facing the need for a coherent EU approach to logistics considerations, the European
Commission launched the Freight Logistics Action Plan to improve the efficiency and
sustainability in freight transport in Europe. A communication about the Action Plan was
issued in June 2006 and the initiative was both saluted by the European Parliament in 2007
and the European Economic and social Committee.
The Freight logistics Action Plan sets up short- to medium-terms actions:
E-freight and intelligent transport systems (ITS)
Advanced information and communication technologies (ICT) can be useful in order to
develop co-modality, though improvements are needed for standardization of information
exchanges and market actors disparate capabilities but also for data security and privacy
issues. The e-freight would be the electronic version of the paper which usually track and
trace the freight. This concept could lead to the internet for cargo : services provided by
freight transport operators would be available and compared online and administrative matters
would be simplified. The Intelligence Transport Systems (ITS) strategy should be develop to
better manage infrastructure and transport operations in the field of road transport with
specific requirements such as for navigation systems, digital tachographs and tolling systems.
-

In the context of e-freight:

A road map for the implementation of e-freight should be developed in collaboration
with stakeholders, the concept of the internet for cargo must be expanded and
identification of the problem areas where EU action such as standardization is required
by 2009.
A standard for information flows to ensure the integration and interoperability of
modes at data level and provide an open, robust data architecture primarily for
business-to administration and administration-to-administration data flows has to be
found by 2001.
A mandate work on a standard data set to describe freight, including for regulatory
requirements (while taking into account the current requirements for hazardous goods,
live animals, etc.) and technologies such as RFID (radio frequency identification) has
to be issued by 2001. A proposal on e-maritime must be made by 2009.
In the context of the ITS action Plan:
A framework for the development of ITS applications addressing also freight transport
logistics, including monitoring dangerous goods and live animals transport, tracking
and tracing, and digital maps has to be established by 2009.
A regulatory framework for the standardization of functional specifications for a single
interface (on-board unit) for the provision and exchange of business-to-administration
and business-to-business information has to be established by 2010.

Work towards interoperability in Electronic Fee Collection (directive 2004/52/EC)

must accelerate and incorporate the necessary components into the single interface by
2008.

Sustainable quality and efficiency

Continuous bottleneck exercise: this is necessary to give an overview of specific obstacles
that hinder freight transport logistics in Europe. Industries and public authorities
representatives have helped in that way by proposing solutions. There is no deadline for this
action but the first results should be issued by 2008.
Freight transport logistics personnel and training: Many areas of freight transport logistics
are lacking of skilled personnel. The Commission will work with the European social partners
and other relevant stakeholders to draw up a list of minimum qualifications and training
requirements at different levels of specialization to be incorporated into a framework that can
ensure the mutual recognition of training certificates by 2009. The Commission is to launch a
dialogue with the European social partners to find ways to improve the attractiveness of
transport logistics professions, and highlight opportunities for targeting EU Cohesion Policy
interventions towards logistics training from 2008 on.
Improving performances: a core set of generic indicators should be established in
consultation with the stakeholders and would best serve the purpose of measuring and
recording performance (e.g. sustainability, efficiency etc.) in freight transport logistics chains
to encourage a switch to more efficient and cleaner forms of transport and generally improve
logistics performance. The Commission will then consider incorporating them into a code of
best practice or recommendation by the end of 2009.
Benchmarking intermodal terminals: a set of generic (dynamic and static) benchmarks for
terminals has to be elaborated, together with industry by 2010, starting from multimodal
inland terminals, and incorporate them into a code of best practice or recommendation and
disseminate information about them so that it would allow further specification at local level.
Promotion of best practice: there is a lack of knowledge concerning multimodal freight
transport using. The role of the Shortsea Promotion Centres and their European network to
inland transport logistics should be extended continuously and a network between logistics
institutes and promote industry initiatives to exchange experience and disseminate best
practice should be established by 2010.
Statistical data: Relevant indicators and means of measurement need to be developed to
assess Europes logistics market. The Commission together with the stakeholders will review
the availability of and determine the requirements for data on freight transport logistics across
modes and assess improvements to the collection of statistical information by 2009.
Simplification of transport chains
Simplification of administrative compliance: The simplification and decentralization of
exchanges of freight-related information can substantially reduce the cost of regulatory
requirements, especially when using information and communication technologies. A single
window (single access point) and one stop-administrative shopping for administrative
procedures in all modes should be created and operational by 2012. The Commission will
work on a European Maritime Transport Space without Barriers where both the ships
journey and goods could be reliably and securely tracked. A legislative proposal should be
made by 2008.
Single transport document: The EC will work towards the establishment of a single
European transport document which could be used for all carriage of goods, irrespective of
mode. In consultation with interested parties, the Commission will examine the details and
added value of establishing such a document but also the possibilities to make it optional and

in an electronic format. The Commission will then consider making an appropriate legislative
proposal by 2009.
Liability: The absence of uniform and cross-modal liability regime leads to friction costs in
multi modal transport. The Commission is working towards new solutions at a European
level. The need for introduction within the EU of standard (fall-back) liability clause should
be assessed. Consultations must be conducted by 2008, and a possible proposal made in 2009.
The need for a legal instrument to allow full coverage of the existing international, modebased liability regimes over the entire multimodal logistics chain should be assessed.
Consultations must be conducted by 2009, and a possible proposal made in 2010.
Security: As far as the supplychain security for external trade is concerned, the Customs
Code (Regulation(EC)648/2005) was revised and the concept of Authorized Economic
Operator was introduced, also laying down minimum requirements for safety and security
from 2008 onwards. A balance has to be drawn between security procedures fulfilling the
highest requirements and the free flow of trade. Smart technologies can be used to avoid
delays. European standards - in line with existing legislation, international conventions and
international standards - in order to facilitate the secure integration of transport modes in the
logistic chain must be developed by 2008. In the context of the work on guidelines and
minimum standards for maritime and port security matters, simplify port access requirements
should be simplified by 2008.
Vehicle dimensions and loading standards
It is necessary to consider the effects that any modification to the current limits might have on
road safety, energy efficiency, CO 2 emissions, noxious emissions, road infrastructure and
intermodal transport operations, including combined transport. The options for a modification
of the standards for vehicle weights and dimensions should be studied and the added value of
updating Directive 96/53/EC should be considered by 2008. The proposal on Intermodal
Loading Units (COM (2003) 155 final) to technical progress must be updated by 2007. A
mandate for standardizing an optimal European Intermodal Loading Unit that can be used in
all surface modes must be established by 2007. The compatibility of loading units used in air
transport and other modes should be examined, and, if appropriate, proposals be made by
2010.
Green Transport corridors for freight
Green transport corridors will reflect an integrated transport concept where short sea shipping,
rail, inland waterways and road complement each other to enable the choice of
environmentally friendly transport. They could be used to experiment with environmentallyfriendly, innovative transport units, and with advanced ITS applications. This objective is
promoted by other initiatives like the freight-oriented railway network, motorways of the sea
and NAIADES. The opportunities offered by the TEN-T guidelines on the development and
the integration of multimodal transport chains should be taken into account.
Green transport corridors should be defined and cooperation between authorities and freight
transport logistics operators be organized in order to identify improvements to ensure
adequate infrastructure for sustainable transport by 2008. Green corridors must be reinforced
in the TEN-T and in the Marco Polo priorities by 2010. A freight-oriented rail network should
be developed by 2008 and corridors structure made by 2012. The establishment and
recognition of Motorways of the Sea through, among others, a better co-ordination of
different funding sources must be promoted by 2008. The NAIADES programme for inland
waterway transport must be fully implemented by 2013.

 Urban freight transport logistics

Freight transport logistics has an essential urban dimension. Distribution in urban
conurbations requires efficient interfaces between trunk deliveries over longer distances and
distribution to the final destination over shorter distances. In addition, the distribution process
between production centres and customers inside an urban area needs to be efficient and
clean. The Commission will encourage the exchange of experiences of representatives of
urban areas to help establish a set of recommendations, best practice, indicators or standards
for urban transport logistics, including freight deliveries and delivery vehicles. The Urban
Transport Action Plan will be issued in 2008. Recommendations of commonly agreed
benchmarks or performance indicators to measure efficiency and sustainability of delivery
and terminals and, more generally, in urban transport logistics and planning should be made
by 2011. The freight part of CIVITAS towards better co-ordination, or integration, between
passenger and freight transport, between interurban (longdistance) and urban transport
logistics should be reinforced by 2010. This can lead to an integrated CIVITAS Freight.

In a nutshell, the actions outlined above are designed to help the freight transport logistics
industry towards long-term efficiency and growth. The Members States have to participate
and help throughout the process. The EC will make a report on the progress made by the
implementation of the Action Plan in 2010 which will help to draft the future actions in order
to match freight transport logistics policy with the economic context and technological
developments.