Sustainable Transport and the Environment Guide - Unite the Union

Percentage empty running
Vehicle type
Business Type Rigids Artics All vehicles
Hire or Reward 29.8 25.6 27
Own account 27.5 28.6 27.8
Agriculture, forestry and fishing 40.7 34.8 38.2
Energy and water supply 58.3 50.7 58
Manufacture, mining and quarrying 25.7 312 27.7
Construction 44.0 38.9 43.6
Wholesale & retail trade, repairs and hotels 25.5 26.3 25.8
Transport, storage and communication 27.8 15.7 23
Banking, finance and insurance, business services and leasing 29.1 33.6 29.6
Education, public admin & defence, extra-territorial
organisations
61.8 32.7 60.9
Health, social work and other community services 17.1 46.3 79.8
All business types 28.4 26.4 27.4
Source: Table 1.6 Road Freight Statistics 2007
Table 6.2: Percentage empty running lorries
The ETF fully supports a policy aiming for modal shift and the internalisation of all
external costs in all transport modes. This is essential for an environmentally
sustainable transport system.
This policy must be complemented by a policy that promotes intermodal transport and
concepts that combine the different transport modes in a sustainable way.
However, “putting prices right” is not an aim, but a method to change transport and
production patterns. If internalisation of external costs is to be effective in terms of
avoiding environmental damages, it is necessary that it is not transport workers, who
pay the increase in price.
It must be ensured through a number of social policy instruments and strict
enforcement of social legislation, that higher infrastructure using costs are transferred
to the customer and thus give the right (environmentally sustainable) price signals.
Furthermore, a (environmentally) sustainable transport system needs a policy that
aims at:
Acknowledging and strengthening the human element in environmental
policies as well as respecting the close link between environmental and
working conditions, by tackling, amongst others, fatigue and excessive
workloads that raise the percentage of accidents having a negative impact on
environment. If there is an environmental impact assessment conducted at EU
level, additionally there should also be a social analysis with trade unions’
involvement to ensure a win-win situation;
Ensuring the effective implementation of existing environmental standards
and/ or regulations. Nevertheless, there is a clear need for improved, stricter
and binding environmental regulations in the transport sector with a view to
ensure higher respect for the environment;
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