Trade growth brings permit shortage

The unexpected increase this year in imports and exports with Italy and Germany has resulted in a shortage of licences for international carriers. The number of licences was sufficient for eight months of the year, with some additional licences being obtained through negotiations. However, demand on the market has not nearly been met. Transporters expect to be rid of the licence “ordeal” once and for all by 2007. In the past, licence distribution had been cause of much uproar, though now it is done using an electronic system, which thus far has not been cause for suspicion among players on the market. “For a trip to Spain, for instance, a Romanian carrier needs permits for all transit countries en route. A licence is valid for one roundtrip only, a new licence must be obtained for the next trip, unless you have a one-year ECMT licence for your truck,” explained Ilie Stoichescu, chairman of international carrier TransCondor. ZF