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Improvement of Law Knowledge of Drivers Engaged in International Freight Carriages
Project Proposal
Association for Development of Business Logistics LLC
Improvement of Law Knowledge of Drivers Engaged in International Freight Carriages
Current situation
When planning the routes for international freight carriages the specialists of transport companies should ground on norms and rules of international conventions that regulate freight transit, and legislation of countries through which the rout runs. For instance, they should familiarize the driver with the rules of transportation and explain to the driver that if TIR Carnet is available the freight is transported in accordance with International Convention, and the driver who shows TIR Carnet may reach the destination avoiding freight inspection on the borders provided that there is a customs seal stamped at departure point.
As a rule drivers are instructed and trained in relevant issues in all large transport companies. Therewith to date there are a lot of small and medium enterprises operating 2 - 10 cars and they do not have specialists who would give competent instructions to the driver regarding existing rules of international freight carriages.
Consequently, it is discovered only on the border and at the customs station that the driver does not have necessary accompanying and authorization documents. Or vice-versa there are a lot of cases when the driver has all the necessary documents but he cannot answer the questions he is asked at customs stations because the driver is not aware of his own rights and international norms and as a consequence the driver tries to solve the problem illegally.
At present some transport companies pay attention only to availability of license for driving heavy haulers and sometimes to work experience when hiring the driver for international freight carriages.
At the same time most small and medium transport companies do not have Logistics Departments, where the specialists should prepare the whole package of documents required for freight carriage on a certain rout for the driver, and train the driver. A modern specialist of the Logistics Department for Organization and Management of Transportation should know the principles of logistics; have logistical thinking; be able to create and operate logistical chains and supply systems.
Problems
Low level of knowledge at drivers regarding the norms and requirements of international conventions and standardized documents that regulate (entry-exit) transit through neighbouring countries.
Most of drivers do not know their rights and responsibilities when crossing the territory of a transit country and when drawing up the documents and communicating with customs and frontier services.
Target Group
The target group includes direct participants of transportation process i.e. drivers of transport companies. Drivers are the main link of logistics chain of freight carriage. Firstly, the following depends on them: safety of freight carriage, correct vehicle operation that influences directly on the environment, ability to react quickly at extraordinary situations that may occur en route, checking of correctness of bills of lading and road waybills.
The most important thing is that they communicate with inspectors at customs stations and participate in customs examination. And here the speed of border crossing and ability of avoidance of problems at border crossing depends on the level of training of the driver (knowledge of the legislation, his own rights and responsibilities, and rights and responsibilities of customs inspector).
Project Goals and Objectives
The main goal of the project is to improve law knowledge of drivers engaged in international freight transportation
The objectives are: 1. familiarizing the drivers with their rightsand responsibilities at international freight carriages, and in case of interaction with customs and frontier services for drawing up the documents; 2. publication of a quick reference for drivers concerning their rights and responsibilities at crossing the countries and customs and border points; 3. Provide the driver with basic information on existing international requirements and rules concerning freight carriage.
Outcomes
Eventually it is expected to increase responsibility of drivers for their duties. In its turn this will lead to accurate preparation of documents required for customs inspection by the drivers. At that knowledge of legal norms of international freight transportation will allow the driver feeling more reassured when coming across illegal actions of representatives of different organizations both when travelling across the territory of the transit country and at crossing the border.
Reduction of idle time at customs and frontier points.
Though drivers are a key element of international freight transportation they dropped out of sight today and they are not involved by any international organization in any training and professional development program.
It is very important that development of a regional trade is possible provided that all participants of the chain of transport and commodity logistics deliveries have high level of knowledge.
Project duration- 12 months
