French driver fee is restrictive, says FTA

The FTA has criticised French government plans to charge a €40 driver fee for temporary workers and those employed by a foreign company. The association said that the fee is restrictive and could “severely curtail the ability of UK logistics operators to work effectively in continental Europe”.

The association said that the French authorities will enforce the new rule from 1st January 2018.

“In practice, in our sector, this new charge amounts to a restrictive tax on international transport carried out by foreign operators,” said Pauline Bastidon, FTA’s head of European policy. “The fee of €40 per driver is excessive and, simply put, is a protectionist measure designed to close the French transport market to any operator established outside of France.

“It will disproportionately increase the cost of operating in France and could have negative consequences for international transport to and from the country.

“Coming on top of already burdensome requirements, such as the need to have a permanent representative in France, the decision to implement an additional charge on the working of international operators is nothing more than a protectionist tax benefitting the domestic French market, and is one which our members wholeheartedly oppose.”