TIV contributes suggestions in collaboration with VDA and BVMW

Board member Dr Uwe Meyer speaks to the BVMW's Logistics and Mobility Commission

Berlin, July 2022: The EU Commission is currently revising the European Driving Licence Directive. For years, the Trailer Industry Association (TIV) has been advocating the merging of the driving licences for categories B and B96 and thus the raising of the maximum permissible total mass of a combination in trailer operation from 3,500 kg to 4,250 kg. In this way, the association wants to eliminate existing deficiencies in the driving licence directive. Following on from the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA), the board has now also won over the BVMW to support its proposals.

The board of the TIV had already been able to win over the VDA for a joint strategy on issues of driving licence law at a top-level meeting in April. Both have submitted their respective ideas directly to the EU Commission (OPC).

Dr Meyer also found supporters of his course when he recently presented the TIV's ideas to the Logistics and Mobility Commission of the Federal Association of Small and Medium-Sized Businesses (BVMW) in Berlin. Here, a decision was reached whereby BVMW, as the largest association for entrepreneurs in Germany, would also support this and other concerns of the TIV.

Dr. Uwe Meyer explained: "Using the B driving licence, you can drive all passenger cars up to a maximum authorised mass (MAM) of 3,500 kg. However, the larger the MAM of the car, the smaller the MAM of the trailer you are allowed to tow becomes. This regulation is illogical. After all, the demands placed on the driver of the vehicle and trailer do not change just because he switches to a larger towing vehicle. Nevertheless, under current regulations, the situation may even arise whereby anyone who switches to a larger passenger car is no longer allowed to use his/her trailer at all if they just have a B driving licence."

Once the consultation of the public by the EU Commission - and thus the first phase of the revision - has ended, a draft bill will currently be prepared by the EU Commission. This shall then be discussed at the EU Council and the European Parliament. "Now it is a matter of accompanying the further amendment process constructively, whereby as many like-minded people as possible should continue to join forces," stated Dr. Uwe Meyer TIV board member and board member of wm meyer Fahrzeugbau AG.

Founded in 2015 with 12 members, the Trailer Industry Association now comprises 28 member companies with a total workforce of approx. 8,000 employees and 400,000 registered trailers annually.