New toll table from 1 January 2009
The close-run decision taken by the Bundesrat, the Upper House of the German parliament, on 7 November 2008 marked the end of a long and controversial discussion. The toll increase is coming – and with it so are all the questions relating to its implementation. DACHSER has worked out a fair solution for its customers. The updated DACHSER toll table is based on the average DACHSER toll rate of 18.4 euro cents. It uses a capacity utilization of 9 tonnes in the groupage network and 13 tonnes in load forwarding as a base.
In economic circles, the decision to raise toll charges in light of the current economic situation is incomprehensible. After all, the importance of logistics as one of Germany’s strongest economic sectors and its profound impact on German export and import activities are beyond dispute. And yet, such a key industry as ours is being burdened by the imposition of higher charges. What is important now is that all concerned shoulder the burden together to ensure that it doesn’t do lasting damage to Germany as a business location.
Whether the additional income really flows in higher amounts into improving the severely strained German infrastructure remains to be seen. One thing, however, is certain, and that is that the German transport industry is going to have to wait for the also promised harmonization measures. This is something DACHSER has already found out to its own consternation more than once.
New toll table from 1 January 2009
How does DACHSER plan to implement the toll charge increase?
By contrast with the official line, the toll is not set to increase from an average 13.5 euro cents to an average 16.3 euro cents; at DACHSER it will in future rise from an average 12.4 euro cents to 18.4 euro cents. This corresponds to an increase of 48%. DACHSER is allowing its customers to benefit from vehicle investments planned for 2009 but that cannot be realized by 1 January 2009. Only by switching to the low-emission Euro V vehicle class and the corresponding toll category A is it possible to implement the new average DACHSER toll rate.
Furthermore, DACHSER has reviewed its average capacity utilization in groupage and load forwarding services. In this, the logistics provider is meeting its customers half way. The finer weight increments and consequently narrower weight breakpoints in the individual weight classes are a fair step towards a mutual, cooperative approach between DACHSER and its customers. In this, DACHSER is relying on a fair dialogue between customers and itself as services provider, since in the long run this is the only road to success.
overview eLetter 04/2008
