Transport Management 73

Our hit parade for 2013 What can we wish for the transport sector in 2013? In an ideal world, all wishes come true, but daydreaming is not really an option… We have nevertheless ventured to create a top five.

1. We hope that rail freight transport, with the poor quality and service in mind, will finally develop into a full-fledged but above all reliable partner for customers. I would like to add immediately that this is a rather utopian idea.
2. We hope that the government will accommodate road freight transport, as it did with aviation. For those who did not know, we would like to repeat that road transport must also compete with operators from low-wage countries. Or will they finally do something about our own sky-high wage costs?
3. We hope that the commercial vehicle market will finally enjoy a revival after two years of dramatic volume declines. This wish seems anything but utopian because we believe that the 'pre-buying effect' (purchase of Euro 5 vehicles in anticipation of the mandatory introduction of Euro 6) will be at its peak.
4. We hope that transport companies will be allowed to pass on their increased costs to their customers in a normal and decent way. It is high time that the industry becomes aware of the severe storm in which their transport partners have found themselves. And if they do come down from their ivory tower, they might be able to do something about the unacceptably long payment terms. If we are not allowed to fantasize anymore…
5. We hope that we can put an end to the crisis as soon as possible – from the second semester onwards. To this end, we hope that the European authorities will come up with an efficient recovery plan. Such a plan should boost consumer and business confidence.

We are aware that some wishes are quite far-fetched. But there are also realistic ones. We are already making an appointment for next year to see what has come of it all. We wish you a happy and healthy 2013! NB: In order to start the new year in a pleasant way, we have implemented a number of innovations in this magazine. For example, you can enjoy a brand new layout that makes it even more pleasant to browse through the latest news in the transport sector every two months. Your advice is worth a lot! So let us know what you think.