Most transport companies in Poland are balancing on the verge of bankruptcy, 30 to 40% of the fleet is parked, and freight rates hovering around 0.5 €/km do not even cover transport costs. In view of this situation, members of parliament decided that regulations should be rationalized and adapted to the condition of carriers. The new act is primarily intended to limit unfair competition, increase the preventive functions of regulations, and remove bureaucratic barriers hindering transport operations. Meanwhile, companies are systematically implementing new internal solutions to improve transport operations and prevent ITD fines.
New fines, new solutions
So far, the most common reason for imposing sanctions on transport companies has been inconsistencies in recording drivers’ working hours. Employee documentation, calculation of overtime bonuses, and work on days off also left much to be desired. The responsibility for maintaining employee records and appropriate logs lies with the carriers, which is why entrepreneurs are increasingly opting for digitalization, thereby improving management and business operations.
– Software dedicated to transport companies is primarily about automating time-consuming procedures mandated by relevant acts. Furthermore, the complexity of Polish and European regulations forces entrepreneurs, both from the SME sector and larger entities, to introduce more effective system solutions. This situation is particularly difficult for large companies with their own transport fleet, because after the amendment of the act, they will pay the most – says Jadwiga Wojtas from Soneta Sp. z o.o., creator of enova.4Trans.
In the face of statistics showing that more than half of the fines imposed by the ITD concern irregularities related to maintaining employee records and driver working time documentation, implementing effective system solutions seems essential. For now, the old regulations, which carriers consider inadequate to the situation, are still in force, but the digitalization of the transport industry is inevitable. Especially since it also means cost reduction and minimization of errors made by employees.
Schedule of fines from 01.01.2012
In the case of carriers, the total amount of monetary fines imposed for violations found during a roadside inspection will not exceed 10,000 PLN. A driver stopped for inspection may pay from 300 PLN to 2,000 PLN, and the person managing the enterprise or responsible for transport from 500 PLN to 2,000 PLN. The amount of the fine, after an inspection at the company’s premises, will be decided by the number of employed drivers. For entities employing or using up to 10 drivers for transport operations, the total amount of fines will be a maximum of 15,000 PLN. The largest companies, employing over 250 drivers, will pay up to 30,000 PLN. Fines will increase for companies performing activities related to road transport. Freight forwarders, consignors, consignees, loaders, tour and tourism organizers will pay up to 40,000 PLN.