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IRU: German charge is unjust
Page 7
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• The International Road Transport Union (IRU) has branded Germany's planned introduction of its HGV road user charge, LKIN Maut, as blatant discrimination.
It has urged EU transport commissioner Loyola de Palacio to demand that the German government delay the start date of 31 August. It says there is a risk of widespread chaos" created by a dearth of On Board Units (OBUs) delivered so far, particularly outside Germany.
The OBUs allow trucks to use autobahns without stopping to pay, but they cannot be used without a Maut card, which proves creditworthiness. A limited number of these cards have been distributed, says the IRU, but so far only to German operators.
Internet and road-toll machine options exist, but the IRU says these are impractical and incompatible with the flexibility expected of road transport.