ECG, the European Association of Service Logistics of the automotive industry, called for improved areas of loading and unloading of car dealers if not safe enough for drivers. "If our members are unable to solve the problem of the areas of deliveries that are not sufficiently safe - specified Frank Schnelle, Executive Director of ECG - we will help them, and in cases where to which we will not find a solution, we may have to suggest to the company to stop deliveries".

An annual ECG report revealed that incidents related to loading and unloading of vehicles at dealerships are increased and now account for one in ten accidents among those Reported. The association explained that the main cause of the increase in this type of accident is the lack of safe loading and unloading areas. Logistics service providers report that the delivery often takes place in the middle of streets with speed limits of 50 or 70 km/h and with vehicles passing by close enough to the drivers to graze them at high speed.

In order to promote a safer environment for workers in the sector, the association has set up a group of work dedicated to deliveries to dealers and has A guide for the safe delivery of vehicles has been published. The The first step in the process to increase safety is to find a solution with the local dealer; The second step consists of contacting the car manufacturer and the third phase provides ECG to offer assistance. "I believe - he said Johannes Alexander Hödlmayr, CEO of Hödlmayr International and responsible for the working group - that this process is essential to achieve the goal of our working group: improve the safety of our drivers and ensure a safe work in the finished vehicle logistics sector. As a first step, it is essential that car manufacturers and ECG members, logistics service providers, are aware of this situation. Constant progress and the collection of real cases will accelerate and improve our daily activity".

Referring to the second phase of the procedure, Frank Schnelle specified that "ECG will start a discussion with the company and that, "if you can't find a solution, as a last resort we may be forced to suggest the trucking company to stop vehicle deliveries to that dealer. We know - he added - that all parties stakeholders, both car manufacturers and dealers and logistics service providers, want the maximum safety for drivers and I hope we never have to take the initiative to suggest that a company stop delivery operations. But in the end we have to prioritize to the safety of drivers".