According to the International road freight transport Convention (CMR) Article 17, the carrier is liable for the total and for partial cargo loss or damage from the moment he overtook the goods until the moment of transfer, as well as for any delay in delivery.
Lithuanian case law is very fairly formulated of rules for the negligence while driving the trucks with cargo. Often the goods are damaged or destroyed in the accidents and the responsibility is in the driver’s hand at the time. Under these circumstances, the damage (or destruction) of the goods always have to be evaluated by the carrier’s actions.
Transport and logistics constitute a substantial part of the GDP (Gross Domestic Product) in our country’s budget every year. However, during the globalisation period, not the unique geographic position of a country, but the ability to offer the highest quality of service is important, according to Dr. Algirdas Šakalys, the Head of the Intermodal Transport and Logistics Competence Centre.
When in January 2014 it was announced that the truck drivers, coming to Lithuania from Belarus and Russia, will be required to fill in a declaration on the amount of fuel in tanks, carriers were dissatisfied saying, that this will increase heavy traffic on Lithuanian borders. State’s main reason was that imported gasoline is decanted in Lithuania and such changes will bring out millions form the shadow market.
It is widely known that Poland is one of the European leaders in the field of road and rail transport. It is estimated that the transport sector generates up to 5% of the Polish national income.
Lithuanian carriers traveling through international routes have exceptional conditions. They can bring in larg- er quantities of cheaper fuel from third countries, in this way taking advantage of all the Lithuanian taxpayers, fuel outlets who pay taxes to the state budget and form unequal competitive conditions for local carriers, who daily carry passengers or distributes cargo.
