Norwegian road transport of goods and the use of foreign hauliers and drivers

The literature indicates that public figures underestimate the extent of foreign contribution to national road transportation. This is especially the case for cabotage carried out by drivers from new EU member states after 2004. In the aftermath of the liberalization of transportation within EEA in 2009 changes to the market for road transportation in Norway has been substantial. The difference in costs and wage levels is still significant between Norway and Eastern Europa, i.e. market transformation is probably still in an early phase. There is a danger that Norwegian haulers becomes so dependent om cheap foreign labor that wage conditions become too poor to recruit domestic drivers in the future. EU’s Mobility Package, and the Government’s policy document regarding social dumping in the transportation industry, probably implies that the liberalization process is delayed.