OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanCommunities 411
6.8.68 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanCommunities NoL194/1
REGULATION (EEC)No1174/68OFTHECOUNCIL
of30July1968
ontheintroductionofasystemofbrackettariffsforthecarriageofgoodsbyroad
betweenMemberStates
THECOUNCILOFTHEEUROPEANCOMMUNITIES ,
HavingregardtotheTreatyestablishingthe
EuropeanEconomicCommunity ,andinparticular
Article75thereof;
HavingregardtotheproposalfromtheCommission ;
HavingregardtotheOpinionoftheEuropeanPar­
liament;
HavingregardtotheOpinionoftheEconomicand
SocialCommittee;
Whereastheregulationoftransportratesandcon­
ditionsisanimportantaspectofthecommon
transportpolicyprovidedforundertheTreaty;
Whereassuchregulationistoapplyfirsttothe
carriageofgoodsbyroadbetweenMemberStates;
whereasforthispurposethereshouldaccordingly
beintroducedinrespectofsuchcarriageasystem
ofcompulsorybrackettariffs,underwhichthecom­
petentauthoritieslaydownandpublishtariffsthe
provisionsofwhichwillgovern,subjecttothe
exceptionsandderogationsprovidedforinthisRegu­
lation,thefixingoftransportratesandconditions;fixedbyreferencetoabase-rate,setwithdueregard
tothecostoftherelevanttransportoperationsand
tothestateofthemarketandinsuchawayasto
provideafairreturnforcarriers;
Whereastheprocedurewherebytariffsaretobe
fixedoramendedbyMemberStatesshouldbelaid
down;
Whereasthecircumstances shouldbedefinedin
whichcarriersmaymakespecialcontractsproviding
forrateswhichdepartfromthebrackettariffs;
Whereasintheeventofdisturbancesonthetransport
marketthereshouldbeprovisionfortheconclusion
ofspecialcontractstobesubjected,foraspecific
period,topriorapproval;
Whereasappropriatepublicationproceduresshould
beinstitutedforthebrackettariffsystem,bothas
regardstariffratesandasregardsspecialcontracts;
whereas,toenablethecompetentauthoritiestoob­
tainadequateinformationastothestateofthemar­
ket,provisionshouldbemadefortheorganisationof
samplesurveysofratesappliedwithinthetariff
brackets;
WhereastoassisttheCommissioninimplementing
thisRegulationitisnecessarytosetupanadvisory
committeecomposedofexpertsappointedbythe
MemberStates;
Whereas,toensurethattheRegulationisproperly
applied,provisionshouldbemadeforcheckson
complianceandforpenalties;
Whereasitisnecessarytodefinetheextenttowhich,
havingregardtotheprovisionsofArticle232(1)
oftheTreaty,thisRegulationistoapplytotransport
operationscoveredbytheTreatyestablishingthe
EuropeanCoalandSteelCommunity ;
Whereasforeconomicandpracticalreasonsthenew
systemneednotbemadetoapplytocertaintypes
ofcarriage;Whereas,toenabletheexperienceacquiredtobe
takenintoaccount,thesystemintroducedshould
applyuntil31December1971,withaprovisionforits
extensionforafurtheryearintheeventofthe
Councilfailingtodecidebythatdateonthesystem
tobeappliedsubsequently ;
WhereasthetariffrulesestablishedbythisRegu­
lationwillinnowayaffectthepositionorconditions
ofremuneration ofanyprovidersofservicesancil­
larytotransportparticipating intransportoper­
ations;
Whereastariffsmustbedrawnupinsuchawayas
toavoidbothabuseofdominantpositionsanddam­
agingcompetition ;whereassuchtariffsmustbe

412 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanCommunities
HASADOPTED THISREGULATION :
Article1
1.ThisRegulationshallapplytothecarriageof
goodsbyroadbetweenMemberStatesoftheCom­
munity,includingoperationsinvolvingtransitacross
athirdcountry.
2.Alltransportoperationsfallingwithintheterms
ofparagraph1shallbesubjecttoasystemofcom­
pulsorybrackettariffs.
3.'Compulsorytariffs'meansasystemoftariffs
prescribedandpublishedbythecompetentauthori­
tiesandgoverning,subjecttotheexceptionsand
derogationsprovidedforinthisRegulation,the
fixingoftransportratesandconditions.
Article2
1.'Brackettariffs'withinthemeaningofArticle1
aretariffslayingdownmaximumandminimum
rates.Thedifferencebetweenthesetworatesconsti­
tutesthebracketspread.
2.Thebracketspreadshallbe23%ofthemaximum
rate.
3.Ratesforanygiventransportoperationmaybe
freelydeterminedwithintheupperandlowerlimits
oftherelevantbrackettariff.
SubjecttotheprovisionsofArticle5,theconclusion
ofcontractsattransportratesfallingoutsidethe
upperorlowerlimitsoftherelevanttariffbrackets
shallbeprohibited .istheStatesonwhoseterritoriesthegoodsaretobe
loadedorunloaded.
EachMemberStateshallbringsuchtariffsintoforce
withintwomonthsfollowingtheconclusionofne­
gotiationsforthefixingoramendmentoftariffs
or,asthecasemaybe,followingthecompletionof
theprocedurereferredtoinparagraph2(b).
2.TheCommissionmayparticipateinanadvisory
capacityinnegotiationsforthefixingoramendment
oftariffsasprovidedforinparagraph 1;itmay
submittotheMemberStatesdirectlyconcerned
proposalsdesignedtoproduceagreement.
MemberStatesshallsupplytheCommissionwith
theinformationnecessaryforthispurpose.
(a)IfanagreementisreachedbetweentheMember
Statesdirectlyconcerneditshallbenotifiedforth­
withtotheCommissionandtotheotherMember
States.
AnyMemberStatemayasktheCommissionto
examinesuchagreement.TheCommission ,act­
ingassoonaspossibleandafterconsultingthe
CommitteeofExpertsprovidedforinArticle11,
maymakearecommendation .
(b)Ifthenegotiationsreferredtoinparagraph1do
notresultinagreement,orifthenegotiations
referredtoinArticle15donotresultinagree­
mentwithintheperiodlaiddown,thedispute
maybereferredtotheCommissionattherequest
ofanyoftheMemberStatesconcerned.The
Commission ,actingassoonaspossibleandafter
consultingtheCommitteeofExpertsprovidedfor
inArticle11,shalltakeadecision,whichshall
benotifiedtotheMemberStatesconcernedand
atthesametimecommunicated totheother
MemberStates.
Thisdecisionshalltakeeffectaftertheexpiry
ofaperiodoftwentydaysunlessbeforethe
expiryofthatperiodthematterisreferredto
theCouncilbyaMemberState.
Insuchacase,theCouncilshallgiveitsdecision
byaqualifiedmajoritywithintwentydays.
(c)DecisionsbytheCouncilortheCommission
referredtoin(b)aboveshallremaininforce
untilsuchtimeasanagreementisconcluded
betweentheMemberStatesconcernedoruntil
anyfurtherdecisionbytheCouncilortheCom­
missioninaccordancewiththeprocedurelaid
downinthisArticle.
3.Tariffsshallbecommunicated byMemberStates
totheCommission .Article3
1.Eachtariffshallbedrawnupbyreferencetoa
base-rate,whichshallbethemiddle.pointofthe
bracket.
Thebase-rateshallbefixedhavingregardbothto
theaveragecostofthetransportoperationcon­
cerned,includingthegeneralexpensesofthebusiness,
for.aproperlymanagedundertakingenjoyingnor­
malconditionsofuseofitscarryingcapacity,and
tomarketconditions,andshallbesuchastoprovide
afairreturnforcarriers.
2.Tariffsmayvaryaccordingtothecircumstances
oftheserviceprovided,andinparticularaccording
tothetechnicalandeconomiccharacteristics ofthe
operationinquestion,therouteconcerned,thelength
ofthetransitperiod,thetonnageconditions,andthe
typeofgoodscarried.
Article4 Article5
1.Tariffsshallbefixedoramendedbyagreement
betweentheMemberStatesdirectlyconcerned,that1.BywayofderogationfromArticle2(3),special
contractsmaybeconcludedinwritingbetweena

413 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanCommunities
hideisregisteredshallinformtheotherMember
StatesandtheCommissionofanymeasurestaken.
6.Intheeventofanydisturbanceonthetransport
marketinrespectofthecarriageofcertainproducts
overcertainroutes,theconclusionofspecialcon­
tractsmay,foraspecificperiod,bemadesubjectto
priorapprovalbythecompetentauthoritiesofthe
MemberStatesdirectlyconcerned,thatistheStates
wherethegoodsaretobeloadedandunloaded.
Insuchcasesthecarriermaynotcarryoutthe
transportoperationconcerneduntilhehasreceived
authorisationfromthecompetentauthoritiesofthe
MemberStatewherethegoodsaretobeloaded,after
theyhavereceivedtheconsentofthecompetent
authoritiesoftheMemberStatewherethegoodsare
tobeunloaded .
7.Suchprocedureshallbebroughtintooperation
onemonthafterarequestfromanyMemberState
directlyconcerned,providedtheotherMemberState
directlyconcernedaccedesthereto.AnyMember
StatemayasktheCommissiontoexaminethepro­
cedure.TheCommission ,actingassoonaspossible
andafterconsultingtheCommitteeofExpertspro­
videdforinArticle11,maymakearecommen­
dation.
IftheotherMemberStatedirectlyconcerneddoes
notaccedetotherequest,theprocedureshallcome
intooperationonlyafteradecisionbytheCouncil,
actingbyaqualifiedmajorityonaproposalsub­
mittedbytheCommissionafterhearingtheopinion
oftheCommitteeofExpertsprovidedforinAr­
ticle11.
8.Themarketshallbeconsidereddisturbed,where,
inparticular,theaveragelevelofratesappliedover
agivenperiodisnotsufficientforaproperlyman­
agedtransportundertakingenjoyingnormalcon­
ditionsofuseofitscarryingcapacitytooperateata
profit.carrierandanotherpartyattransportratesoutside
theupperorlowerlimitsoftherelevanttariff
brackets.
Theconclusionofsuchcontractsshallbeallowed
subjecttothefollowingconditions :
—circumstances mustexistwhichwerenottaken
intoaccountatthetimewhenthetariffswere
fixed,as,inparticular,whereaspecialcontract
ismadeinresponsetotherequirementsofcom­
petitionorwhereitisenteredintoforacertain
period;and
—thetonnagetobecarriedunderanysuchcon­
tractwithinanythree-monthperiodmustbenot
lessthan500metrictons.
Specialcontractsmustinallcasesbesuchasto
maintainorincreasethecarrier'stradingreturns.
2.Onconcludinganyspecialcontractthecarrier
shallforthwithcommunicate thetermsthereofto
thecompetentauthoritiesoftheMemberStateof
origin,thatistheStatewherehisvehiclesareregis­
tered,or,ifthisisnottheStatewherethegoodsare
tobeloadedorunloaded,thentheStateonwhose
territorythegoodsaretobeloaded.
Whencommunicating thetermsofthecontractthe
carriershallattachallparticularssupportingthe
conclusionofthecontractandtheratesagreed.
3.Thoseauthoritiesshallsendcopiesofallthe
relevantdocumentstothecompetentauthoritiesof
theMemberStatesconcerned,thatistheMember
StatesofregistrationofthevehiclesandtheStates
wherethegoodsaretobeloadedandunloaded.
4.Theauthoritiesreferredtoinparagraphs2and3
shall,usingtheinformationcontainedinthedocu­
mentssubmitted,instituteallinvestigations andin­
quiriestheyconsiderdesirableinordertocheckthat
thepartiestothecontracthavecompliedwiththe
provisionsofthisRegulation .
5.Ifasaresultoftheseinvestigations itisfound
thattherehasbeenanybreachoftheprovisionsof
thisRegulation :
—thecompetentauthoritiesoftheMemberStates
mayrequirethatduringaprescribedperiodthose
carrierswhosevehiclesareregisteredontheirter­
ritoryshallnotperformanyspecialcontract
withoutpriorauthorisation asprovidedforin
thesecondsubparagraphofparagraph6;
—thecompetentauthoritiesoftheMemberStates
concernedmay,inadditiontothestepswhich
theymaytakeinaccordancewiththeirownre­
gulations,requestthecompetentauthoritiesof
theStatewhereanyvehicleconcernedisregis­
teredtoapplythemeasuresreferredtointhe
precedingsubparagraph .TheStatewheretheve­Article6
Brackettariffsshallbeofficiallypublishedinthe
MemberStatesconcerned.Theparticularspublished
shallincludethedatesoftheirentryintoforce.Only
themaximumrateforeachbracketneedbepublished
Article7
Transportratesandconditionswhich,inaccordance
withtheprovisionsofArticle5,departfromthe
publishedtariffsshallbecommunicated bythecom­
petentauthoritiestothebodiesreferredtoinAr­
ticle8.
Article8
1.EachMemberStateshalldesignateorsetupa
bodyorbodiestoberesponsibleforthepubli­

414 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanCommunities
Article11 cationofthetransportratesandconditionsreferred
toinArticle7.
2.Eachsuchbodyshallpublishforthwiththefol­
lowingparticularsofallspecialcontractsnotifiedto
itrelatingtoanytransportoperationwhoseloading
pointissituatedwithintheareaforwhichitis
responsible :
—nameofcarrier;
—routeorroutesconcerned;
—typeofgoods;
—tonnage;
—ratesagreed;
—dateonwhichthecontractwasmade;
—durationofcontract;
—principalspecialconditions .1.ACommitteeofExpertsisherebyattachedto
theCommissionforthepurposeofassistinginthe
implementation ofthisRegulationandofthepro­
visionsadoptedforitsapplication .
TheCommitteeshallconsistofnotmorethantwo
governmentexpertsappointedbyeachMemberState
andshallhavearepresentative oftheCommission
asChairman .
TheCommitteeshallbeconvenedbytheChairman,
eitheronhisowninitiativeorattherequestofa
MemberState.Atleasteightdays'noticeshallbe
givenofmeetingsandsuchnoticeshallincludede­
tailsoftheagenda.Lessthaneightdays'noticemay
begivenincasesofurgency.
2.InanycaseexpresslyprovidedforinthisRegu­
lation,theCommitteeshallwhensorequestedbythe
Commission giveanadvisoryopinion.Anysuch
opinionoftheCommitteemuststatethereasons
onwhichitisbasedandbegivenwithinatimelimit
fixedbyitsChairman.Opinionsshallbeadoptedby
aqualifiedmajoritywithinthemeaningofthefirst
subparagraphandsecondsubparagraph ,firstindent,
ofArticle148(2)oftheTreaty.TheChairmanshall
notvote.
3.EverysixmonthstheCommitteeshalldrawup
areportonmarkettrends.
4.TheCommitteeshallbegivenallsuchinfor­
mationasitmayneedtocarryoutthetaskslaid
uponit.Itshallautomatically receivefromtheCom­
missionthereturnsofcontractspublishedpursuant
toArticle8bythebodiesresponsibleforpublication .
BywayofderogationfromArticle15(2)ofRegu­
lationNoll1ontheabolitionofdiscrimination in
transportratesandconditions,adoptedinimplemen­
tationofArticle79(3)oftheTreatyestablishing
theEuropeanEconomicCommunity,theCommittee
shallalsobeentitledtohaveaccesstoinformation
collectedinpursuanceofthatRegulation .Inadditioneachsuchbodyshallattheendofeach
monthdrawupandpublishareturn,brokendown
byclassofgoodsandroute,ofallcontractspro­
vidingfortheloadingorunloadingofgoodswithin
itsarea.
ThesereturnsshallbesentimmediatelytotheCom­
mission,whichshallforwardthemtothecompetent
authoritiesoftheMemberStates.Everysixmonths
theCommissionshalldrawupareportonthebasis
oftheafore-mentioned returns.
Article9
DetailedrulesforgivingeffecttoArticles7and8
shallbeadoptedbytheCommission ,afterhearing
theopinionoftheCommitteeofExpertsprovided
forinArticle11,withinsixmonthsfollowingthe
entryintoforceofthisRegulation ..
Article10
Article121.Toenablethecompetentauthoritiestoobtain
adequateinformationastothestateofthemarket,
samplesurveysshallbemadeofratesappliedwithin
thetariffbrackets.
Suchsurveysshallconcerntherateschargedforthe
carriageofcertaintypesofgoodsonmajorroutes.
Theresultsofthesurveysshallnotbepublished.
Theyshall,however,besenttothecompetentauth­
oritiesoftheMemberStatesconcernedandtothe
Commission ,soastoenablethemtocarryouttheir
taskofsupervisingthemarket.
2.TheCouncil,actingbyaqualifiedmajorityon
aproposalsubmittedbytheCommissionafterhear­
ingtheopinionoftheCommitteeofExpertspro­
videdforinArticle11,shalllaydown,insofaras
maybenecessary,theprogrammeofsuchsurveys
andthedetailsforcarryingthemout.1.MemberStatesshall,ingoodtimeandaftercon­
sultingtheCommittee,adoptsuchlaws,regulations
oradministrative provisionsasmaybenecessary
fortheimplementation ofthisRegulation .
Suchmeasuresshallcover,interalia,theorgani­
sationof,procedureforandmeansofcarryingout,
checksoncomplianceandthepenaltiesapplicablein
caseofbreach.
2.TheCommission ,ifsorequestedbyaMember
Stateorifitconsidersitappropriate,shallconsult
1OJNo52,16.8.1960,p.1121.

OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanCommunities 415
Negotiationsforthefixingofsuchtariffsmustbe
completednotlaterthantenmonthsaftertheentry
intoforceofthisRegulation .
Article16
ThisRegulationshallnotapply:withtheMemberStatesconcerneduponthepro­
posedtermsofmeasuresasreferredtoinparagraph1.
3.MemberStatesshallassisteachotherinapplying
theprovisionsofthisRegulationandinchecking
compliancetherewith.
4.IfthecompetentauthoritiesofaMemberState
areawareofabreachoftheprovisionsofthisRegu­
lation,theyshallreportittotheotherMember
Statesdirectlyconcerned.Thecompetentauthorities
shallnotifyeachotherofallinformationintheir
possessionconcerningthepenaltiesimposedforsuch
breaches.(a)tothecarriageofgoodsnotexceedingfivemetric
tonsintotalweightconsignedbyasinglecon­
signortoasingleconsignee;
(b)tothecarriageofgoodsoveradistancewhich
intotaldoesnotexceedfiftykilometres;
(c)tothetypesofcarriagelistedinAnnexesIand
IItotheFirstCouncilDirective 1ontheestablish­
mentofcertaincommonrulesforinternational
transport(carriageofgoodsbyroadforhireor
reward);
(d)tocarriageinvolvingtheuseofspecialvehicles
orspecialtrafficarrangements .Article13
Allinformationobtainedinimplementation ofthis
Regulationshallbecoveredbytheobligationof
professionalsecrecy,unlessitspublicationisexpressly
providedforbytheRegulation;
Article14
Article17
TheprovisionsofthisRegulationshallapplyto
transportoperationscoveredbytheTreatyestab­
lishingtheEuropeanCoalandSteelCommunity,inso
farasthatTreatyortheprovisionsimplementing it
donotcontainspecialprovisionsinthatrespect.ThisRegulationshallremaininforceuntil31De­
cember1971andthen,intheeventoftheCouncil
nothavingdecidedbefore31December1971onthe
systemtobeappliedthereafter,forafurtherperiod
ofoneyear.
ArticleIS
Article18
Tariffsshallbefixedinaccordancewiththepro­
cedureslaiddowninArticle4notlaterthanoneyear
aftertheentryintoforceofthisRegulation .ThisRegulationshallenterintoforceon1Septem­
ber1968.
ThisRegulationshallbebindinginitsentiretyapplicableinallMemberStates.
DoneatBrussels,30July1968.
FortheCouncil
ThePresident
G.MEDICI
1OJNo70,6.8.1962,p.2005.