Cost-increasing factors for transport in France

France is busy setting up environmental zones. There already are environmental zones around the entire region of Paris, Lyon and the Grenoble region. As of April 1^st, 2017, all foreign trucks must have a valid emission sticker to drive within these environmental zones. The emission sticker (or in French “Crit’Air Vignette”) is intended to keep polluting trucks out of the cities. The zones are referred to as “Zones à Circulation Restreinte”. As of September 1^st, 2017, environmental zones will be set up in Lille, Strasbourg, Montpellier and Bordeaux. It is expected that more French cities will follow.

In addition to surcharges to enter environmental zones, the French government has set up new regulations around the so called ‘Loi Macron’ law. This law came into force on July 1^st, 2016, and states that drivers must receive the French minimum wage from the moment the driver works on French territory. As of January 1^st, 2017, all new certificates for the French minimum wage must be created through the online system (SIPSI) of the French ministry of Labor. The French Government has announced that as of January 1^st, 2018, these mandatory certificates will only be available against payment. Per certificate, France will charge € 40 as a registration fee. A certificate is valid for 6 months, so the additional cost will add up to € 80 per driver per year. These costs are in addition to the administrative burden and costs for mandatory representation in France.