More than 4,500 transport companies domestically have suspended their operations in the past year and a half, and the registered fleet of road vehicles has shrunk by 40,000 units, to 105,000 units at present, according to statistical data provided by the Romanian Road Authority (ARR), quoted by the National Union of Road Transporters (UNTR). Factors identified by the UNTR are numerous, with price pressures, unfair competition and the lack of infrastructure allowing for lower transport costs as the most important ones. According to the latest data available, there are around 27,000 transport companies in Romania. Projections included in UNTR's "Road Transport Market" survey point to a 6% turnover increase for road freight transport alone in 2010, to around 2bn euros. As access to funding is still limited and thousands of trucks have been repossessed by leasing firms and resold, the number of players that will go out of business is expected to rise. Constantin Isac, UNTR chairman, estimates that 15% of freight and passenger road transporters may cease operations.
More than 4,500 transport companies domestically have suspended their operations in the past year and a half, and the registered fleet of road vehicles has shrunk by 40,000 units, to 105,000 units at present, according to statistical data provided by the Romanian Road Authority (ARR), quoted by the National Union of Road Transporters (UNTR). Factors identified by the UNTR are numerous, with price pressures, unfair competition and the lack of infrastructure allowing for lower transport costs as the most important ones. According to the latest data available, there are around 27,000 transport companies in Romania. Projections included in UNTR's "Road Transport Market" survey point to a 6% turnover increase for road freight transport alone in 2010, to around 2bn euros. As access to funding is still limi
