THE Italian Competition Authority has begun an investigation into 20 freight forwarding companies and national forwarding association Fedespedi over allegations of colluding on road freight pricing.
They are accused of exchanging sensitive information "and coordination of business strategies" from at least the end of 2002 until September 2007, reports International Freighting Weekly.
It said the authority alleges that "numerous and regular encounters" involving Fedespedi members, in particular its overland shippers section that covers road freight services to and from Italy, resulted in illicit agreements that aimed to "agree the realisation of price increases for services rendered to customers," chiefly in regard to fuel surcharges, road tolls and administrative costs.
The companies under investigation are: Agility, Albinos & Pitigliani, Brigl, Cargo North, DHL, Ferrari, Francisco Parisi, Gefco, Geodis, I-Dika, Italmondo, Italsempione, ITK, ITX Cargo, Rhenus, Saima, Schenker, Sittam, Transervice and Villanova.
According to comments made by Fedespedi in the report, the association was "intensively cooperating with the authority" in order to clarify whether any of the actions or agreements by the association or any of its members were liable to punishment, the report said.
It maintained that DHL had confirmed that the competition authority had opened investigations into two of its offices in Milan, and claimed to be fully cooperating with the investigating authorities.
DB Schenker was also reported to be giving its full support to the authorities "in order to clarify the matter as soon as possible.
" It was quoted as saying, "Such investigations do not mean that the companies are guilty of anti-competitive behaviour; nor do they prejudge the outcome of the investigation itself."
Source : HKSG, 11.12.09
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