EUR

1) Essential user rebate. A scheme proposed by the Road Haulage Association whereby essential road haulage services should be given a rebate on diesel prices to combat the government’s annual road fuel duty escalator (started in 1993 to tackle the problem of pollution) under which fuel prices are increased by a percentage (currently 6 per cent) above the current rate of inflation.

EU

1) European Union. New nomenclature for European Community following the 1993 Maastricht Treaty on economic union of the member states.

ETMC

1) European Transport Maintenance Council. A body of transport fleet engineers and others who meet to discuss common problems and developing trends in vehicle maintenance and technology.

ETD

1) (1) Estimated time of departure. (2) Electronic transfer of data (ie via computer).

ETC

1) Electronic trade credits. A system for making payments via the Internet.

Establishment costs

1) Transport term for the costs of running the haulage ‘establishment’ (ie the premises/yard/office/workshop, etc). In general accounting these would be called overhead costs.