How does the Platon toll collection system work?
On November 15, 2015, the Platon system was put into operation, created on the basis of the global satellite systems GLONASS and GPS. Its purpose is to compensate for the damage caused to the road surface of federal highways by heavy vehicles passing along them. The levying measures primarily concern vehicles with a maximum permissible weight exceeding 12 tonnes. According to statistics, it is multi-tonnage that causes the greatest damage to federal highways. The passage of one car, the mass of which is more than a dozen tons, causes the same harm as the passage of 35-50 thousand ordinary cars.
Plato is built on tracking data using global navigation systems
New tariffs
Until the end of February of this year, the fee charged was calculated at a rate of about one and a half rubles per kilometer on the federal highway. This is a reduced value of the planned tariff, initially it was supposed to collect 3.73 rubles per kilometer. But with the arrival of spring, the tariff still increased, now the fee per kilometer is 3.06 rubles and this value will remain until the end of 2018.
According to experts, thanks to the introduced system, the federal budget will be replenished by approximately 50 billion rubles every year. The funds received will be spent on road repairs and modernization of the entire road transport infrastructure. By the end of 2018, it is planned to repair the bulk of the country's federal highways.
The collection of additional funds by the Platon system will make it possible to implement large regional projects. These will be highways in the Caucasus region, bridges, overpasses, tunnels and similar projects.
According to the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation, due to the improvement of the quality of roads, the delivery of goods, as well as the work of transport and logistics organizations, will be optimized. All spheres of the country's economy will benefit. Prompt receipt of goods will contribute to the quick and well-coordinated work of all enterprises.
Plato will bring the roads to world standards, which will reduce the cost of transportation
How to use the Platon system
The payment for the kilometers traveled along the federal highway is paid by the driver of the heavy truck either in advance, or is charged upon passing through special road frames. The driver needs to register on the system's website and provide all the necessary documents for registering the vehicle. By registering, the driver has the right to choose how to use the system:
- registration of a route map;
- using the on-board device.
The first option involves drawing up a special document - a route map. To do this, you need to decide in advance on the route and follow it exactly when driving. If the driver deviates from the route, it will be considered a violation, and therefore will require payment of a fine. A route map can be obtained from the nearest system service center. The collection of a payment from the driver of a multi-ton vehicle is carried out even before the trip. All this, frankly, is not very convenient.
The second option is more preferable. In this case, the truck driver receives a special on-board device from the road. It is issued free of charge. Each such device becomes assigned to a specific vehicle, that is, it cannot be installed in another car or replaced with any analogue.
You can connect the device to the cigarette lighter. The indicator shows the current balance, communication status, number of satellites. The kilometers traveled are calculated using satellite communications. The balance must be replenished in advance, since funds are debited in real time. The collection of funds is carried out automatically when a multi-tonnage passes by special equipment placed on frame structures above the road surface, or by mobile points - cars with special equipment installed on them. That is, no additional gestures will be required from the driver, except for the timely replenishment of the account.
The installation of the OBU is optional and is not required by law. A current account is obligatory for the owner of a heavy vehicle, which he can replenish from a bank card. For this, a personal account is provided on the Platon system website. To replenish your account, you can use online services, self-service terminals "Platon" or the QiWi partner network.
In addition, for payment, you can use not only bank cards, but also special DKV and E100 fuel cards. No commission is charged.
To access the services provided in your personal account from a mobile device (smartphone or tablet), you can use the corresponding mobile application. It is available for free download on Google Play and AppStore.
Plato app is available to all smartphone owners
Significant fines threaten violators
The name of the system itself is an abbreviated version of the phrase “pay per tonne”. Heavy fines are imposed on drivers of heavy trucks who travel free of charge on federal roads.
For the first violation, the driver is fined 5 thousand rubles. An individual who owns a vehicle is fined 40 thousand rubles. The collection of the same amount is provided for by law for an individual entrepreneur. Regarding fines for legal entities, the amount here is significantly higher - 450 thousand rubles.
Repeated attempts to travel for free on federal highways lead to the collection of increased amounts of fines:
- for individuals and individual entrepreneurs - up to 50 thousand rubles;
- for legal entities - up to one million rubles.
Fines for free travel are still levied only in the capital region, but from May this year, measures will be introduced in other regions of Russia.
It is important to understand that free (that is, violating the law) is travel not only without an on-board device, but also in the case when it is turned off or malfunctioning. Also a violation is the continuation of the movement when the funds on the account are spent. The correct solution in all these cases is to contact the operator to inform about a breakdown or lack of funds.
The fines for non-payment of Plato's fees are quite high
How does the system work on the price level
With the introduction of the Platon system, which implements and controls the collection of funds from large-capacity vehicles, the cost of transporting goods on federal roads will increase. However, analysts say the increase will not be significant. After all, the cost of transportation on Russian roads is approximately 30 rubles per kilometer (on average). And the fee charged by the innovation is a little more than 3 rubles. In other words, the increase is about 10%. In addition, you need to understand that the cost of transporting goods is 5-10% of their final cost.
So, even if we take the maximum cost bar in the calculations, the total price of the transported goods will increase by no more than 1%.
In addition, only 8.5% of heavy trucks are engaged in the transportation of food products. The rest transports construction and bulk materials. This suggests that the bulk of food and food products are transported over short distances, and the least heavy vehicles are used.
Food is rarely transported in heavy trucks
Specificity of the Russian economy
In many countries, freight transport has long been compensating for losses associated with its movement on highways. So the principle of introducing such measures in Russia should not cause bewilderment. The European Union has a clear position on this issue: funds for the restoration of roads should be taken from those who earn money on road transport.
How will the Russian economy react to the innovation? It is unlikely that all carriers will raise tariffs for their services. Dumping is quite possible, and the active participation of "black" players who are not going to pay to the state treasury and are looking for ways to avoid paying taxes. The experience of the Baltic countries is interesting in this sense. Fierce competition, as well as a constant increase in the level of prices for goods, are forcing carriers to reduce rather than increase the cost of their services, thereby attracting more customers.
The current tariff rate is very low compared to the European one. Even in Belarus, it is 6 times higher, and in comparison with the Austrian tariff, the Russian one is about 20 times lower.