NMa: no violation by Dutch transport and logistics training company VTL, though distortion identified on truck-driving training market

Having conducted an extensive investigation, the Netherlands Competition Authority (NMa) has concluded that no indications were found of Dutch transport and logistics training company VTL and its affiliated truck-driving schools violating the Dutch Competition Act. Another finding is that VTL's competitors are hindered by the way subsidies are granted in the transport industry.

VTL has an advantage over other driving schools because of the subsidies that the Dutch Education and Training Fund for Road Transport and Hauling (SOOB) grants. This subsidy, approximately 40 per cent of the tuition fees, can only be obtained by doing a training through VTL. VTL trainings are therefore cheaper, thanks to these subsidies, making it harder for other driving schools to compete. The NMa believes that this form of subsidization unnecessarily leads to an unequal playing field and thus to a distortion of the market.


The subsidies are funded by the European Social Fund (ESF) and are granted through SOOB, which is accountable to the Agency of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment. The NMa has therefore shared its findings with SOOB and the Agency. SOOB announced it has already launched a study into a reorganization of the subsidization system, and that it will be taking into account the NMa's findings. The NMa emphasizes that its does not comment on the purpose of the subsidy, but that its investigation has revealed that the way of subsidization is the cause of the unequal playing field.


As a result of the NMa investigation, VTL will be making adjustments to its collaboration arrangements with driving schools, which includes terminating regularly scheduled meetings between VTL and the driving schools, as well as preventing customers from becoming restricted in their choice of instructor. Although these elements of the collaboration arrangements are currently not impeding competition, they might do so at some point.


The investigation was triggered by a complaint the NMa received in 2008 from Dutch automotive trade association BOVAG. In its complaint, BOVAG argued, among other things, that VTL locks out most of the driving schools when transport and logistics trainings are tendered. In part because of this complaint, the NMa conducted dawn raids in April 2009. BOVAG has withdrawn its complaint because of the NMa investigation's findings.