ECG — 2025-05-28
News from ECG
At the General Assembly & Spring Congress in Cascais, Portugal, 22-23 May, the members and board of ECG got a chance to show their appreciation.
Mike Sturgeon is known for his ability to create order and structure, which is the first thing he focused on when entering the organisation. Creating efficient IT solutions and organising the finances required a lot of work.
“During the financial crisis, the numbers dropped to 67 members and 5 sponsors. From then, more members were added every year, and we slowly built up a strong organisation,” Mike Sturgeon says.
The ECG team was just 2.5 people then. Today, there are five people and an intern. “It´s nice to walk around Brussels today and meet former ECG staff scattered throughout the city.”
Which was your most important project during these 15 years?
“I must say the Weights & Dimensions Directive. I had hoped it would be done by now as it has been on the table for many years. But also the work with the ECG Carbon Calculator. It was 20 years ahead of its time. I spent the first years talking to the OEMs about it because we didn´t want different standards to develop”.
Regarding the Weights & Dimensions Directive, Mike Sturgeon is naturally optimistic. He is sure it will pass eventually.
“Even if a review of the Directive could mean more efficient loads and savings in cost and emissions, it´s not even about that, but it´s about that all EU-states having different rules and that every day we run a risk out there breaking the rules of how long the trailers are allowed to be. Theoretically, no car transporter can cross an EU border if it´s longer than 18.75 metres.”
“When the truck crosses the border, the length is subject to EU law. We are not working in a single market.”
For perhaps 20 years now, the Directive has been on the agenda of many meetings, a topic at conferences and General Assemblies, and meetings with consultants, lobby groups and policymakers in the EU.
“It´s such an important question for us. The reason we have had trouble getting heard may be that only 2% of trucks on the road are FVL trucks. We are representing a niche sector.”
The work with the OEMs has dramatically changed since Mike Sturgeon started in the business.
“When I started, we didn´t work together with the OEMs; we were invited to meetings held at ACEA to present ideas and were led out for them to discuss. But I had a big advantage since I came from the OEM side of the business before joining ECG”.
Mike Sturgeon emphasises the importance of having brought experience from an OEM to the Executive Director role, as does the present Executive Director, Frank Schnelle, who joined from Hyundai Glovis.
“Nowadays, we work with the OEMs in the working groups. It´s not “them and us” but us together. In some sense, the OEMs don´t see us as representing their suppliers, which of course we are, but somehow as an independent organisation. But we always put carriers first”.
Today, the OEMs fully participate in the ECG conference and the various working groups.
“ECG has become an umbrella under which even the OEMs can belong.”
After COVID, the number of members increased by almost 50% in two years. Today, ECG represents the interests of over 200 member companies and partners.
“ECG provides a platform for the industry. The more members, the more credibility we have. If we are to speak for the industry, we need the whole industry to be involved.”
“Membership in ECG is a sign of professionalism. Even OEMs ask their logistics companies if they are members. If not, they are left out”.
What do you think about the years to come?
“We will have a tough couple of years. We will likely suffer lower volumes in the short term, but the industry has a great future.”
Where do you think ECG is in 10 years?
“I think we are creating more standards and bringing the industry together more and more. We must deliver more standardisation, as this drives efficiency, and push to see that everyone uses the same tools.”
He exemplifies this with the guideline regarding the VIN labels. This standard would improve efficiency in vehicle handling for the FVL companies, but it has been challenging to get the OEMs to adopt it so far.
“We might have to focus on the Chinese OEMs, since they are new to the European market. It´s such an easy standard and yet so difficult to implement. Volvo Cars is the only OEM that has done it so far."
During his 15 years at ECG, Mike Sturgeon received the support and help of his wife, Lorelei.
“I couldn´t have done it without Lorelei. She gave up her job in the UK to return with me to Brussels and has supported me in every way. She worked for Toyota too, so she understands the industry and has always been the most important member of my team."
From the start of ECG in 1997, Mike Sturgeon was the 4th Executive Director and was replaced by the current Executive Director, Frank Schnelle. Before Mike Sturgeon, there were Fuensanta Martinez Sans (now Policy Director of ACEA) and Mark Morgan, among others.
Mike Sturgeon left formally on 28 February but will still manage the UK & Ireland working group for ECG, and support the expansion of the training and qualification program.