Statuten

There is an association listed under the name Union Internationale des Chauffers Routiers (UICR) according to Art. 246ff of the Liechtenstein Passenger and Society law. The accociation's headquarters are located in Ruggell (Liechtenstein).  The association is recorded in the commercial register in 9490 Vaduz, Liechtenstein. Until an international law for international organizations is created, the administration and treasury of the entire membership fees will be located in the country which employs the Secretary General.

The goal of the UICR is to connect the national associations of professional drivers on an international level, to defend the rights of the drivers in national and international institutions and to award them due recognition and to increase the level of education, thus improving traffic safety. The UICR offers individual members legal help. The UICR can offer their members further benefits and services.

There can only be one association or union registered from each country.  If an additional association or union applies for membership, the original member association from that same country must give it's approval.  If the approval is not given, the application will be denied. Requirements for the acceptance of an association:

       a)     The group must be registered in their country according to the laws of that
                  country.

       b)     The group must not belong to another international organization which has similar goals as the UICR.

       c)     The group must not have any bylaws that contradict the goals of the UICR. The group's bylaws are to be
                submitted along with the membership application.

The application is to be given to the board of directors of UICR.  The acceptance will be voted on by the member associations and decided by simple majority.  The election can take place by mail.  The applicant is to be notified by three months at the latest of their acceptance or denial of membership.  In case of acceptance, the full membership fees are due for that year. 

Paragraph 2      Individual members

Persons that belong to an association can apply for individual membership.  Only owner-operators who have no employees driving for them and employed professional drivers are eligible to be individual members.

The temporary membership will be given after the membership fees are paid and then the permanent membership follows a general meeting at least three months after that, and is awarded after a unanimous silent consent of all present.

Paragraph 3      Honorary members

Honorary members can be named at the general meeting.  These are persons who have made extraordinary efforts in the interests of professional drivers. Honorary members pay no fees and are not given a vote at the general meeting. 

Paragraph 4      Promotionary members

In addition, vehicle producers, associations, specialty and driver magazines, delivery firms, fuel producers and deliverers can be promotionary members of the UICR.  The board will decide on the acceptance of these promotinary members and on the level of their contribution to the UICR, as well as on the use of name, logo and trademark of the UICR. 

Paragraph 1      Member associations

The membership ends through:

a)   withdrawal by member

b)   expulsion

The termination of membership is to be sent by registered mail to the board, addressed to the Secretary General, three months before the end of the year. Expulsion can take place at the request of the board.  There is reason for expulsion if the member works against the goals of the UICR or if the membership fees have not been paid for more than two years. The expelled member loses all rights to any property belonging to the UICR.

Paragraph 2      Individual members

Individual membership is automatically annulled if membership fees are not paid. 

Individual members can be excluded at the request of the board.

Paragraph 1      Member associations

The amount of the membership fee is decided at the general meeting. The fee can be paid biannually or quarterly.  The business year runs from 01.01. to 31.12 every year.  The fee is to be paid by the first day of the new business year.  In case of a lack of payment for 6 months or more, all the rights of the member will be frozen by the secretary general until the payment has been paid.

Paragraph 2      Individual members

The annual fee is fixed by the board. This amount is due annually and must be paid prior to the beginning of the business year to the local association.  The bill will be sent three months prior to the date it is due to be paid.  If there is no payment in this period, the membership will automatically be cancelled. 

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The UICR gives members international identification cards.  The member associations are obligated to offer humanitarian support. The UICR offers its individual members legal support in the areas defined by the regulations.  The members can transfer this service to a third party and/or insure themselves this service by obtaining a legal protection policy.

The UICR organizes international competitions for professional drivers. Every member can take part in these competitions but must personally be responsible for the costs. Further regulations are mentioned in the competitor's regulations.  The tournament ordinance goes into more detail. 

The UICR awards a special diploma annually to a professional driver in each member country for bravery or for other extraordinary services.  Nominations for this diploma must be given to the Secretary General by the first of September. Further services can be decided at the Annual Meeting.

The general meeting, in which every member association has a vote, takes place at least once every two years and in the second half of the year. The president conducts the meeting, the vice president if for any reason the president is unable. The delegates of the various member associations represent the interests of individual members at the general meeting. The following points are to be on the agenda:

a)   Attendance account

b)   Approval of the previous meeting's minutes

c)   Report over previous year(s)

d)   Report about legal protection

e)   Report on international competitions, world championship

f)     Financial report

g)   Discharge of board

h)   Vote for new members

i)     Petitions

j)     Miscellaneous

k)   Confirmation of the venue and time of the next general meeting

In the case of a vote, the simple majority of the present delegates decides.  To change a bylaw or to disband the UICR, a ¾ majority of all delegations is required. The general meeting is a quorum when there are half of the member associations present and they are represented according to order and regulations. Decisions of the general meeting are to be recorded word for word in the minutes of the meeting.  The protocol is to be signed by the secretary who is chosen by the chairman. Invitations to the general meeting are to be extended two months prior to the date of the meeting.  Proposals are to be presented to the board three months prior to the general meeting and each association is to receive a copy of the proposal by one month prior to the meeting All travel expenses of the delegates will be covered by their respective associations.  The names of the delegates are to be given to the Secretary General in writing by at least two weeks prior to the meeting.  Guests can be invited by the board.  The promotionary members have no vote at the general meeting

The board must be made up of five individuals from different associations. Members are voted in for four years at the general meeting individually in this order:  President, primary and secondary vice-president.  The term of the acting President ends on the 31^st of December of the respective year. Each individual is a member of the board.  Members of the board are given power of attorney individually.  These duties are honorary.  All expenses of the positions will be covered by the UICR. The President presides over the management, which consists partly or completely of the Secretary General. In case of resignation or elimination due to another reason of any member of the board during the election period, the replacement candidate will be voted on at the following general meeting.  The duration of office of the newly elected official will end with the duration of the remainder of the existing board.

The Secretary General will be named by the board.  The position is honorary.  Expenses created by this position will be covered by the UICR.  The Secretary General manages the UICR according to the direction of the President.  The Secretary General is responsible for the minutes of the general meeting which are to be presented to the President within 14 days after the meeting.

In the case of arguments between members, a court of arbitration will be set up with the president as the judge and two presiding members of uninvolved member associations. The court decides definitively after hearing both parties. 

The business year is the same as the calendar year.

In the case of disbandment of the UICR, existing property will be given to an organisation that represents the interests of professional drivers. Liquidators are the members of the board.

These statutes are put into power on the 1^st of February, 2003.  The statutes can be changed with a ¾ majority at the general meeting.