Hauliers risk getting caught in port red tape under new Brexit and COVID legislation
Rising levels of HGV traffic at ports could cause “significant disruption” if traders and hauliers don’t comply with new post-Brexit and COVID test checks, the UK government has warned.
The combination of low border traffic, and good compliance with Brexit and COVID-19 testing rules, has kept disruption at the border to a minimum. However, the volume of HGV traffic is steadily increasing by around 20 percent each day, with the expectation that lorries at the GB-EU border will reach pre-Christmas levels imminently.
The UK government said: “We are expecting that volumes will reach their business as usual levels for this time of year, which equates to c. 5,000-6,000 vehicles per day. This means border and trader readiness is critical. By the fourth week of January we expect to see around 40,000 trucks heading to France each week”.
It added: “These increased flows have the potential to cause significant disruption if traders and hauliers have not taken the necessary steps to comply with the new rules.”
It said hauliers trading between Great Britain and the EU have been urged to ensure they meet necessary requirements before travelling to the border. This includes the correct documentation, including export declarations from exporters, while hauliers heading to Kent must get a negative COVID-19 test and obtain a Kent Access Permit before heading to the Port of Dover.
Around 700 lorries have been turned away from the border since the end of the transition period – the majority of which were based on the lack of a negative COVID-19 test.
For more information visit www.britishports.org.uk
18th January 2021
