Removing obstacles to doing business internationally both at the border and on the roads.
As the new Government progresses with its negotiations for a new relationship with the EU, the RHA is representing the interests of its members at every stage to help those with overseas business interests adjust to the new world.
The unique situation in Northern Ireland with the challenges posed by the Windsor Framework require collaboration and recognition of the importance and sensitivity of these additional issues.
The M20 – Dover Straits route is Great Britain’s most important corridor for international road freight. It is the busiest route for Roll on, Roll off (RoRo) freight in Europe accounting for around 12% of UK trade. It accounts for around 3.6 million lorry movements per year, 55% of the market. It is the main corridor for fresh food to move between the UK and continental Europe and is the most important route for time sensitive manufacturing components. The RHA is working closely with Government and UK Ports of Entry, particularly in the Short Straits, to ensure the infrastructure is in place to keep trade moving on this vital route.
The RHA regularly engages with government to ensure they are aware of the issues caused by the new systems and checks brought in as a result of our leaving the EU, including the effect on groupage, and movement of time sensitive goods. On exports, newly enforced EU rules are harder to influence but no less important to members. Members used to the seamless travel we experienced as members of the EU have to adapt to new restrictions, including:
- Schengen Travel Restrictions.
- The EU Entry/Exit System (EES), which is set to be introduced late 2025 as part of a phased introduction.
- The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), which will follow implementation of EES.
Since 2023, under a reformed Clandestine Entrant Civil Penalty Scheme (CECPS), British hauliers and lorry drivers have been liable to fines up to £6,000 each when a vehicle is found to not be secured against attempted entry, and £10,000 each in the event a clandestine entrant is found on board.
However, drivers’ and business owners’ experience of this scheme have been very poor, with long delays in correspondence, poor communication on the support available and very limited numbers of staff working to administer the scheme, alongside an almost arbitrary approach to penalties and a lack of use of an allowed discretion by enforcement officers. These stories were corroborated by the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration, which called on Government to either fund and staff the CECPS appropriately or reform the scheme to one which they are willing/capable of paying for.
The RHA supports all reasonable measures to keep the border secure. However, we do not want to see drivers and business operators who have done everything they reasonably can to secure their vehicles to be punished unfairly, as currently occurs under this scheme.
Following RHA lobbying, Government is increasingly aware of the impact of these issues on British commercial driving businesses and is considering solutions.
On international matters, the RHA asks that Government:
- Recognises that, unlike other businesses operating overseas, for the road haulage industry the European Union is the only available market.
- Ensures any new physical and technological infrastructure for border controls is put in place well ahead of time to ensure smooth goods flows as changes are enacted.
- Push for technological solutions to address issues resulting from our third country status that would otherwise cause delays in freight and people movements.
- Industry supported solutions to the important issues that have arisen, including the effect of Schengen Travel restrictions on British commercial driving businesses and the unique situation in Northern Ireland.