Roadway Update 30 January 2019

Avoid cliff edge Brexit, RHA urges MPs

The Road Haulage Association is calling on MPs to avoid the disaster of a cliff edge Brexit.

In a letter to MPs, RHA chief executive, Richard Burnett and national chairman, Andrew Howard, warned that business won’t be ready by 29 March. They pointed to a transition period as being essential to help industry adapt to new arrangements and regulations.

“An implementation period gives time for vital new processes and systems to be put in place across the supply chain such as efficient new border technology to avoid disastrous queues at Channel and North Sea ports and across the border between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic.”

Read the full story on RoadwayLive.

Migrant crisis – in lorries not boats

Rod McKenzie, RHA MD for policy and public affairs, has spoken out about the dangers UK bound hauliers face from migrants and people smugglers.

He told BBC News that there are two million inbound lorries coming into the UK each year from Europe. This creates two million potential opportunities for people smugglers to get migrants onto lorries.

"It’s a much bigger problem than migrants attempting to cross the Channel on boats, and it’s a much bigger scale. We should be worried about it." Rod said.

You can catch the full story on RoadwayLive.

RHA on immigration white paper

On Monday, Martin Reid, RHA Policy Director for Scotland and NI, attended a successful roundtable event with Scottish Government to discuss a UK immigration white paper and its impact on the industry.

Alongside RHA Scottish chair, Iain Mitchell and board member Andrew Malcolm, Martin was invited by Michael Matheson MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity and Ben MacPherson MSP, Minister for Europe, Migration and International Development.

Martin, Iain and Andrew presented the case for HGV drivers and qualified warehouse personnel to be added to the UK Shortage Occupation list.

They also told the MSPs that the apprenticeship levy is not being used to its full potential and how haulage companies have few opportunities to draw down on it.

The Cabinet Secretary also confirmed he’d be happy to be the keynote speaker at the RHA Scottish Conference in early June.

Road user levy change

From 1 February, Euro VI lorries over 12 tonnes will benefit from a 10 percent reduction in the Road User Levy, while all other lorries will be subject to a 20 percent increase.

We criticised this approach when it was announced in 2018. By our estimates, around 50 percent of UK-registered trucks will be hit by the increase.

HMRC – EORI numbers

In December, HMRC wrote to VAT-registered businesses that trade only with the EU. They advised traders to register for a UK Economic Operator Registration and Identification (EORI) number.

After 29 March, international road haulage operators will need an EORI number if the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

Getting GDPR sorted

GDPR came in last May, with a lot of noise and focus from businesses of all sizes.

GDPR is not optional, it's business critical.

The fines of up to €20 million or two percent of annual turnover would badly affect any business, so there is a strong incentive to demonstrate full compliance. The Information Commissioner’s Office is already starting to threaten prosecutions.

If you still haven’t got your plans in place, we can help.

Our packs have been put together in conjunction with Backhouse Jones and meet all legal requirements as well as being straightforward to apply.