Tougher restrictions on entering and exiting Europe will be damaging to the UK haulage industry and stifle UK growth, fears Kent-based freight forwarder Zelir Logistics.
The company, which has grown 20-fold since it was founded two years ago, is among many in the logistics sector who are concerned about the impact of the new EU Entry/Exit System (EES), which will be phased in from 12 October.
New biometric checks at borders will replace manual passport stamping, resulting in real-time tracking of border crossings and stricter enforcement of rules that only allow UK visitors to spend 90 days in the Schengen zone of Europe in any rolling 180-day period. This includes anyone travelling for business or commercial reasons.
Zelir Logistics is supporting the Road Haulage Association’s campaign for the introduction of a professional drivers’ exemption as an urgent measure to protect UK haulage businesses and jobs.
Joe Jeffery, Zelir Logistics director, said: “While we support the overall goal of tightened border security, it’s going to be damaging to UK hauliers and the wider supply chain, without some form of exemption for drivers.
“For UK drivers exporting into Europe, 90 days quickly add up, especially on deep continental legs. It’ll make using UK drivers much less appealing, and we’ll see businesses either employing or sub-contracting to European drivers instead because the rules aren’t the same the other way around – withdrawing certain services and increasing costs, or just giving up altogether.
“This could also lead to increased demand for European drivers and push prices up throughout the supply chain – from those with goods to shift right down to the consumer buying them. Increased prices could also force more companies out of business.
As a freight forwarder, Zelir Logistics is reliant on both British and EU drivers for import and export, and is passionate about supporting UK businesses, but ultimately needs to be able to provide an efficient and cost-effective service to clients.
There are also concerns about delays at ports during the implementation phase, and firms struggling to cope with the additional operational processes of getting ready for the biometric checks and monitoring driver schedules in real-time.
Joe said: “Whatever happens with the 90/180 rule, UK haulage firms will undoubtedly be looking at their networks and supply chains in the meantime to see where any gaps might arise.
“We’ve established an efficient network of thousands of hauliers specialising in all routings across the UK and Europe, and would be happy to help any businesses which foresee any issues arising from the impending changes.”
The Road Haulage Association is calling for the introduction of a professional drivers’ exemption from the Schengen restrictions for those transporting goods or people between the UK and the EU.
Its research found that 80% of operators expect a decrease in business following the introduction of the EES and total enforcement of the 90/180 rule.
As a result, operators are predicting the need to lay of 54% of their workforce, including 63% of drivers who regularly work in the EU.
The RHA has written a template letter, which it is encouraging people to send to their MPs in support of the call for an exemption.
The EU ESS will be gradually introduced at border crossing points from October, with full implementation expected by April 2026.
Travellers will need to create a digital record on their first visit to the Schengen area port or airport by submitting fingerprints and having their photos taken at dedicated booths.
This includes those entering through the port of Dover or the Eurotunnel at Folkestone or St Pancras.
