London, UK: The government has finally published its long-awaited Haulier Handbook to act as a “one-stop shop” for key information and advice for the end of the transition period although some issues are still to be resolved due to the ongoing discussions on a UK/EU trade deal.
Questions still remain on a number of topics, including ECMT permits, community licences and cabotage. The handbook only says: “This will depend on the outcome of UK-EU negotiations. This guidance will be updated as soon as the new rules are agreed.”
This week 45 information and advice sites have opened across the UK to make sure “hauliers have everything they need to prepare for the end of the transition period”.
The government says that hauliers visiting any one of the 45 information and advice sites will be met by one of the 1000 staff members who will be on hand to answer questions and walk them through the documents they will need to keep travelling to, from and through Europe. Those who require additional information on how to use the ‘Check an HGV’ service will be able to make use of onsite offices for further training if required.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: “Hauliers play a vital role in keeping trade and businesses running on a daily basis, which is why we’ve put significant measures in place to ensure they’re prepared for the new customs procedures – including a multi-million-pound information campaign.
“Opening these sites and publishing the Haulier Handbook is just another example of the work we’re doing to get hauliers border ready for the end of the transition period.”
Road Haulage Association chief executive Richard Burnett welcomed the moves. He said: “With only weeks to go, it’s crucial that hauliers do everything they can now to prepare for new trading rules. Deal or no deal, firms will have to undertake customs processes to continue moving goods across borders from 1 January.”
Haulier Handbook: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/transporting-goods-between-great-britain-and-the-eu-from-1-january-2021-guidance-for-hauliers
