London, UK: Unite has warned that the government’s decision to press ahead with a relaxation of the cabotage rules risks the safety of all road users.
The Department for Transport has relaxed the rules on foreign lorries making deliveries and collecting goods in the UK. Previously, European Union drivers were restricted to making just two collections or deliveries before having to leave Great Britain. Under the government’s relaxation of the rules, for the next six months (until 30 April 2022) employers from anywhere in the world (not just the EU) lorry drivers can be sent to the UK for 14 days to make unrestricted collections and deliveries.
Unite national officer Adrian Jones said: “The government is playing a dangerous game. Lorry drivers from throughout the world can now be forced to work in the UK with no effective checks on whether their vehicles are safe or if they are obeying driving regulations. The government’s actions are also risking the safety of all road users.”
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “This is yet another example of the government using a short-term fix rather than developing long-term solutions to the shortage of lorry drivers in the UK. The drivers involved are at extreme risk of being exploited with absolutely no protection under UK law. It could also undercut rates for UK lorry drivers. So the relaxing of the rules won’t be a temporary solution, in fact it could end up creating even more difficulties for the industry.”
Unite is highlighting:
ª The lorries operating in this manner do not have to comply with the same licensing requirements and standards prior to entering the UK
• There is no official public record of which companies are taking advantage of the cabotage rules so there is no independent monitoring
• There will be no checks on the roadworthiness of the lorries being used before they enter the UK
• The only way that drivers can be checked on whether they are complying with the regulations on drivers’ hours is through spot checks which are rare.
