Brexit: “This is a worrying time,” says RHA

Road Haulage Association chief executive Richard Burnett has described the 194 working days left until the UK formally leaves the EU as a “worrying time,” arguing that for “the thousands of UK hauliers facing a nail-biting time, indecision and placatory words are not good enough.”

Operators have been warned that if additional customs checks are imposed post-Brexit, then every additional minute’s worth of checks at peak times will result in around 10 miles being added to queues.

Although transport secretary Chris Grayling has said that the UK will maintain a free-flowing border at Dover, Burnett asserts that “Mr Grayling’s comments fly in the face of those made by EU Chief Negotiator, Michel Barnier who has been quoted as saying “frictionless trade will not be possible after Brexit”.”

Leaving the EU will have an impact on the entire UK economy, especially for transport operator who make journeys out of the UK every day therefore “it’s crucial that we get a satisfactory outcome,” said Burnett. “We need formal confirmation of the future customs processes that will be in place and we need them right now.”