This week the Road Haulage Association (RHA) published their latest advice to the UK Government on what they believe still needs to be done before 31 October 2019 to support supply chains in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

The key takeaway from the latest guidance is that there is still work for the Government to do as a matter of urgency, to ensure that businesses and supply chains keep goods flowing across UK/EU borders after 31 October.

  • Action 1 – Accurate and trustworthy end-to-end guidance for road haulage operators and their customers

All sectors and participants to trade would benefit from a clear and accurate description of how international road haulage movements will work from origin to destination in the event of no-deal. Businesses need to know how the border will operate and what will be required for them to ensure the flow of goods is maintained.

  • Action 2 – New and substantial locations for customs formalities

Government need to ramp up and expand the authorisations for new locations for “offices of departure/destination” and related” authorised consignors” and “authorised consignees” ADS members have raised concerns about the treatment of goods in transit. Both authorisations are vital for goods to transit across multiple EU member states.

  • Action 3 – Consolidated and simplified Safety & Security declaration system for imports

Requirements set out by HMRC on safety and security declarations in the event of no deal are unreasonable. The RHA sensibly argue that the government should extend the current suspension of separate safety and security declarations until there is a reputable and recognised technological system in place.

  • Action 4 – Emergency and FREE online-based customs training will be needed

Both HMRC and the private sector need to act to improve knowledge and understanding of basic customs compliance and activity given the potential changes and new requirements on businesses.

Online training is a quick and effective way to target staff dealing with information needed for border and customs formalities, but it needs to be delivered soon.

  • Action 5 – Brock and other lorry holding facilities need to be fit for purpose

RHA believe that in the event of no-deal effective management of the border at Dover is in place to minimize disruption and ensure the safety of all workers involved in traffic management operations.

  • Action 6 – Planned 22% tariff on new lorries to be abolished

22% tariffs on purchases of EU lorries will deter UK companies from upgrading their vehicles to newer cleaner ones. This is instinctively against the Governments environmental policies.

This advice from the RHA to the UK Government is clear with measurable outcomes to help ease burdens that will arise in the event of a no-deal Brexit. No-deal remains the worst-case scenario for ADS members, and unless these issues which are particularly important to haulage industry, are addressed before 31 October all supply chains and sectors will be negatively impacted.

There are a number of actions ADS members should be taking now in order to prepare for a No Deal Brexit, which are detailed on our Brexit hub.