Many companies in the Netherlands are considering stopping transport to the UK

British newspaper guardian Knows that many transport companies in the Netherlands They are thinking about stopping transportation goods to uk, If the waiting time at checkpoints is not reduced. And when Drivers’ conditions In border posts they do not improve. Transport and logistics in the Netherlands urges For dialogue with the British government To achieve border improvements.

TLN members are facing average wait times of more than four hours in the UK due to new controls introduced at the end of April. Some drivers are even detained at border posts for up to 20 hours. Facilities at these border posts are inadequate; Often only water is available and drivers do not have options for food or drinks.

Unsustainable situation

in a report TLN, shared with The Guardian, describes drivers’ experiences: “We are increasingly receiving reports from hauliers that their drivers no longer want to drive to the UK unless conditions improve.” The report outlines a number of problems faced by Dutch trucking companies and drivers since the introduction of border controls on plants, flowers and fresh produce.

These checks, aimed at keeping diseases out of the UK, are carried out at designated border checkpoints near ports such as Killingholme, Harwich and Felixstowe. The largest checkpoint is located at Sevington, Ashford, 22 miles from the port of Dover.

Inadequate facilities

TLN is concerned about wait times and poor conditions for drivers at these checkpoints. This was stated by Elmer De Bruyn, Director of International Affairs at TLN guardian “Sometimes drivers are kept in a waiting area of ​​a few square metres, where there is only a little water and no cup of coffee.”

The Guardian previously reported that an Italian truck driver was detained at the Sevington Center for 55 hours and told to walk to the nearest McDonald’s, more than a mile away, to eat.

Damage to goods

The TLN report also highlights other problems with border procedures, including damage to cargo due to negligent handling by port staff during loading and unloading. In one case, a TLN member reported that a British customer rejected €40,000 worth of plant-based products due to damage sustained during loading and unloading at a border crossing.

A call for improvement

TLN is calling on the UK government and port authorities to provide “good and decent facilities for drivers”. The organization calls for better training for inspectors and border officials and suggests allowing drivers to assist and give instructions while loading and unloading trucks. Furthermore, TLN calls for more transparency from private border control centers about the inspections conducted and the costs associated with them.

Dialogue is required

In addition, the TLN calls for dialogue with the British government to achieve improvements at the border. “We are not against the new border model – it exists and we respect it – but we want to improve the supply chain because ultimately it is for the British consumer,” De Bruyne stresses.

Finally, The Guardian concluded that it was up to the British government and port authorities to take action to improve the situation. Last year, the trade relationship between the Netherlands and the United Kingdom accounted for more than one billion pounds of imported goods.