The comments from Girteka come in a recent update to its website, in which the logistics operator writes that “new challenges arising from recent geopolitical shifts in Europe are posing yet another threat to the road haulage industry in the British Isles.”
On top of the paperwork introduced on EU-bound freight in 2021 due to Great Britain’s departure from the European Single Market, as well as all the inflationary pressures sparked by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, GB-EU road freight has been further influenced by new regulations introduced this year.
Among the revisions highlighted by Girteka are the changes to the UK’s Clandestine Entrant Civil Penalty Scheme. Readers will likely be aware that the new scheme resulted in an increase to maximum penalties and narrowed the statutory defences available to those who have carried an illegal immigrant onboard.
In addition to this, Girteka has noted the imminent reintroduction of the levy for the use of heavy goods vehicles (HGV) of 12 tonnes or more on UK roads.
The levy has been suspended since August 2020, but will come into effect again next month with a revised structure and rates. The amount of the fee will be based on vehicle weight (as a broad approximation to CO2 emissions), its air quality emissions standard, and levy duration.
Moreover, another issue referred to by Girteka is the new EU border control IT system, which is now set to be active come the end of 2023.
As Girteka explains, the Entry/Exit System (EES) will require all non-EU nationals – including citizens of the UK – to register their fingerprints and be photographed along with their passport details before entering the bloc. Truck drivers will also be required to leave their vehicles for the biometric checks.
“So far, concerns have been raised that the EES would threaten capacity at Britain’s main gateway to Europe – Dover,” writes Girteka.
Another obstacle facing hauliers that Girteka has commented on is the Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) checks that will be required on certain goods being imported from the EU and EFTA states to Great Britain. From October 31st, exporters and logistics companies will need to determine the Target Operating Model (TOM) risk category for the commodity transported and follow the SPS rules for that category.
Finally, Girteka hasn’t forgotten about the 2024 changes to the Emissions Trading Scheme:
“The tax will apply for any routes in and out of the EU, increasing costs for ferry operators. Many shipping companies have already begun looking for more cost-effective and sustainable ways to transport freight, for instance, by utilizing vessels that run on alternative fuels, such as LNG, or by adjusting schedules for longer passage times, as vessels (like trucks) use much more fuel at higher speeds,” writes Girteka.
Commenting on the aforementioned challenges, Mindaugas Aleška, Chief Operating Officer, Girteka Europe West, said:
“Our main goal is to continue to deliver the business of our partners to their customers despite the possible disruptions in the market. That is why we are proactively reacting to all new upcoming changes and challenges in the market. I believe our preparation work will enable us to continue offering the highest quality of services in the UK and Irish markets. Our advantage is that we own the latest trucks on the market and employ digital tools that alleviate route planning as well as help save CO2 emissions.” said Mindaugas Aleška, Chief Operating Officer, Girteka Europe West.