Brexit advice from the Department of Transport – new campaign launched.

 

Boost for hauliers’ Brexit prep as multi-million pound campaign launched

• Public awareness drive will mean hauliers obtain from traders everything they need to get ready for Brexit, helping goods continue to flows smoothly

• £8m project will establish 150 pop-up advice centres across ten countries, with messaging supported by a billboard and media advertising campaign
• Hauliers will also be provided with a handbook and pocket guide to set out how they can prepare so they can continue to travel freely

A multi-million pound information campaign is being launched across the UK and Europe to ensure businesses and hauliers are prepared for the UK to leave the EU on October 31, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announced today.

The public awareness drive will make sure hauliers obtain everything they need from traders to get through border customs smoothly, reducing risk of delays at ports.

The campaign will include: a billboard and media advertising campaign; the establishment of 150 pop-up centres across the ten countries covering the nationalities that process the most UK-bound road freight and the distribution of millions of multi-language information handbooks and pocket guides.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said:

“This campaign is another example of the extensive preparations we are making for leaving the EU on 31 October.

“As an outward-facing global trading nation, the efficiency of our ports is of paramount importance. This multi-million-pound initiative ensures the UK will remain open for business, with goods continuing to move freely.”

As part of the campaign an email will today be sent to 70,000 UK operators, industry bodies and other interested parties detailing essential information for those driving to the EU after 31 October.

If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, hauliers will be required to go through customs checks when exporting goods to the EU from the UK. It is the responsibility of traders to apply and obtain the right paperwork for the goods hauliers are carrying.

The UK government will also be providing hauliers with a handbook and a pocket guide to clearly set out how they can prepare themselves, their vehicles and their goods so that they can continue to travel freely. The how-to guides will be available across the UK and the continent at pop-up facilities in service stations, truck stops and petrol stations.

Other initiatives in the information campaign include:

• Messages embedded into every booking confirmation email issued to hauliers by ferry operators, advising that anyone travelling from 31 October will require specific customs paperwork.

• Tailored emails in relevant languages to influential trade bodies in countries across the EU covering border readiness and new traffic management requirements.
• Industry liaison days to ensure EU business receive clear information

Today’s announcement follows last week’s additional funding for Operation Brock – the contingency plan to tackle congestion in Kent in the event of any cross-Channel disruption.

The additional funds will be put towards a suite of measures, including standing up Manston airport as a lorry holding facility, the implementation of border readiness checks and increased resources to ensure drivers comply with Operation Brock.

The initiative launched today is part of the UK’s wider ‘Get Ready for Brexit’ campaign, announced earlier this month, that will outline the actions all members of the public and business owners need to take to prepare for October 31st.