- public awareness drive will mean hauliers obtain from traders
everything they need to get ready for Brexit, helping goods
continue to flow smoothly
- £8 million project will establish 150 pop-up advice centres
across 10 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 UKand Europe
to ensure businesses and hauliers are prepared for
the UK to leave
the EU on 31
October 2019, Transport Secretary announced today (9 September
2019).
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 10
countries covering the nationalities that process the
most UK-bound road
freight
- the distribution of millions of multi-language information
handbooks and pocket guides
Transport Secretary 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 UKwill 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 businesses 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
Brexitcampaign, announced earlier this month, that will
outline the actions all members of the public and business owners
need to take to prepare for 31 October.
