Logistics industry ‘not prepared to make good chaos of no deal Brexit’

Heidi Skinner, policy manager for the South East at the FTA says: “The logistics industry knows that a No Deal departure from the EU will present significant challenges for the sector, and this investment for the transport network will provide welcome protection for the vital link for the UK’s trading relationships – 17% of the UK’s trade goes through Dover.

“Whatever the outcome of negotiations, freight will have to adapt, but the transport infrastructure must be robust enough to meet the demands of the supply chain.

“The logistics industry is already being forced to waste millions of pounds trying to prepare for uncertain future, which the industry was promised would not happen. Due to the lack of progress towards a Brexit deal, the logistics industry has been left waiting for an agreement to frictionless trade.

“With under 10 weeks to go until Brexit there is still considerable work that needs to be done to ensure the county of Kent and country as a whole is ready to handle new trading conditions. UK and overseas drivers need to understand what restrictions they will face, but there has been no communication yet.

“Freight and logistics firms need information and time to prepare - neither have been given. The logistics industry always does its best to Keep Britain Trading – it is flexible and able to adapt (given notice) but is not, and cannot be, prepared in such a short time to make good the chaos of a no deal Brexit.”