Kentish Express Ashford & District
HGV drivers face £300 fines
Lorry drivers could be slapped with fines of up to £300 when travelling to Europe and back unless they have a Kent travel pass after Brexit.
The tough enforcement measure has been laid down by the government.
The aim is to reduce congestion between the UK and French borders from hauliers not having the right documents at the Channel Tunnel.
Under Whitehall plans, a lorry driver will be required to use an online portal to answer questions before being issued with a Kent Access Permit to instruct them to carry on their journey via the Port of Dover and Eurotunnel.
Bosses at Logistics UK, a major national haulier company which runs services in Kent, notably Unipac Shipping in Staplehurst, said drivers were shocked to hear they would be personally penalised if the new laws are not adhered to.
Chris Yarsley, who is the policy manager for road infrastructure at logistics UK, said: “Our members are dismayed that the onus for compliance will be placed on drivers themselves, leaving them personally liable for a fine if they do not comply with the new rules.”
Last month, cabinet minister Michael Gove revealed that hauliers crossing the English
Channel would need a pass to enter Kent if the Government fails to sign off on a deal with the European Union (EU) by the end of December.
The Prime Minister wants to avoid a “reasonable worstcase scenario” of queues of up to 7,000 trucks at the UK-EU border.
A Kent County Council (KCC) paper has been sent to all 81 elected members to explain the latest plans on a national and local level for the EU transition phase, which is due to end on December 31, 2020.
In the 12-page dossier, it says: “The government is clear that it wants to deter unready trucks from entering Kent. In essence, it does not want hauliers to attempt to cross the short straits if traders have not completed the necessary EU formalities to ensure their goods can successfully cross the border.
“Automating readiness is a key plank of the government’s plans.”