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Issue 2 2019 - Freight Business Journal


FedEx integrates TNT European road network


FedEx Express says it has reached another milestone in its integration with TNT and is now using the latter‘s European road network to improve transit times for its intra-Europe economy shipments. FedEx transit times will


decrease on about 40% of European lanes in countries where the improvement is implemented, it says, adding that the cross-utilisation of the combined FedEx Express and TNT networks is a major step towards full integration of the operations, delivering improved


throughout the first half of 2019. FedEx says that many customers will see faster transit times and some may see co-branded TNT drivers pick up or deliver shipments, as more stations integrate. Tracking and shipping tools, customer support and invoicing will remain the same, it adds.


Thanks to its integration


efficiency and customer service. The improved service is currently being launched in the


Businesses fail to


prepare for Brexit, says Customs


HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is warning that many traders have failed to take steps that will enable them to continue trading after a No Deal Brexit. In guidance to business on


how to prepare, published on 28 February, it is urging companies to register for an Economic Operator and Registration Identification


(EORI) number, pointing out that those that have only ever traded inside the EU will not have one. In the event of a no deal exit, businesses will be unable to continue trading with the EU without an EORI number but HMRC says that only 17% of these businesses have registered. Since September 2018, HMRC has written directly to


UK, Germany, Benelux, Poland and Spain and will progressively roll out across the rest of Europe


145,000 VAT-registered EU- only traders advising them to apply for an EORI number. But a


further estimated 95,000


non-VAT registered businesses also need to take action, it says. Despite these letters, only


40,973 have registered for an EORI number since October. After getting an EORI number,


businesses need to take the second step and consider how they want to make customs declarations. Businesses can appoint a customs agent if they want someone else to do it,


choose to do so. Businesses that import


HMRC unveils ‘no declaration’ scheme for ro ro ports


HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) released details in February of the arrangements to clear goods through UK ferry ports in the event of a No Deal Brexit on 29 March. They included transitional simplified procedures (TSPs) and temporary arrangements to allow most goods to leave the UK port before ‘arriving’ the goods. It will not be possible to complete


customs formalities when goods arrive in the UK at listed roll on roll off locations such as Dover or the Tunnel and it will be essential to make customs declarations before checking the goods onto the ferry or shuttle on the EU side. TSPs will be reviewed aſter 3-6 months and their withdrawal will be subject to 12-months’ notice, says HMRC. Traders will be allowed to defer


giving a full declaration and paying any duty but they will need to


apply first - HMRC says that details of a new streamlined process will be made available later - and they will need to have a financial guarantee in place by 30 June. However, TSPs will not apply


to imports direct from outside the EU, goods subject to special procedures, forwarders and others acting on behalf of a trader or firms with overdue tax returns, who have failed to pay tax or duties or are insolvent. Other than controlled goods alcohol


(such as or tobacco)


companies will need to make a customs declaration within their commercial records when the goods cross the border, including the date and time the goods arrive in the UK, description, commodity code and quantity, purchase and (if available) sales invoice numbers, customs value, any serial numbers,


delivery details and emails. Firms


will then send a


supplementary declaration by the fourth working day of the month following arrival of the goods and HMRC will take a direct debit on the 15th day of the month aſter the goods arrive in the UK for any duties or taxes payable. For controlled goods including


alcohol and tobacco importers will send a simplified frontier declaration before importing the goods into the UK and ensure that they are accompanied by full supporting documentation - for example


licenses. Companies


importing uncontrolled and controlled goods in the same consignment may use the controlled procedure for all goods. Generally, truck drivers of


accompanied freight will be responsible for submitting safety


with TNT, FedEx Express says it has significantly increased its presence in the European market. TNT’s road network operates 55,000 weekly trips using more than 540 depots and 45 countries in Europe. Prior to the acquisition, Europe FedEx served 46 airports across Europe, and operated more than 39 aircraſt and more than 5,000 road vehicles.


goods into the UK from the EU using ro ro ports can register for the new Transitional Simplified Procedures (TSP) which will allow businesses to import without having to make a full customs declaration at the border, and postpone paying any import duties. For imports using other locations, and for exports, standard customs declarations will apply. HMRC adds that some £3


suggesting that most will


million of the £8 million in funding remains available for traders and intermediaries to support training and IT costs remains available.


and security information through an Entry Summary Declaration before the goods arrive in the UK, HMRC adds. Ferry and Tunnel operators


“must have reasonable belief” that customers have made declarations. HMRC suggests this can be included in their terms and conditions, which they will need to show to HMRC on request. For unaccompanied trailers


or containers, the ferry operator is responsible for submitting the Entry Summary Declaration before the goods leave the EU, including the trailer or container number. Commenting, BIFA director-


general Robert Keen complained that TSP appeared to be aimed solely at traders, and not freight forwarders or customs brokers. He said: “BIFA believes that they are aimed solely at traders, which have not previously engaged in international trade. There does not appear to be equivalent liberalisation of regimes for existing holders, such as forwarders.”


News Roundup Forwarding & Logistics


French forwarder Heppner has signed a strategic partnership with the air and sea division of Austrian-based Gebrüder Weiss, replacing its 20-year old partnership with Hellmann Worldwide Logistics. The two companies’ international land transport divisions have worked together since 1985.


Both BIFA’s Customs-related training courses have gained official Continuous Professional Development (CPD) accreditation. CPD accreditation is one of the highest standards for both academic and practical qualifications, ensuring teaching and learning remain up to date.


Amber Road has become the latest company to join the Association of Freight Soſtware providers. It provides Cloud- based global trade management soſtware and trade content and enables collaboration between buyers, sellers and logistics companies, by replacing manual processes with comprehensive automation.


Aerospace logistics specialist B&H Worldwide has appointed Chris Allen to the new position of business development manager, Asia. Based in Singapore he will be responsible for identifying opportunities for the company to grow its products and services across the region. For the last six years he has been based at the company’s London Heathrow global headquarters. B&H has meanwhile signed a three year deal to provide warehousing and efficiency solutions to UK-headquartered aſtermarket specialist Apex Aero. It has also signed a memorandum of understanding with US-headquartered aerospace logistics provider Compass Forwarding. Compass will provide additional coverage in six locations in the US, Brazil and the Middle East.


Baxter Freight has been granted Authorised Economic Operator status by HM Revenue & Customs. Chairman Ian Baxter said that, in the event of a ‘no-deal’ Brexit, it would help to keep cargo moving as smoothly as possible and reduce the need for financial guarantees.


US-owned global logistics company CH Robinson is to acquire The Space Cargo Group, which provides freight forwarding, customs brokerage and other logistics services in Spain and Colombia, for €42 million (US $48m). Headquartered in Madrid, Space Cargo has 170 employees, seven offices in Spain and one in Colombia.


Freight forwarder Geodis is to open a new 40,000sq m warehouse in Oberhausen, near Dusiburg in Germany this summer, now being built by UK real estate group Segro. Geodis will hire up to 500 employees for warehousing and order picking operations. The combination of an available pool of skilled workers and an attractive logistics location make Oberhausen the ideal choice for the operation, it says. Geodis now operates 14 logistics centres in Germany, six of them specialising in e-commerce.


Berlin-based digital freight forwarder InstaFreight has appointed logistics specialist Dirk Reich as board chairman. With more than 35 years of experience in the industry, he was president and chief executive of Cargolux Airlines and before that spent 20 years at Kühne + Nagel.


CEVA Logistics has appointed Claus Svane Schmidt as head of its less than container load (LCL) product. He was previously managing director of the company’s North Asia cluster. CEVA has identified LCL as a key product for development in the coming months.


Part and full load operator Continental Cargo Carriers has completed relocation of its Ramsgate sales and operations team to Dartford following its acquisition by Europa Worldwide Group last year. CCC will be run as a totally separate operation from Europa.


///NEWS


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