8


Issue 8 2019 - Freight Business Journal


Recruitment firm WR Logistics says there has been a “staggering” 183% rise in demand for customs professionals as uncertainty around a no deal Brexit continues. It says there has been an


upsurge in demand when comparing company data from August – October 2019 with the first quarter of the year, for people with experience of the customs clearance process, documentation knowledge,


and tariffs and rate negotiation skills. With a potential no deal


Brexit looming, the TUC has stated that there will be a need for ‘up to 5,000 extra people’ to cope with Brexit-related strain. However,


this has not been


reflected in government plans, with Treasury Secretary, Rishi Sunak, suggesting only 900 more staff would be put in place. WR


Logistics managing director, Lewis Richards, said: Brexit – it’s only the


end of the beginning, says UKWA boss


Current PM Boris Johnson may be promising to ‘Get Brexit Done’ during the election campaign but the idea that the Withdrawal Agreement would be the end of the process is deeply misleading, says


UK Warehousing


Association (UKWA) chief executive, Peter Ward. He says: “Getting Brexit


done implies an end point, a drawing of a line under a long and painful process. In some ways this couldn’t be further from the truth. What it really means is ratifying an agreement which will signify the beginning of intensive and extensive negotiations to implement wide- ranging changes that could well


“While many sectors are being affected by the possibility of a no deal Brexit, demand is already rising sharply for customs experts. If our company data is anything to go by, as we inch closer towards Brexit, this is only likely to increase. “Employers we work with


are desperate for professionals with awareness of customs tariffs and systems, with many looking to alleviate potential Brexit risk, and others using the


take years to complete. In short, this is the start and not the end of Brexit.” The Withdrawal Agreement


tells little about the future relationship between UK and the European Union, he continued. “Not until we know the nature and timing of that future relationship - and the processes for managing it – will the business world have the much-needed forward certainty it craves,” said Ward. He also warned: “The latest


pledge from the Prime Minister that the Transition Period will


climate of uncertainty to grow their businesses.” “Ultimately, these workers


play a crucial role in supporting the country’s infrastructure, so it’s essential that skills shortages are quickly recognised and addressed. By acting now, businesses can continue to shape the future of the country’s network


and infrastructure,


regardless of what happens after we leave the EU.” (Training page 26)


under no circumstances be extended beyond December 2020 means the risk remains of crashing out onto WTO terms in little over 12 months.” UKWA has consistently likely interruption


warned of


to supply chains, whatever the outcome of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU.


It estimates that


withdrawal from the EU and particularly the Customs Union will result in 200 million additional customs declarations, with inspections at the border of plant, animal and forest products.


East Midlands train terminal on time


Construction of the rail terminal at East Midlands Gateway is making rapid progress and it is on schedule for official opening at the start of 2020, says operator Maritime Transport. It has


recently taken delivery of three new Sany reach stackers and two Sany empty container handlers. Tenants already in occupation at the site include Amazon, Shop Direct, K&N, and Nestle.


Exporters could face paperwork mountain, warns forwarder


A customs entry for each shipment to the EU could take an hour-and-three-quarters to complete under Boris Johnson’s now ‘paused’ draſt EU withdrawal agreement, says director of Leeds forwarder Tudor International Freight, Adam Johnson. He said the customs


declaration form UK companies would have to provide for every consignment shipped to the EU


will have 50 fi elds, according to an offi cial government estimate. He said the current draſt EU


withdrawal agreement and political declaration would be more damaging


for Britain’s


businesses than the versions concluded by his predecessor, but which had been rejected by Parliament. Johnson


said the trade


implications of the new draſt agreement diff ered from the


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Strategic supply chain partners www.transmecgroup.com


texts approved by previous premier Theresa May in crucial respects. He said: “Boris Johnson’s deal


would see Britain exit the EU’s customs union following the envisaged post-leaving transition period. This is currently set to conclude in December 2020, though offi cially it can be extended for one or two years if the UK and the bloc agree to this in the middle of next year.


“This intended customs


union withdrawal is because the government clearly wants the transition period to precede a relatively loose trading relationship with the EU. The plan is that this would be enshrined in a free trade agreement, broadly of the kind the bloc implemented with Canada in 2017.” Mr Johnson said Mrs May’s


approach, in contrast, would have seen the whole UK remain in the customs union indefi nitely, until the two sides concluded a free trade deal that rendered it redundant.


The International Road Transport Union (IRU) has elected Radu Dinescu as its new president, replacing Christian Labrot who has held the post for the last four years. It also elected IRU vice-president Asli Çalik as president of its Goods Transport Council.


FTA has appointed Zoe McLernon to the new role of multimodal policy manager. She will join FTA’s 17-strong policy team to speak on behalf of its multimodal members to stakeholders and government and to ensure their interests are represented and their views heard and acted upon.


Transport and logistics operator JG Russell has been chosen as the operator of a new intermodal rail freight facility at Highland Spring’s bottling plant at Blackford in the Highlands. The terminal, expected to open in early 2021, on the main line between Stirling and Perth is expected to remove about 8,000 truck from the roads each year, saving 3,200 tonnes of carbon dioxide. Network Rail is planning two daily train paths on Monday to Friday and a weekly Saturday train. The terminal will have an RTG and will cater for inbound movements of raw materials such as packaging and exports of bottled water.


Brexit delays begin


Operation Brock, which creates a truck holding area on the M20 to provide resilience in the event of disruption to services across the English Channel has gone live in preparation for the UK’s originally planned exit from the EU on 31 October. It imposes a permanent speed restriction and potential bottleneck near the turnoff s to the Channel Tunnel and port of Dover. Lorries heading for mainland


Europe will be routed down the coastbound carriageway north of Junction 8 to Junction 9, under a


30mph speed limit. Other traffi c will be directed onto the London- bound carriageway, with two lanes in each direction limited to 50mph. Elsewhere on the M20, work


continues to upgrade 6.5 miles near Maidstone to a Smart Motorway (essentially, a motorway with no hard shoulder for vehicles to pull over safely aſt er a breakdown). Work to create a new junction at


Ashford, junction 10a is being fast tracked to have key sections of the new junction open for traffi c by 31 October.


News Roundup


///NEWS


DBAY Advisors, the largest shareholder in troubled logistics firm Eddie Stobart says it has made an offer for 51% of the company. It will indirectly acquire a 51% stake in Greenwhitestar Acquisitions, currently a wholly-owned subsidiary of Eddie Stobart that holds the Company’s interests in the trading entities of the Group. DBAY will also inject about £55m of new finance into the group’s operations. Rival logistics operator Wincanton was also reported to be considering a bid. Eddie Stobart chief executive Alex Laffey stood down in the summer following an accounting error that overstated profits by £2 million, leading to a collapse in its share price.


Road & Rail


German-owned intermodal transfer equipment specialist CargoBeamer has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Russian railways to introduce new products. CargoBeamer has developed technology that moves semitrailers quickly on and off rail wagons without the need for cranes or strengthening of the road equipment, allowing standard equipment to be used for intermodal operations.


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