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Issue 3 2020 - Freight Business Journal


///NEWS


Agency Sector Management (ASM) has welcomed HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)’s decision to extend the cut-off date for its CHIEF system beyond September 2020. Transition to the new Customs Service


Declaration (CDS),


originally scheduled for the start of 2021, will now be delayed. ASM chairman Peter MacSwiney, said: “We understand


that CHIEF will continue to operate beyond September 2020 for a significant period. During this extended transition, both CHIEF and CDS will accept declarations, and traders


will continue to


migrate to the new service, as and when systems and operations allow. “ASM continues to engage with


HMRC at all levels, as well as with other stakeholders, to ensure a


successful transition.” He explained that ASM and


most other Customs soſtware providers depend on Community System Providers (CSPs) to provide inventory management and that they had indicated that they would not be able to meet the deadline. The Covid-19 pandemic has


increased the further challenges, MacSwiney added: “September


COVID-19 bottlenecks delay freight


With delays at the EU’s internal borders making an unwelcome return during the COVID-19 crisis, the Freight Transport Association is urging all member states to act on EU guidelines for green lanes for goods at borders. Many logistics operators have encountered significant delays. Head of European and


global policy at FTA, Pauline Bastidon, said: “Green lanes at borders are intended to ensure freight flows freely to and from different countries, but many operators have faced, and are still facing, delays of up to 14 hours at the EU’s internal borders. Currently, crossing the border


should take no more than 15 minutes, as specified in the EU’s guidelines, and on behalf of our members and their partners across Europe, we are urging member states to facilitate the movement of vehicles to protect supply chains and the delivery of essential goods. “While we are all facing


such an extraordinary trading environment, procedures at green lane border crossings should be minimised and streamlined to what is strictly necessary. We are urging EU member states to ensure checks and screening can be carried out without the need for drivers


to leave their vehicles, and they should not be asked to produce any documentation except ID, driver’s licence and, if necessary, a letter from the employer, as specified in the EU guidelines. Electronic submission and display of documents should be accepted.” Bastidon said there was


also no need to quarantine drivers and other workers who are not displaying symptoms of COVID-19: “Quarantining workers at borders without reason is simply placing the whole supply chain under even greater threat. European logistics as a whole is facing a significant


2020 was always seen as an extremely challenging deadline and the extra time this extension has provided is welcomed.” BIFA director general Robert


representations


Keen commented: “In 2019, when HMRC announced its proposed plan for completing delivery of the new CDS and migrating traders from CHIEF to the new platform, we expressed the view that the timetable would be challenging. “Having made further via


the programme board seeking


shortage of workers, particularly drivers, and the industry which keeps the economy working efficiently simply cannot afford to sustain the gaps in the workforce which these unnecessary delays are causing. At present, society is relying on logistics to deliver – more now than at any other time – but our operators are


clarifications on behalf of our members, we are reassured to hear that it is HMRC’s intention to extend the migration timeline. That means that traders will not need to move from CHIEF to CDS by the end of September 2020 as originally scheduled and dual- running of both


systems will


continue with CHIEF remaining operational beyond 2020. “Keeping dual-running in place


until there is confidence that the new system is fully developed, stable and tested is a pragmatic


being hampered by unnecessary checks and red tape.” She is also urging EU member


states to temporarily suspend all road access restrictions currently in place. The International Road


Transport Union (IRU) said that delays have been caused by the authorities requesting additional


approach that shows HMRC has been listening to BIFA’s ongoing representation on the subject.” Keen added: “With


the UK


now outside the EU, and the transitional period underway, the development of the new core CDS is only one part of what is now a much bigger jigsaw regarding Customs. Comprehensive and high quality information and guidance is what we have also been asking for on behalf of our members and HMRC has delivered on that request.”


forms and health certificates from drivers. It adds that the slowdown of


the economy has also affected freight transport, putting many operators at serious risk. Without swiſt financial support, very few road transporters will remain operational once the restrictive measures have been liſted, it says.


IRU sees road freight falling by a fiſth


Global road transport activity could fall by up to 20% in 2020 as a result of the corona virus, says the International Road Transport Union (IRU). This could lead to a global loss in operator revenues of $2 trillion, it adds.


Nearly 6% of all people in


employment worldwide work in road transport – largely in small and medium sized firms that, due to their size, cannot easily cope with such external shocks. IRU says that the industry


is doing its best to cope in a difficult situation, with rules and restrictions changing rapidly and often in a haphazard or uncoordinated way. To keep road transport


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