Photographer: Chris Ratcliffe / Bloomberg
Photographer: Chris Ratcliffe / Bloomberg
European freight forwarders reject contracts to bring cargo to the UK for fear the chaos in Dover could be repeated after Brexit.
Transporeon, a German software company that monitors real-time data on freight traffic and tariffs from more than 100,000 logistics service providers, said a “spectacular number” of freight forwarders have refused to bring cargo to the UK United in the last fortnight, despite having agreed contracts.
This is due to the fact that companies – which receive and send goods on behalf of other companies – are concerned that they may not be able to return with the so-called counter-load or that they may be stuck in queues when trying to leave Britain.
You don’t want to
European freight forwarders are already fleeing Britain
Source: Transporeon
The rate of rejection of cargo from France to Britain nearly tripled last week (compared to the third quarter average) and doubled for the Germany-Britain route as transport demand fell 68% in France-Great Britain and 71% in Germany-Great Britain. .
Freight forwarders tend to be less busy around Christmas (when drivers take holidays and close businesses) and the fall was expected to be most pronounced this year after companies stocked spare parts, food and production materials in the third quarter . Still, Oliver Kahrs of Transporeon said these factors alone could not explain the declining demand.
“When the trucks were trapped in not being able to cross the canal, it was an extraordinary situation that is not comparable to what we had last year, “he said. Kahrs attributed the highest rejection rates to chaos in Dover last week and concern was also raised that there would be more logjams after the UK left the single market and customs union on Thursday.
The UK government is still dealing with the Kent turbulence, which was triggered by France blocking multi-channel traffic for 48 hours to reduce the spread of Covid-19.
In a In a letter on Tuesday, the Logistics UK trade group warned that the shortage of adequate health services or hot food in the port of Dover during the blockade was a “national disgrace”, adding that if the chaos is repeated on 1 January, ” this lack of concern so that the well-being of drivers can affect the willingness of EU carriers to send their drivers to this country. “