For many years, Polish carriers carried out around 500,000 crossings through the English Channel annually, with the route to the British Isles (England, Scotland, Wales) being the fourth-largest market served by domestic transport companies. On January 1, 2021, the United Kingdom formally left the structures of the European Union, becoming a third country for EU member states. This situation forced changes to the existing rules for transporting goods.
Changes – Road Transport Between Poland and England
What regulations must carriers now comply with? The most visible element of the new reality turned out to be the need to prepare new documents authorising the transport of goods both to the UK and back to the European Union. While road transport can still be carried out under the EU Community Licence, drivers are now required at the border to present a passport along with a driving licence bearing code 95 or the corresponding entry in the driver qualification card. For heavy goods vehicle (HGV) drivers, having this qualification is standard, but for those transporting goods with vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes (commonly referred to as vans), this new requirement came as quite a surprise.
Brexit and Customs Procedures
From January 1, 2022, with the implementation of customs clearance procedures in the UK, every carrier operating there must register with the GVMS (Goods Vehicle Movement System). This allows for the generation of a GMR number, confirming that the carrier has completed the required customs declaration. Transport companies must also prepare for further changes, as from July 1, 2022, the use of the ENS (Entry Summary Declaration) system became mandatory.
Difficulties in Road Transport from the UK
New customs regulations are not the only challenges carriers face. Periodically, the public hears about disruptions on roads leading to ferry terminals in Dover. The UK government’s Operation Brock, introduced to prevent the M20 motorway from becoming blocked, has resulted in long queues of trucks heading to UK ports, which cyclically delay transport to the European Union.
On such a demanding and complex market, with the constant need to adapt to changing regulations, it pays to work with an experienced partner. If you need to transport goods from Poland to England or arrange shipment from the UK to the European Union, our team of freight forwarding specialists at Multica.pl is here to help.
