The Road Haulage Association (RHA) has urged Hilary Benn MP, Northern Ireland secretary, to work collaboratively with the haulage sector to address complex border processes.
- A letter was sent to Benn highlighting operational and bureaucratic challenges faced by the industry due to current GB-NI border checks.
- Changes under the Windsor Framework next March could increase burdens, with emphasis placed on including industry voices in potential reforms.
- The government’s delay of new border arrangements from September to March 2025 is acknowledged amid business concerns over preparation time.
- Richard Smith, RHA MD, stresses the vital role of hauliers in maintaining supply chains and calls for durable, economical solutions.
The Road Haulage Association (RHA) has made a formal appeal to Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn MP, urging a partnership approach to overhauling the cumbersome post-Brexit border processes between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Central to their request is the easing of operational costs and administrative burdens, particularly as the implementation of the Windsor Framework’s new provisions draws near in March.
In its detailed correspondence, the RHA advocates for the simplification of protocols, especially for time-sensitive shipments, and insists that any governmental reforms incorporate insights from haulage industry representatives. This comes after the UK government postponed the Windsor Framework’s new measures from 30 September to 31 March 2025, responding to industry feedback on insufficient lead time for adaptation.
Richard Smith, the RHA’s Managing Director, underscored the essential nature of haulage operations in ensuring fluid trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, pointing out prevailing concerns despite official assurances of minimal disruption. He expressed apprehensions about increasing challenges as March 2025 approaches, emphasising the need for prompt, practical discussions on the RHA’s proposed changes.
Concurrently, the government has retracted its plan to begin mandatory ‘not for EU’ labelling from this October, citing readiness for future legislative development contingent on necessity. The RHA outlined further suggestions, such as engaging road haulage operators in trade dialogues, providing exceptions for ‘just-in-time’ goods, and abolishing certain customs reporting requirements to streamline operations and reduce unnecessary complexities.
There is a clear call from the RHA to dismantle the current pact’s rigidities, advocating instead for a business-friendly reporting model that leverages existing customs data. The approach aims to support both operational efficiency and economic stability, benefiting the transport industry and wider market players.
The RHA remains steadfast in its pursuit of streamlined border processes, highlighting the critical need for collaborative reform to benefit both industry and economy.
