The Chartered Institute for Logistics and Transport (CILT) tells Government that frictionless borders, and gripping the driver shortage, are crucial for Britain’s future economic success. Read more on the CILT Public Policy and Guidance website. 

CILT has released its second set of recommendations to Government – offering advice and identifying opportunities for greater prosperity – ahead of the United Kingdom’s exit from the EU.

With negotiations start imminently, the Department for Transport (DfT) asked CILT to discuss a further set of issues, focused specifically on road freight. The meeting took place in March 2017 and the intention was to:

• Build on CILT’s initial advice;
• Offer further input related to desired outcomes stated by UK ministers (e.g. frictionless borders; ongoing residency rights for UK citizens living in the EU and vice-versa).

The second report in the series; Freight, logistics and supply chain priorities for EU exit negotiations: Recommendations to Government, recommends that: 

• Government should appoint a lead organisation to co-ordinate the development of a multi-agency platform to deliver integrated management of border controls, freight movements and standards.
• Government and industry should work together to accelerate and improve programmes to make the freight transport and logistics industry a more attractive career opportunity.
• Future immigration policy must provide sufficient flexibility to recruit from the EU at all levels so that domestic supply chains can be fully resourced.
• Government should begin scenario planning exercises with industry immediately to ensure potential changes to supply chains are understood and prepared for.
• Before negotiations start in earnest, Government should continue to consult to ensure it is fully informed of how Brexit could change the EU’s and UK’s place in global supply chains.
• Government should evaluate and develop a negotiating position on vehicle licensing and cabotage.
• Vehicle design and operation rules should be harmonised with EU regulations to ensure there are no barriers to smooth flow of trucks and drivers between the EU and UK.

Further discussions will be held in the summer as part of a rolling programme of professional advice to Government on how to develop the best possible exit solution for the UK, our economy and national prosperity beyond Brexit.

CILT has offered to assist Government in its forthcoming work on developing and testing contingency measures and systems which could be implemented under the various possible outcomes from the negotiations.

In October 2016, CILT submitted its first paper to the DfT analysing the potential impacts that Brexit may have on the future of our fast-moving and ever-evolving profession. The advice drew on a roundtable discussion involving experts from CILT’s sectoral forums and Public Policy Committee, in addition to DfT officials, focussing on key issues raised by the department.