The optimism resulting from Michael Gove’s swift response to the RHA chief executive’s urgent request for a roundtable meeting to discuss the UK government’s preparedness for the end of the Brexit transition was at best misplaced.

Commenting, Richard Burnett said. “As we understood it, the intention was for a small meeting with the key players to discuss just how government intends to implement the many processes and procedures needed to ensure that border crossings are as seamless and as pain-free as possible. That was not the case. The meeting comprised a wide range of stakeholders, all of whom have their own concerns and agendas.”

“With only 75 working days of the transition period left we shall continue to work relentlessly on behalf of our members and the rest of the haulage logistics industry for whom the success of these negotiations have become a matter of make or break.”

“Government officials are political experts; we are experts in road freight, logistics and keeping the supply chain moving. I was hopeful that today’s meeting would result in a mutually effective co-operation. Sadly, this hasn’t happened and there is still no clarity regarding the questions that we have raised.”

“Although I don’t think we’re quite back at square one, we’re certainly not much further ahead.”

Photo: Richard Burnett