The Freight Transport Association (FTA) in the UK has commented on October’s report from the National Audit Office (NAO) confirming that the fears of the UK transport industry over border readiness for Brexit in the event of no deal are justified.

The FTA said that there are still so many elements to prepare if trade is to continue to move freely into and out of the UK, from the government IT systems required, to contingency measures to mitigate border delays and the availability of government resources to handle new controls and procedures. “Despite repeated warnings from FTA since Article 50 was triggered, it is concerning to note the NAO has confirmed that it is now too late to implement new border infrastructure and that border processes on day 1 after Brexit will be ‘less than optimal’,” said Pauline Bastidon, Head of European Policy, FTA.

She continued: “The logistics sector is adept at adapting to change, but needs clarification on a range of elements, from the UK schedule of tariffs in the event of no deal to the arrangements that will be used for the safe passage of trucks. Logistics also needs more visibility on what would happen in terms of border controls. Logistics businesses are being left as the ‘fall guys’ for the government’s lack of planning, and with most of FTA’s questions over future trading arrangements still unanswered, it will be difficult for our members to keep doing what they do best.”