The issue of how Brexit will affect the British economy. Much of the debate usually revolves around
arguing over various economic facts and statistics. As such it can be all too
easy to be drawn away from what happens on the ground level, specifically those
that make a living via the EU. In this
blog entry, Ronan Doyle, a friend of mine and a self-employed lorry driver has
volunteered to give his perspective on how the EU effects his daily livelihood
in this short interview.
Please could you describe briefly what you do for a living?
I am a lorry driver. One of many. We are the blood cells of the
country. Glance around you. Everything which you see, except the trees have
arrived by road at some stage. Even the road.
How does the UK being in the EU make the practicalities of your
job easier?
International road transport has grown enormously in the past
fifty years. The EU has identified the need to connect industry with customers
in a fast and efficient manner. This is to everyone's benefit and has been the
backbone of our prosperity. Before the EU freight used to spend a lot of time
hanging around at closed borders. If the border staff had gone home for the
night, the driver would have to wait until morning to declare the goods and be
allowed entry. The German system was particularly tricky. They had a
'tankshien' regulation which involved dipping the tank and paying import duty
on the fuel (less the tankshien tickets issued on export for previous trips).
The border opening times often conflicted with drivers hours regulations.
Together with lots of currencies and poor roads the whole thing was very hard
work. The EU has given us free movement for goods. We simply fill out a 'CMR'
form in five minutes describing the freight and it is produced upon request
alongside the driver's passport. The EU has also improved the road network
through it's regional development fund. This has bought us fast access to our
customers and created jobs. We can even crash safely with the EU vehicle safety
regulations, then phone the boss to report the accident with our very cheap roaming
tariff, thanks to the EU!
Post Brexit would it not be possible for the UK to come up with
a practical customs/border arrangement similar to non-EU countries like Norway
or Switzerland?
If we are to leave the customs union, a "Norway" deal
is the best we can hope for. Norway bypasses the full four hour freight clearance
in favour of a 10 minute partial pre-clearance which allows the freight to proceed.
This sounds fantastic, but should be approached with caution. Whilst the
Norwegian system takes 10 min's to clear, the queue to apply takes two hours.
This is in rural Scandinavia. The problem in Dover/Calais would be magnified
enormously. In this scenario I predict that passing the border would take all
day (the law then puts you to bed for a further 11 hours before you may
proceed) The M20 would probably be permanently on 'stack' daytime and be
impassable. It would probably equalise during the night and build again from
6am every day. Lot's of extra parking will be required on both sides of the
channel for drivers who are out of hours and industry and customers would
suffer.
Do you feel that the French authorities in Calais give enough
support to you to do your job?
The authorities in Calais do their best in a tricky situation. I
personally hang back in Belgium to check and secure the vehicle. If I am not
going to make it to England I stay where I am. Usually I get no problems. The
flare up's which are seen on Youtube are not, in my experience typical of
crossing the channel. The only problems which I have encountered was an
attempted boarding by migrants in Caen. I found the French Gendarmerie to be
both friendly and supportive. I firmly disagree with the UK's policy of handing
out huge fines to hapless lorry drivers who are, after all, the victims of
crime.
If Brexit proceeds on it's current course, what difficulties
will your business face?
I'm not sure what the current course of Brexit is, but I don't
feel bad. Neither does Theresa May. To her credit however she is fighting the
horrendous possibility of "hard WTO Brexit" Leaving without a deal
and full freight clearance will mean that after leaving the EU Friday night,
the M20, M26 and M25 will likely be impassable by Monday lunchtime. Supermarket
rdc's will be in tight supply by midweek, gaps will appear in supermarket
shelves by Friday night. Rumour would get out about food shortage and panic
buying would ensue. Those without the means to stock up on tinned food would
literally be going hungry by week two! This sounds far-fetched but it is a very
real possibility given the tight supply lines of 21'st century commercial
practice. Then and only then will people see that you cannot eat blue
passports.
