The situation
While COVID-19 continues to bear a significant impact on everyday lives, as well as the haulage industry many have begun shifting their focus towards plans later in the year/start of next year. One of the biggest events is the end of the UK's transition period to leave the EU. Which is due to end on January 1st, 2021, unless the Government were to request an extension. The very latest notice can be provided is July 1st, 2020. Otherwise, we will need to go ahead with Brexit on January 1st, 2021 as initially proposed.
Despite this, members of the haulage industry still have many questions as to how Brexit is expected to proceed and what some of the implications could be for haulage and logistics as a whole. Particularly for smaller businesses, who would need to consider transitioning from international haulage to national haulage and could need additional support from the Government to stay afloat.
In advance, the FTA and RHA have both made statements expressing their concerns for the future of logistics - along with the implications there could be if the Government fails to act in time to appropriately support those transport firms while they adjust to the changes, or delay the end of the transition period to ensure many businesses have enough time to prepare for what is to come.
Initially, at least, the UK will face a significant impact on trade on an international scale - as much movement of goods across Europe will become slower. This is estimated to be around 3 times slower with the additional paperwork required as part of the new rules. With a mix of COVID-19, which has damaged economies on a worldwide scale - going along with Brexit: the economy will be impacted in a way that could be of major consequence to small businesses who don't take precautions to handle the changes to workflow.
What can a freight exchange offer?
For owner drivers who need a fresh sense of growth within their business and logistics partnerships, a freight exchange can provide the tools required for exactly that. With options to extend your network such as enquiring for loads and searching for members via our toolbar - members of Returnloads can use the resources available to adjust their business practice to adapt to the times and shift networking for their firm into another area, if they are looking to transition from international to national with new partnerships.
Along with this, loads are available all over the UK - meaning there will be work to facilitate hauliers as well as fleet managers who may look into shifting their business following Brexit to a region with less paperwork and administration.
As a leading freight exchange, Returnloads also receive updates on a regular basis to improve and add features, meaning that from Returnloads.net, our members can expect to see the site grow and their benefits as a member only ever continue to improve. Despite the circumstances behind Brexit, we will also continue to provide the Euroloads service for international members: completely free of charge.
How will the freight exchange impact post-Brexit haulage?
Applying tools such as the freight exchange for one, will ease the transition for hauliers between operating on a national/international scale - making finding new business partners easier than ever before. This will improve business relations post-Brexit and make those connections significantly easier to get a hold of and arrange trade through our platform. With the use of a freight exchange, businesses can cut their costs with the efficiency Returnloads offers - covering more back loads also meaning more profit from completed work at negotiated rates.
Where there is a lack of European work, hauliers can hope to fill and replace with work from Returnloads while developing these new partnerships with businesses following Brexit and re-establish the business potential across the UK.
There’s always hope for the UK haulier
With the circumstances, it is estimated that the average delivery across Europe will take 3 times as long - with significantly increased paperwork and regulations that borders and their drivers are not used to. A key in facilitating these changes, could be the steer towards digitising a workload. Whether this is through a TMS or even keeping digital scans of documents - this would make the process easier for all parties involved.
It is likely that within the next few years, the UK will meet other nations with new trade deals - as the Government looks towards countries in the Commonwealth for partnerships. Once that takes place, new partnerships and trade relations will be formed - as we have the freedom to choose who we trade with on a more regular basis.
The future potential is that UK lorry drivers will be able to offer services more accessible than ever before, although the journey to get there could be more difficult. Whatever the case, Returnloads will be there to offer our members support for the whole journey the UK has along on the road.