UK-EU Deal Boosts Cross Channel Freight

The Port of Dover has welcomed the UK-EU deal announced today, which represents a significant and positive step forward in resetting and strengthening the vital cross-Channel freight and economic relationship. As the UK’s primary gateway for trade with the European Union – handling approximately one third of all UK-EU goods trade – Dover is uniquely placed to see the tangible benefits that reduced border frictions will bring.

“We particularly welcome commitments to simplifying trading and travel arrangements and removing barriers such as Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) checks on animal and plant products, which we hope to see implemented as quickly as possible,” said a Port spokesperson.

Short Straits

“This deal directly reflects the priorities discussed at our recent Short Straits Summit, where leaders across maritime, logistics, infrastructure, government, and business called for frictionless trade, regulatory cooperation, and a shared commitment to innovation and decarbonisation. An improvement in border processes will not only restore confidence for businesses and investors but also drive economic growth and supply chain resilience, and we are pleased to see these objectives recognised in today’s agreement.

“Looking ahead, we are committed to working with the UK Government, French Government and European Commission to implement this deal effectively and maximise shared prosperity either side of the Channel. Today’s announcement marks a fresh chapter in UK-EU collaboration, and the Port of Dover stands ready to deliver the full potential of this renewed partnership for the benefit of communities, businesses, and economies on both sides of the Channel.”

P&O Dover-Calais route at full strength
Pride of Burgundy arrives at Dover

As the UK’s busiest international ferry port and a vital gateway for the movement of people and trade, Dover handles £144 billion of trade per year, 33% of UK trade in goods with the EU and welcomes over 11 million passengers.

Supply Chain Agility

Matt Gregory, Senior Vice President of Voice & Mobility at Infios, told us: “With border checks easing on UK food exports to the EU, local food growers and manufacturers will be celebrating this opportunity for smoother sales with Europe.

“To be able to meet this potential increased demand, supply chain agility will be critical, especially in the food industry. Perishable items such as meat, dairy, fruit and vegetables require strict temperature and humidity control from the moment they leave the farm to the moment they reach the consumer. This need for consistency adds a layer of complexity to logistics.

“Technology will be critical to ensure the global supply chain can adapt to these changes. Tools such as predictive analytics can help anticipate supply issues before they occur, while real-time inventory tracking allows businesses to stay ahead of shortages and avoid overstocking.

supply chain resilience
Matt Gregory, Infios

“Warehouse Management Systems can also provide retailers with a clear view of what’s in stock, where it is and when it needs replenishing, helping prevent both waste and missed sales. When integrated with Transportation Management Systems, delivery routes can be optimized, arrival schedules communicated in advance and order cycles better aligned with consumer demand.

“When factoring in temperature sensitive products, IoT-enabled monitoring systems are invaluable in tracking temperature, humidity and vehicle location in real time. This not only ensures consistent environmental conditions but also provides immediate alerts when deviations occur, allowing teams to respond before products are compromised.”

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New Seatrade Perishable Cargo Service at Port of Dover

 

LeShuttle Freight Hits Cargo Milestone

LeShuttle Freight, providing a fast and low carbon way route to transport goods between Britain and continental Europe through the Channel Tunnel, announces a milestone as its 35 millionth truck crossed the Channel aboard its shuttle on Wednesday 13th March 2024.

The 35 millionth truck belongs to Ontime Capitrans, one of Spain’s largest transporters of temperature-controlled goods throughout Europe. Ontime Capitrans has been a LeShuttle Freight customer for over 25 years, supplying refrigerated goods to some of the UK’s leading supermarket chains. The driver, Luis Vitervo Panches has been driving for 36 years and has crossed the Channel with LeShuttle Freight over 1000 times.

Since 1994, more than 750 million tonnes of goods have been transported via the tunnel aboard one of the 15 Truck Shuttles. LeShuttle Freight is a vital link in the global supply chain and carries 25% of the goods exchanged between the UK and continental Europe thanks to the speed, ease and flexibility of its service with up to 6 departures per hour. At 800m long, each Truck Shuttle can carry up to 32 trucks for the 35-minute journey between Folkestone to Calais.

Spain is a key trading partner for the UK; in 2023, £29 billion of goods were traded between the UK and Spain. Overall, 16% of the total trade between UK and Spain was facilitated by The Channel Tunnel, making this a critical route to market for Spain’s fresh produce exports. With between 15-20% of LeShuttle Freight traffic from Spain and Portugal, the Iberia region is one of the largest trade contributors along Germany, Eastern Europe and BeNeLux.

As a leader in increasing fluidity through innovation, LeShuttle Freight has introduced FIRST, a distinctive new service for freight customers looking for additional time savings and dedicated support on their Channel crossings. In addition, to enhance the Short Strait crossing for both hauliers and drivers, LeShuttle Freight introduced a Driver Info web app to provide customised information such as departure and arrival times, club car number and customs status linked to a vehicle registration number to drivers. The tool is also used to communicate important safety instructions and operational procedures to ensure that drivers have a smooth experience at every step of their journey. It also enables access to the loyalty programme dedicated solely to drivers.

35 millionth truck

Deborah Merrens, Chief Commercial Director at LeShuttle said: “This milestone is one we’re incredibly proud of and we want to thank our customers for their continued support. At LeShuttle Freight, we focus on better understanding the needs of our customers – hauliers and drivers – to offer them dedicated services from smart border crossing procedures to enhanced driver experience onboard our shuttles and on our premises. This was reflected in an improved satisfaction score last year and we’re looking forward to hitting our next milestone very soon… watch this space!”

Agustin Lison, FTL International Operations Manager at Ontime Capitrans, said: “We’ve been using LeShuttle Freight for 25 years due to the speed and ease of use of the service. It is the quickest and most efficient way we can deliver our fresh goods to the British consumers and the smart border solutions provided by LeShuttle Freight help us to ensure a smooth and fast crossing.”

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The Channel Tunnel Fixed Link jointly protected by the two States

 

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