Further to our reports earlier this month of severe delays to get into the port of Calais, Dunkirk and Eurotunnel, French Customs Officials have again gone on strike this week causing yet more issues. On top of this, Storm Gareth continues to pummel the UK with strong winds and heavy rain which is causing port closures and ferry cancellations. As a result of these excessive delays, inevitably transit times could be affected.
Traffic jams have again built up around the French port of Calais as customs officers work to rule, carrying out tighter checks on lorries heading for the Channel Tunnel and the ferry port.
According to Lloyds Loading List, waiting times for trucks to check-in on its freight shuttle from Calais to Folkestone currently stand at five hours compared to two and a half hours on Monday. On the Folkestone-Calais crossing, there are waiting times of 30 minutes before trucks can check-in.
Eurotunnel is also advising of lorry congestion on the A16 in both directions.
How will this affect shipments?
Our teams are monitoring all shipments in transit and will contact you if your shipment is affected by these delays. If you have any concerns, please contact your local John Good Logistics office who will advise accordingly.
How to avoid delays at Calais
One way to avoid delays at Calais is to use sea freight instead of road freight to get your goods in and out of the UK. For example, we have weekly sea freight services from Istanbul and Izmir that are usually suitable for most needs and offers an excellent alternative to road transport, delivering significant reductions in freight costs at the same time! Sea Freight transits are similar to current road freight transits with port to port in around 8-9 days and door to door in 14-16 days.
Here are six key advantages:
- Customs Clearance at Felixstowe rather than Dover
- Cost Savings
- Reliable & Fixed Transit Times to the UK
- Cargo Safety
- Environmentally Friendly
- Deliveries / Fixed Schedules
For more helpful guidance on how you can prepare for Brexit, check out our handy infographic – Brexit – Getting prepared for No Deal.
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