The Dutch transport sector is concerned about reintroduction of border controls in Denmark and Sweden. The controls should ensure that the countries get a better understanding of the flow of refugees, but this will not help freight transport.
The border controls were introduced last Monday. They involve spot checks where trucks are also turned inside out, shippers' organisation EVO said.
"That costs a transporter a lot of time," Dennis Heijnen told NOS. Many trucks would be involved, as the route via Denmark is a major corridor to Scandinavia. "About 15 to 20 per cent of our exports to Scandinavia are via this route. These are often fresh products, where you can't really have any delays."
Structural nature of checks
Temporary controls, such as after the Paris attacks, are not a problem for EVO. The checks in Sweden and Denmark have a more structural character and are therefore a problem. This is also the opinion of TLN. The industry organisation detects an increasing tendency towards border controls, which they say is at odds with the free movement of goods and services in the EU.
Calais
Trucks have long been experiencing delays in Calais, France, crossing to Britain, due to the many border controls. Refugees want to cross to Britain by crawling into trucks. The resulting delays and damage have so far cost the transport sector some €150 million. Moreover, violence towards drivers is said to be the order of the day, now that for migrants the chances of getting to Britain are increasingly slim. TLN therefore called for the French army to start enforcing security in the Calais area to ensure the safety of truck drivers.
Editorial LogistiekProfs
