Contrasting problems on Polish Borders
According to members of the Irish Exporters Association Multimodal/Transport Infrastructure Group, it is clear that over the coming two to three weeks significant issues are going to arise for exporters and importers. Resolving these will involve the active involvement of Carriers, Ports, Agents and Government regulatory Agencies.
Three interesting specifics have emerged:
- IAG (British Airways/Aer Lingus airlines) is making wide-body aircraft available to Freight Forwarders and large shippers to ship cargo in the hold (up to 25 tonnes in an A330 aircraft) on a charter basis.
- Ferry Companies are actively discouraging shipment of driver accompanied units
- Substantial volumes of cargo from China in particular, are due to land in Dublin Port in about 3 weeks-time, much of it for companies that are not currently trading.
Latest from around Europe
AUSTRIA
Borders: All borders are still open for trucks/goods.
Waiting Times: March 25th – 10 kilometre queue again towards Hungary
ITALY
The main associations involved with Italian fuel filling stations have called a strike, starting from today 25.03. This strike involves service stations along highways, city rings and inner city facilities as well.
This is due to the sudden drop of turnover (-85% from the start of epidemic) and relating to safety concerns.
The Italian Government is trying to find a solution, because filling stations play a crucial role in assuring that the logistic system works in a proper way. The situation is ‘fluid’, as everything in today’s Italy.
POLAND
After relaxing the western border controls (with Germany) trucks flow is good. They don’t have to stop for temperature checks, or show documents. The big wave of citizens and foreigners, coming back from western part of Europe, disrupts the steady flow a bit because they have to be directed to quarantine and fill out some forms.
Instead, there are some problems on eastern borders (with EU borders) where a level of controlling is much higher.
So people and trucks have to wait several hours.
Transport companies are raising concerns about issues relating to the crisis, urging government to take strong measures for protection transport companies. They ask for such solutions such as tax delays, postponing leasing payments, and even immediate acceptance of so called “minimal truck driver wage”. Accordingly, hauliers associations are also calling for postponing the European Union Mobility Package, which is an added problem for road transport operators in the current situation.