Hauliers looking to avoid post-Brexit border disruption are invited to an RHA seminar on the TIR international customs transit system tomorrow (17 February).
TIR, which operates across all EU countries and beyond, helps hauliers to avoid the use of national transit procedures through the use of customs-sealed containers.
It is operated by the International Road Transport Union (IRU) and UK hauliers can apply to join it as members of either the RHA or Logistics UK.
To comply, operators must meet financial requirements carried out by HMRC checks, deposit a £3,500 admission guarantee to join the scheme and have trailers that have been inspected and certified with a GB60 certificate showing they meet TIR requirements.
Once these criteria have been met, members are issued with a TIR carnet allowing them to transport goods cross-border using the TIR system. Subcontractors can also be included.
John Lucy, who leads the RHA Customs Brokerage team said post-Brexit border checks and delays are creating growing demand for a simpler, cheaper way of transiting goods.
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He said: “TIR streamlines customs procedures worldwide, and it's been established for many, many years.”
He added: “TIR is the only universal system that allows goods to transit from a country of origin to a country of destination in sealed compartments within customs control regulations, preventing unnecessary border checks.”
Lucy said the admission process also ensures a robust system.
“TIR’s strict public and private admissions process that transport operators need to go through to become approved authorized operators is what makes it one of the most secure and reliable transit systems.”
Currently there are around 76 contracting parties using TIR with approximately one million TIR carnets issued every year across 10,000 transport logistics companies. Some 80,000 trucks operate on the system around the world each month.
Lucy said: “Trucks operating with a TIR carnet offer an international guarantee from a journey’s start to finish it, even for intermodal transports. It's an easy secure and reliable way to move goods across borders, in straightforward bilateral transports between neighbouring countries or more complex multiple journeys.”
Operators can join the TIR webinar by registering at https://www.rhacustoms.co.uk/webinar/
