A summit to discuss reform of the stowaway fine system and organised by the RHA will take place in London this October.
It said the international summit would bring together key stakeholders from the UK, EU and USA, including the Home Office, department for transport, IRU, truckers against trafficking and the American Trucking Associations.
The RHA has been urging the government to address the civil penalty scheme, which it said is unfairly penalising compliant operators and drivers when illegal immigrants are found in their vehicles.
The business group previously said it had received “numerous” reports from members who have been hit with significant fines, despite making all reasonable efforts to secure their vehicles.
Earlier this year, JMW Solicitors urged hauliers to challenge stowaway fines levied on them after it had experienced repeated success in having them cancelled.
Over 300 businesses recently wrote to the Home Secretary to ask for the scheme to be reformed. Businesses also called for more investment from the Home Office in Border Force technology to deal with the issue.
RHA MD Richard Smith said: “We recognise the vital role the logistics sector plays in securing borders and we support proportionate enforcement to deter and prevent illegal entry.
“However, evolving methods of concealment mean that drivers and operators can be unfairly penalised, even when taking all reasonable measures.
“There’s broad concern within the industry that the current clandestine entrant civil penalty scheme isn’t wholly effective with operators.”
The summit will take place on 1 October in London and the RHA said details on speakers would be made available shortly.
