WITH approximately 10,000 trucks backed up ahead of Christmas waiting to get into France and beyond, the DfT said 15,526 coronavirus tests on lorry drivers were carried out, with only those that test negative allowed to make the crossing to France. Transport secretary Grant Shapps revealed that just 36 tested positive.
It underlines just how successful the road transport industry has been in tackling and coping with Covid-19 using now well established procedures to keep the wheels rolling.
For trucks and freight leaving the UK, the DfT is ‘strongly encouraging’ all international hauliers to ensure their HGV drivers are tested for Covid-19 before travelling to France, warning that those drivers arriving in Kent without a test will face delays.
The DfT is also offering to help hauliers set up their own testing facilities with lateral flow test kits provided by the Department of Health and Social Care, free of charge, along with free training.
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