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Lonely trailers leave shores in droves
Page 19
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TRAFFIC CONGESTION and the threat posed by illegal immigrants may explain a sudden jump in the number of unaccompanied trailers going to Europe, according to the Freight Transport Association.
Latest figures from the Department for Transport show that UKbased operators' share of HGVs travelling to mainland Europe is continuing to fall.
They accounted for just 26% of the sector between April and June — down 1% on the previous quarter, and 2% on the same period a year ago.
However, the total number of vehicles travelling to mainland Europe was 648.700, 4% more than the same period a year ago.
The number of unaccompanied trailers was up 7% on the first quarter, and was 18% more than a year ago. These figures go against long-term trends and ETA chief economist Simon Chapman says it suggests UK hauliers are increasingly sending and receiving unaccompanied trailers through North Sea ports to avoid the congested South-East.
He adds: -Another reason may be the problem of illegal immigrants."