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It may be over but Operation Stack, Kent Police's well-rehearsed response to last week's French lorry drivers' strike, was in action between Junctions 11 and 12 of the M20 in Kent when CM visited stranded drivers. Rob Willock reports. Photography by Peter Cramer.
• Throughout the day, the queue remained about 150 trucks-long as the Port of Dover was allowing lorries into the port's holding zone in blocks of 100. "We're letting them down there to use the facilities," said one port employee, sensing some drivers' growing discomfort.
Most drivers, however, were in good spirits, despite facing delays of around 12 hours and a diversion through Zeebrugge.
Derek Cassels of Euro Scot Logistics was on a job for IBM. "I've been on the go all night and T just want to get my head down," he said. "I guess the job should have been called off, but it's a Catch 22. Hauliers, are crip
pled if they stay home or if they go—they may as well chance it."
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Irish driver David Robinson was on his first job for Flaherty Bros, out of Dublin. Fellow countryman Kenneth Brady of Meadows Freight and Swiss driver Yves Kruger of Keller Basel chatted to pass the time.
Daniel Girault of Norbert Dentressangle was one of several French drivers in the queue, but he said he had encountered very little animosity from other drivers—just one frustrated Spaniard.
Jim Kenmure of IS Logistics was under. standing: "I can sympathise a little—the French drivers have been given nothing since the last strike."
But Jim Alexander of Scottish Express
International was blunt. "They can screw up their own economy if they like, but don't start messing with ours."
German driver Herman Bauer of Bertschi was also unsympathetic. "Bloody French—they make problems for all of us," he said. "We're all in the same boat, but if I demand more money my boss would just tell me to change jobs."
Kent police were happy to escort to the front of the queue any driver who fancied chancing the Channel Tunnel to Calais. "Anyone who wants to go through the tunnel can go now," said one officer, "hut their bosses are saying no—they'll just get stuck on the other side,