International operators face high cost of French Sunday bans
Page 12
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
• The French ban on Sunday truck movements, which is is expected to cost UK businesses as much as £27m a year, begins on Easter Sunday (30 March).
This ends the agreement which allowed British trucks that had entered France before 22:00hrs on Saturday night to return home during Sunday. Operators also Face the extra problem brought about by the fact the driving ban also applies to Easter Monday, which is a bank holiday.
Next weekend drivers who would previously have reached the Channel ports on Sunday will be kept waiting for 48 hours. On normal weekends, drivers will have to wait until 22:00hrs on Sunday nights before resuming their journeys.
The Freight Transport Association warns that the ban will result in massive ly increased wage bills, and some hauliers may be forced to buy more trucks to handle the same amount of work.
LI Hauliers carrying perishable goods and livestock can continue to drive on Sundays.
Never on Sunday: Drivers forced to wait at weekends.