UK drivers caught by Italian dispute
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. British truck drivers in Europe may be unable to get home for Easter because of an Italian Customs work-to-rule which is delaying lorries for up to four days at border posts.
Drivers who fail to clear Customs by 14:00hrs on Good Friday, 29 March, will fall foul of Italy's restrictions on the movement of vehicles over five tonnes at Easter. The ban runs frorii 14:00hrs to 22:00hrs on Good Friday and from 08:00hrs to 22:00hrs for the three days to Easter Monday.
Trucks delayed in Italy and returning to the UK through France may face similar problems — a French ban on all commercial vehicles over 7.5 tonnes runs from 08:00hrs on Good Friday to 22:00hrs on Easter Monday.
CM spoke to British drivers stranded at Pordenome in Northern Italy who have been waiting at Customs clearing agent Roberto Paviotti since the weekend. Bill Gage, driving for MSL of Willington, County Durham, arrived in Pordenome on Saturday (23 March) and was still there on Tuesday (26 March). "Normally I'd clear in about two hours," said Gage. "This delay means a lot of downtime, with no compensation for myself or the firm."
Gage believed that up to 30 trucks were delayed at Pordenome, including British, French and German drivers, and said that delays of three to four days were "average".