British hauliers face a new French blockade...
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by Miles Brignall • Hundreds of British and Irish international hauliers were facing uncertain futures this week as striking French truck drivers once again brought the country to a standstill, As CM went to press French drivers were manning around 140 blockades across France at strategic sites including some border crossings and most motonvay interchanges.
Riot police had removed strikers at crossings with Germany and Spain, but drivers had parked a truck across the customs post at Calais, blocking all freight from the port.
At Dover most hauliers were being sent to Zeebrugge or Ostend with some delays. Although some firms reported having a few trucks stuck trying to get back to the UK, most appeared to be adopting a waitand-see approach, rather than sending vehicles to sit in blockades.
Earlier this week Le Freight services through the Channel Tunnel were operating unhindered despite a brief blockade, and some operators were reporting the occasional lifting of barricades. With hundreds of firms still awaiting compensation from last year's strike and operating with very tight margins, many warn that a prolonged dispute could spell the end of their businesses.
Li On Tuesday six British drivers had their vehicles smashed after trying to break through a blockade near Boulogne.