French target more flagged-out trucks
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• More British trucks carrying Dutch numoer plates have been stopped in France this week, suggesting a crackdown by French Customs on flagged-out vehicles.
Earlier this week a driver for Spalding-based Hargrave International was pulled over by French Customs at the France/ Luxembourg border and had to pay a .2500 fine on the spot.
The reefer was stopped at 07:00hrs on its way from Germany to Kent, carNng perishable goods. As CMwent to press it had been held up for six hours.
In this instance the problem lay in the paperwork—Hargrave is owned by Turner, which has set up an operation in Holland. The vehicle in question was registered by Turner BV while the British 0-licence was registered to Hargrave International.
Another recent incident left a driver from AS Taylor Transport stranded in the French port of St Maio for oneand-a-half days. His truck was carrying porcelain tiles which the driver had picked up from Spain. Alan Taylor, owner of the Burton on Trent-based firm, has flagged out three of its 23 vehicles to Holland and wants to know: "Is what we are doing legal or not?"
He says the company is now avoiding St Male and using other ports. Operators of flagged out vehicles are also reporting problems at the French/Spanish border, but so far no fines.
A spokesman for Transfrigoroute, the association which represents reefer operators, is concerned that "there is a pattern emerging" as more and more hauliers are stopped in France.
The association is now looking for answers from the UK Department of Transport and its Continental equivalents.