Requirement for hauliers needing to test negative for COVID-19 within 72 hours of leaving the UK for France to continue.
- testing requirement for hauliers crossing the Channel to continue
- hauliers must continue to have proof of an authorised negative test, conducted within 72 hours of travelling to the border to cross over
- government urges all hauliers to seek tests at one of 34 information and advice sites before travelling to Kent to help smooth traffic management
Current testing arrangements for hauliers crossing the Channel – where they must have had a negative coronavirus test within 72 hours of crossing – are set to continue following a decision by the French Government made on the 7th January 2021.
The continuation means that hauliers – including drivers and crew of HGVs, drivers of LGVs and van drivers – planning to cross the Channel should get a negative test before travelling to Kent or other Channel Crossing points.
While the government acted swiftly during December to help hauliers move across the border steadily, drafting in the military to deliver tests in Kent, hauliers are now being urged to get a negative COVID-19 test before travelling to the border, to help further with avoiding backlog or traffic management issues.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said:
“After the decision by the French Government back in December, we acted swiftly to find a solution to the border closures, so hauliers could continue to travel and people continued to get their deliveries.
Following the French Government’s decision today to extend the current arrangements, I continue to urge all hauliers to get tested before getting to the border, and only travel if they test negative.To help make this possible we are offering support to businesses to set-up testing facilities at their own premises, assisting the smooth passage of trucks and good across the border, as well as setting up testing at information and advice sites around the country.”
To help hauliers get tested before travelling to Kent, 34 information and advice sites have been set up across the country, linked to key haulier stopping spots on their journeys, so they can get their negative test before heading to the border. Further sites are in the process of being set up.
In addition, the government is offering to help any business to set up a testing centre at its own premises to ensure trucks heading for France depart ‘COVID ready’. This includes the provision of testing kits entirely free of charge.
As with the previous arrangements agreed on the 23 December, hauliers must continue to have proof of an authorised negative test, conducted within 72 hours of travelling to the border to cross over.
If they do not meet these requirements, they will be stopped from travelling.
COVID-19 testing for HGV drivers using the Port of Dover or Eurotunnel Guidance has been updated
To now reflect that drivers of HGVs carrying dangerous goods must also get tested for COVID-19 before arriving in Kent.
The terms of use at Manston Airport and Ashford Sevington, prohibit the following loads:
- explosives
- polymerizing substances
- infectious substances
- radioactive substances
- goods that are high consequence from a terrorism point of view
Drivers of HGVs carrying any of the above goods will be refused access to these sites and must get tested for COVID-19 at alternative sites before arriving in Kent.
