A year has passed since the UK population made the historic decision to leave the European Union and the countdown has now begun with Article 50 triggered and talks finally underway. But what will Brexit mean for the millions of EU citizens who are currently based in the UK and more specifically what are the Brexit Implications for EU HGV Drivers?
There are at least 60,000 HGV drivers from Eastern Europe working for British firms, with hauliers now “heavily reliant” on an influx of overseas workers to keep them going. Brexit has raised serious questions regarding the future of HGV drivers in the UK not only with regards to their rights of citizenship but also because the drop in the pound has meant their wages no longer hold the same value when being sent to their families.
An Uncertain Future?
Negotiations have now commenced with Prime Minister Theresa May, telling European leaders she will offer some three million EU citizens a new ‘settled status’ allowing them to stay in Britain if they have lived here for five years. Theresa May stated; “the commitment that we make to EU citizens will be enshrined in UK law and will be enforced through our highly respected courts.”
Those who have not been in the UK as long will be given the opportunity to stay on until they meet the necessary five-year threshold and new arrivals will have a “grace period” to regularise their status.
However what has not yet been revealed is the exact date after which new arrivals are no longer guaranteed this status, leaving many drivers and their families uncertain of their futures and possibly preventing more drivers from joining our industry. The UK Government is set to out more details in London this week and the offer is dependent on British expats in EU member states being given the same rights after Brexit.
The RHA stated: “There is a clear fear among members that foreign drivers will start to return home, and become more reluctant to come to the UK, as a result of the decreasing value of sterling based wages when converted back into the drivers’ home currency. “The RHA is starting to get reports from members that this is now happening. The industry already faces inflationary pressures due to a structural shortage of licensed and qualified lorry drivers.”
At Silver Arrow we are closely monitoring all Brexit Implications for EU HGV Drivers. It is very important for us as an agency to remain informed and to communicate any important information to our valued drivers and clients.
About Silver Arrow
Silver Arrow are a specialist recruitment agency that focuses on the recruitment and placement of temporary and permanent drivers of all classes. We offer temporary, temporary to permanent or permanent assignments, with a focus on compliance and quality, 24/7 customer service, and a simple streamlined administration and timesheet approval process for our customers.
We specialize in placing our drivers into a range of sectors including general haulage – articulated (LGV CE) and rigid (LGV C) transport, fuel and chemical distribution (Pet. Reg. and ADR), automotive distribution (car and low loader), self-unload (HIAB and truck mounted forklift), and IPAF.
As a group, we are proud to be ISO 9001 accredited and recent winners of the Motor Transport and the Automotive Supply Chain Global Awards. By being built on a strong foundation we are able to deliver a professional, compliant, and cost-effective service to our clients.