What will a Brexit ‘No Deal’ mean for the Road Haulage Sector?

In the event of a ‘No Deal’ Brexit the road haulage sector will need to be aware of how their international operations will look.

With only 5 months to go until the UK leaves the EU, the government has issued some guidelines for UK haulage companies and businesses if there isn’t a deal in place!

Community Licences, ECMT permits and Market Access

After March 2019, UK hauliers may no longer be able to rely on automatic recognition of Community Licences and therefore no longer be able to access EU markets using their Community Licence alone. They will also need the ECMT permits, however these will be limited. The UK will also need to reignite some old bilateral agreements as well as create some new ones!

Driving Licences

UK drivers will continue to be able to drive in EU countries however they may also require an International Driving Permit appropriate to the country they are visiting.

Trailer Registration

EU countries will require UK trailers to be registered when travelling in their country. This will mean each trailer will need to be registered with the DVLA and display their own registration plate. Trailers used solely for domestic purposes or journeys between UK and Ireland will not need to the registered.

Trailer registration will come into force regardless of whether the UK leaves the EU with or without a deal. Watch out for more information to be published.

Certificate of Professional Competence

The UK will maintain a CPC scheme and the UK will recognise EU issued CPC documentation relating to both the transport manager CPC and driver CPC, however automatic recognition by EU countries of UK issued CPC’s will cease.

UK legislation will continue to comply with the ECMT Quality Charter and the AETR which means UK drivers will be able to operate in the EU when driving trucks covered by the ECMT permit, or any existing, reinstated or new arrangement without the need of an additional qualification.

If, however UK drivers were to drive for EU operators any driver holding a UK issued CPC would also need to hold a CPC issued by an EU country.

Advice on what to do

Haulage Permits

If a Haulier requires a permit then they would need to apply to the DVSA for a ECMT permit available from November 2018. As the demand is expected to exceed supply the allocation of permits will be made on criteria as laid out in the Haulage Permits and Trailer Registration Act 2018. Successful applicants will receive their permit at the end of 2018. Keep an eye out for important updates on GOV.UK

Trailer Registration Requirements

Hauliers should register trailers they intend to use internationally that also fall within the scope of the regulations. DVLA will put a system in place to register trailers in preparation for when trailers need to display their plates before March 2019. Further details on the process will be made available on GOV.UK

Driver CPC

Little will change in practice regarding how UK drivers can obtain their CPC qualification as there are no immediate plans to change any of the standards that drivers have to meet therefore existing CPC qualifications will continue to be valid.

If the UK CPC is not recognised in the future by the EU UK drivers wishing to work for an EU operator may need to acquire a new CPC qualification issued by the EU country.

Hauliers with a UK CPC who wish to swap to an EU CPC can exchange their CPC before March 2019. They would need to do this to the relevant body in the EU country they wish to issue the CPC.

Borders and Traffic Management

It is likely there will be delays at EU ports if the UK leave without a deal. Hauliers should consider contingency plans which may include looking at alternative routes, alternative modes of transport i.e. containerisation or unaccompanied trailers and making provision for appropriate arrangements to allow for disruption and delays. The UK will look to implement contingency arrangements to manage the flow of traffic across the UK. Keep a look out for updates on GOV.UK.

Latest news

1

Villa at Wrea Green bought for £3.6m by Haythornthwaite family The Villa Wrea Green courtesy of The Villa Wrea Green

Villa at Wrea Green bought for £3.6m by Haythornthwaite family

16 Sep 2025

2

Fourth Lancashire Bodycare store to shut Nick Holloway of administrators Interpath

Fourth Lancashire Bodycare store to shut

16 Sep 2025

3

Family business relocates in Blackburn Tristar relocation

Family business relocates in Blackburn

16 Sep 2025

4

Taste Lancashire Producer Awards 2026 open for applications Taste Lancashire Producers awards

Taste Lancashire Producer Awards 2026 open for applications

15 Sep 2025

5

Stuart Buckley appointed head of sales and account management at Netcentrix Stuart Buckley

Stuart Buckley appointed head of sales and account management at Netcentrix

15 Sep 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
Sub36 Networking - Follow the signs
Sub36 Deaf Village Social1200
Networking
17 Sep 2025

Sub36 Networking - Follow the signs

The Deaf Village, Blackburn, BB2 5EN

10:00 - 12:00

LBV124 September/October Launch Event
MBP Arc Cinema Preston Opening 205
Networking
18 Sep 2025

LBV124 September/October Launch Event

The Arc Cinema, Preston, PR1 2BL

08:30 - 10:30

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

Preston Tech Connection - The Ultimate Tech Quiz!
Preston Tech Connection Sept 25.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
16 Sep 2025 - 16 Sep 2025

Preston Tech Connection - The Ultimate Tech Quiz!

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 19:00

Business Breakfast Networking Event
business workshop photo.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
17 Sep 2025 - 17 Sep 2025

Business Breakfast Networking Event

Media Factory, University of Lancashire, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 10:30

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire
LBV Hub Networking
17 Sep 2025 - 17 Sep 2025

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire

Stanley House, Blackburn, BB2 7NP

11:30 - 14:15

Ladies Lunch
Lancs-cham-logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
18 Sep 2025 - 18 Sep 2025

Ladies Lunch

Lancaster Golf Club, Lancaster, LA2 0AJ

12:00 - 16:00

Cumbria Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880461633-4862066883-1-original.20241022-110415.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
19 Sep 2025 - 19 Sep 2025

Cumbria Business Expo 2025

Carlisle Racecourse, Carlisle, CA2 4TS

09:00 - 15:00

Your Business, Your Region: Making sense of devolution and Local Government Reorganisation
Chorley Council breakfast event new
LBV Hub Networking
23 Sep 2025 - 23 Sep 2025

Your Business, Your Region: Making sense of devolution and Local Government Reorganisation

Worden Hall, Leyland, PR25 3DH

08:00 - 11:00

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: September
Sept Freelancer (1).png.png
LBV Hub Networking
23 Sep 2025 - 23 Sep 2025

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: September

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

Speed Networking with BNI
2.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
24 Sep 2025 - 24 Sep 2025

Speed Networking with BNI

Chorley Football Club, Chorley, PR7 3DU

16:00 - 19:00

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV124 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin