TRUCKERS using the Port of Poole are being warned they cannot travel unless they comply with customs rules and coronavirus restrictions.

Port authorities have issued a warning that hauliers must be “border ready” when taking freight to the European Union.

Port manager Steve Moors said: “All hauliers wishing to travel from Poole will need to have a confirmed booking and comply with the customs requirements before they arrive at the port.

“Failure to complete these customs formalities can result in the haulier being refused permission to travel and turned away from the port.”

Drivers and crews of large good vehicles travelling to France need to have the right paperwork for their loads and carry proof of a negative Covid test carried out within 72 hours before travel.

Dave Laut, safety and security manager at the port, said: “We have worked with the Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and are approved to carry out testing for hauliers booked on outgoing ferries at the Port of Poole, but there are also many other free, official government Covid testing sites at service stations around the country for hauliers to use.”

The port produced a plan called Operation Topsail before the end of the Brexit transition period, in an effort to make sure that hold-ups at the port did not cause large scale disruption on local roads. It worked with the Local Resilience Forum, Highways England and other agencies on the plan.

Hauliers can find out about their nearest Covid testing sites at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/haulier-advice-site-locations

Guidance to carry out international road haulage can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/carry-out-international-road-haulage