Nicola Mallon, Logistics UK Policy Manager-NI

Nichola Mallon

Head of Trade and Devolved Policy, Logistics UK

2023: THE YEAR OF THE NORTHERN PROTOCOL

The UK’s withdrawal from the European Union is an intricate process, particularly for Northern Ireland as it shares a land border with the Republic of Ireland which remains in the EU. As a result, the Northern Ireland Protocol was designed to avoid border checks within the island of Ireland andto protect both Ireland’s economy and the Good Friday Agreement. At the heart of the issues covered by the Protocol is the logistics sector, already one of the most complex and interconnected areas of the economy.

Under the current Protocol, any goods inspections and document checks are conducted between Great Britain (GB) and Northern Ireland (NI) at Northern Ireland’s ports and can then be moved into the Republic of Ireland once checked, if necessary. However, this has resulted in disruptions to the GB to NI supply chains and as a result, the UK government is insisting on changes to the Protocol. Under the UK’s updated parliamentary Bill, goods entering NI would be split into two different lanes; goods going only to NI would go into the green lane and would not be checked, and goods going to ROI and the EU would go into the red lane and checks would be carried out. While the UK government has insisted it can change the terms of an international agreement to safeguard an essential interest, the European Commission began legal action against the UK in June 2022 for not adhering to the Protocol and called for the UK government to return to negotiations. In October 2022, the European Commission proposed bespoke arrangements for GB/NI trade and following this, the House of Lords issued a call for evidence on the updated NI Protocol Bill. In November 2022, as part of the NI Brexit Working Group (NIBBWG), Logistics UK participated in a collaborative submission response which welcomed the fact that both the EU and UK Governments acknowledge their preferred outcome would be one agreed between them. However, a key concern raised within the response is the locations of the green/red lanes; uncertainty remains as to whether goods would be declared as ‘red’ or ‘green’ goods, or whether goods would physically enter at an official green or red lane site. If goods are required to enter at a green or red lane site, further questions remain as to whether these lanes will exist within air and seaports. Given these proposals, it is also important to question the timescales of this project and whether the necessary infrastructure is in place, and if not, how it will be implemented; something that must be addressed in 2023. The ability for frictionless trade between GB, NI and the EU will enhance the economy and be attractive to foreign direct investment, and as a result, is something Logistics UK wants to see protected where possible.

TRUSTED TRADER SCHEME

Logistics UK has been a long term advocate for a Trusted Trader scheme, something echoed within the NIBBWG’s response. The working group has questioned whether a Trusted Trader scheme could be used in relation to ‘rest of world goods’ in addition to goods that cannot be definitively categorised as staying in NI/ UK at the point of entry. Sometimes, the final destination of goods may be determined at a later stage and consideration should be given to whether, on these occasions, trusted traders would have use of the green lane, or whether there would be a third lane for “don’t know at the point of entry” destinations, and if so, how EU customs rules and customs declarations would be applied in these cases. Logistics UK, and the wider NIBBWG,is also seeking clarification as to what data and documents would be required for entry through the red lane – for example, pre-notification, customs declarations, global certificates – as well as the green. Logistics UK is encouraged by the communication from both the UK Government and the European Commission however, as the cost of living crisis deepens, the business group is urging those involved to reach an agreement to provide operators with greater certainty and allow businesses to begin implementing the measures needed. Logistics is vital to servicing nations with the goods they need. It is a crucial contributor to economies and an enabler of global connectivity. In 2023, a resolution must be prioritised to protect this highly complex supply chain and GB/NI trade.

Aquarius Drive Efficiencies to Support Fleet Management Responsibilities

With more and more operators looking for integrated fleet management technologies to replace current paper or standalone digital systems, Aquarius IT recorded one of its busiest years in 2022 helping customers all over the UK and Ireland transform how they manage, communicate, connect and report on all areas of fleet management relating to vehicle and driver compliance.

Central to this success has been Aquarius’s Asset Maintenance portal and how it automatically cross-references with the company’s tachograph analysis software, Driver Defect App, Time & Attendance, and eSIGN technologies. Mark Johnston, Director at Aquarius IT, said: “This total-system approach to managing all areas of fleet management data on one digital platform has proved to not only be beneficial for compliance and safety – as well as for those seeking Earned Recognition - it is also helping our road transport customers run more efficiently, both financially and practically.” “Ultimately, by providing transport managers with an efficient and smarter way of managing their vehicle and driver data, they have full visibility of their fleet in real-time, and with this deeper layer of information, they can apply best practices that aid compliance and their safety responsibilities,” confirmed Mark. Freeburn Transport in Co. Tyrone is a case example of how Aquarius’s total-system approach has positively transformed the way they manage driver and vehicle data over the last 12 months. Citing Asset Maintenance and its cross-integration with the Driver Defect App as a prime example, Rian Doyle, the fleet maintenance co-ordinator said: “Using these two systems hand-in-hand, and being able to have linked information in real time is where we’ve seen the biggest difference, and has resulted in significantly reduced VOR days, saving us time and money.” “We also use the automated planner in Asset Maintenance for maintenance scheduling and MOT dates, and with our digitised maintenance inspections going straight into the portal we now have a full audit trail and complete paperless storage solution for all our vehicles requiring periodic maintenance or inspection. With all these systems now in place, monitoring and maintaining our compliance, driver safety, and the roadworthiness of our vehicles has become a much easier task.”

Reliable, focused, technology solutions for driver and fleet compliance

Tachograph Analysis

Asset Maintenance

eSign Document Management

Time & Attendance

Defect Checking

Aquarius offer forward-thinking, reliable, driver compliance and fleet management systems for the road transport industry.

We are committed to delivering comprehensive, real-life, technology solutions enabling operators to manage their road safety responsibilities in an efficient, smarter and greener way.