Securing Brexit - Transport Security

Border Uncertainty In an ever-looming Brexit world, new custom policies and regulation still remain a mystery to many within the transport industry. However, one thing is for certain - regulation and administration requirements will increase, as goods like medicine and food will need to be stringently secured and accounted for throughout the entire journey. In October, the European Union (EU) approved the extension of two contingency measures by another seven months to maintain road haulage and air connectivity in the event of a No Deal Brexit. This was welcome news to The Freight Transport Association (FTA), who agreed that the extended agreement will bring some measure of certainty to the association’s members that move goods and services to and from the European Union. Sarah Laouadi, FTA’s European Policy Manager, said “While today’s announcements will provide some breathing space to logistics companies that have been concerned about a potential No Deal departure from the EU, they come with restrictions that will increase the cost of transport, create unnecessary red tape and could simply fail those specialised haulage companies that serve a particularly dense network of customers and multiple sites in Europe. “While the aviation agreement will bring short term relief for businesses which rely on airfreight to keep their supply chains quick and efficient, a permanent arrangement should be prioritised to keep goods flying to and from the UK.” Whilst the the extension of the No Deal contingency access is welcome news for logistics companies, it remains clear that permanent solutions have to be reached as soon as possible to enable businesses to plan for the long-term and avoid any extensive measures for goods checking at the border. Government Policy and Requirements The Government policy on transporting goods between the UK and the EU in the wake of Brexit stipulates that an effective security system must be in place for hauliers who are transporting goods. "For drivers, an effective system includes: security devices (for example, a padlock, seals and tilt cord) to secure vehicles after loading checking the security devices and vehicle thoroughly after each stop and before entering the UK recording checks on a vehicle security checklist" These guidance points are further elaborated on in the government guidance notes in 10 steps avoiding penalties and prevent clandestine entry for vehicles crossing the border, which can be read here. The policy states that drivers must "Apply a good quality tilt cord, secured with a robust padlock and a unique seal. Note the seal number on the checklist." The guide notes states that drivers should also "Check – have the security devices been tampered with?" at every stop during the journey. This process can be further simplified  for your drivers through security seal application as they provide instantly identification on tampering and unauthorised entry. Brexit Seals We have a range of product-specific seals that are designed to secure a wide range of cargo and transport requirements. These include: Metal Cable Seals - Cable seals are durable seals that are used to seal valves, locked doors, and other items that have a small opening through which a cable wire can be inserted. Some cable seals meet ISO 17712 ratings for high security, so can be used for high-security situations like international cargo shipping. Customs Compliant Bolt Seals - Bolt seals are another high-security seal option that are designed with a complex locking mechanism yet are self-locking so do not require tools and are easy to put in place. They have a steel bolt and a tamper-evident body part that are manually attached to form a seal. They are customisable by colour, print, and bar coding for additional security layers. These seals are ideal for containers, trailer door latches, and cross border shipments. These heavy duty seals require a bolt cutter to be removed. Tamper Evident Security Labels - Security Labels are a perfect security application for  aircraft doors, vehicle security, cartons, pallet strapping and more. They are designed to visually deform when removal is attempted but leave no residue on the application surface on removal. Plastic pull-tight seals. Pull-tight seals are similar to fixed-length plastic seals, except that they come in a wider variety of breaking strengths and are adjustable to match specific vehicle needs. Our Gemseal or Twinlock Ring Seals are specifically designed as a cost effective security solution for sealing vehicle doors, distribution cages and containers. Once you decide on the perfect product, you can also read our blog on our Top Tips for Security Sealing, which provides the optimal application guidelines for ensuring you are getting the most out of your security seal process. If you require further clarification on any of our transportation and freight security products then get in touch with us and we will be able to help you to determine the perfect security solution for your business.