Number of Haulage Company Insolvencies nearly doubled since Brexit

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Number of Haulage Company Insolvencies nearly doubled since Brexit

New data obtained by the Liberal Democrats has revealed that the number of haulage companies going insolvent has nearly doubled in the five years since Brexit, with further insolvencies expected as the EU finally prepares for the full enforcement of its Entry / Exit System (EES).

A Parliamentary question submitted by Liberal Democrat Europe Spokesperson, Al Pinkerton MP, has revealed that the number of haulage companies entering insolvency has almost doubled in the five years since Brexit (2021-2025) when compared to the five years prior (2016-2020).

These shocking figures are expected to only get worse, as haulage firms scramble to adapt to the full enforcement of the EU’s Entry/Exit System, with the Road Haulage Association stating that 80% of operators expect a decrease in business. Industry bodies have previously warned that the hit to the economy could be as high as £400 million.

The Liberal Democrats are reiterating calls for the Government to urgently secure an agreement from the EU to allow British HGV drivers to register biometric details away from the border. In a written statement published last week (26 March) on the impending full implementation of EES, the Government made no reference to ensuring additional support for hauliers.

Liberal Democrat Europe Spokesperson, Al Pinkerton MP, said:

“The Government must immediately secure an agreement with the EU to allow British hauliers to register biometric details away from the border.

“Failure to do so will have a catastrophic impact, not only for haulage companies who are unable to survive, but also for supply chains and a subsequent increase in food and goods prices for those already facing the effects of the soaring cost of living.

“Ministers must therefore also begin negotiations with our European partners on a Customs Union. A Customs Union is the single biggest lever the Government can pull to boost business, deliver growth, and slash unnecessary Brexit bureaucracy. The Government knows this, and it’s high time they do something about it.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

Al Pinkerton’s parliamentary question is detailed here.

Written statement detailed here.

British Hauliers’ concerns regarding the EES scheme are detailed here.

An analysis of the £400 million cost to the economy from EES can be found here.

Road Haulage Association statistics can be found here.

Number of Haulage insolvencies from 2016-2020: 1068

Number of haulage insolvencies from 2021-2025: 2051

Increase: 983 / 92.04% 

First reported by The Independent.