Trucks have started to leave the temporary lorry park in Kent, after France reopened its borders to the UK.
It comes after the UK government warned HGV drivers to avoid going to Kent amid “major delays and disruption at the Port of Dover and Eurotunnel.”
The government added that to leave England, drivers must undertake a Covid-19 test, as this is mandated by the UK and French governments.
The Road Haulage Association has welcomed the news, and advised that all truck drivers regardless of nationality will need to take a lateral flow Covid-19 test, as Manston Airfield will remain “the main testing centre for hauliers.”
On-site staff are providing hauliers with tests to self-administer in their trucks, and the results will be communicated to the drivers through messages, identifying them by their number plates.
Ricahrd Burnett, Chief Executive at the Road Haulage Association said: I fear that the thousands of truckers stranded in Kent aren’t out of the woods yet. The massive backlog of vehicles will take time to clear and hundreds of drivers run the risk or not getting home in time for Christmas”.
