Logistics group dismisses union’s claim that ‘crossing the Channel constitutes an excessive risk’. One of France’s largest road freight transport providers, XPO Logistics, has rejected requests by two French truck drivers to opt out of UK trips because the drivers had concerns about the new variant of the coronavirus currently leading to a surge in Covid-19 cases in the UK.
José Zydower, Force Ouvrière trade union delegate at XPO and a member of the firm’s local works council, criticised the decision by XPO, telling the French newspaper La Voix du Nord: “The labour inspectorate and the occupational health doctor have supported management under the pretext that it distributes masks to workers and that the respect of social distancing measures is enough to protect drivers. However, we believe crossing the Channel constitutes an excessive risk and demand that those who don’t want to go be allowed to choose and have the possibility to work solely in France and in countries where the COVID situation is less serious.”
European drivers plying EU-UK routes are said to be increasingly reluctant to run the risk of catching the virus while in Britain and having to spend several days in quarantine. Since the end from 1 January of the UK’s transition period from EU membership, a negative PCR test is required of truck drivers returning to France from the UK.
In a written reply to La Voix du Nord, XPO Logistics said it was doing everything possible to protect its drivers by providing FFP2 masks, gel and disinfectant spray, noting: “The occupational health authority and labour inspectorate have confirmed that we have put in place, and even exceeded, all of the recommendations related to travel to the UK.”
David Sagnard, the head of Calais-based road haulage firm, Carpentier and president of the regional branch of France’s leading trade body, the Fédération Nationale des Transports Routiers (FNTR), told the newspaper that a possible solution to the issue was to vaccinate drivers before leaving for the UK.
Source: Lloyd´s
