While many stay at home during the pandemic, tthe truck world continues to roll. Sunday evening France announced the closure of borders with Great Britain to prevent the spread of a more contagious strain of COVID-19. Thousands of truck drivers were stranded in the British English Channel port of Dover. Now as the travel ban is discontinuedthe huge line of trucks can start to shrink.
The BBC reports About 2,850 trucks have been stranded since the border was closed. The Port of Dover handles about 10,000 trucks or about 20 percent of UK trade every day. During the closure of the border, trucks were diverted to nearby Manston Airport. The airport was prepared for 4,000 trucks and the views of waiting trucks are nothing short of astonishing. Of the AIRLIVE net Youtube Channel:
In comparison, the famous Iowa 80 Truckstop – aka the world’s largest Truckstop – accommodates only 900 trucks.
According to an agreement between the UK and France, the borders have been reopened to people traveling to France for urgent reasons. However, as part of the agreement, travelers must have passed a negative COVID-19 test less than 72 hours before the crossing. Drivers undergo rapid lateral flow tests – which can detect the new voltage – to get a result within a short 30 minutes. The new kind is reported to be more contagious, but not more deadly. It seems experts believe the vaccine being rolled out will be effective against this new strain.
Port congestion is not expected to disappear any time soon and some truck drivers expect to miss Christmas as a result. Transport secretary Grant Shapps warned truckers not to drive into Kent until further notice, via the BBC:
I am pleased that we have made this important progress with our French colleagues tonight. This protocol ensures that the French border reopens to travelers traveling for urgent reasons, provided they have a certified negative Covid test.
[…]
We will continue to urge carriers not to travel to Kent until further notice as we work to reduce port congestion.
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Meanwhile, the truck drivers help each other get through the night, sleeping in their taxi, by sending each other food and drinks. The services at the airport truck stop seem lean and the toilets are even closed.
I still haven’t lifted my jaw off the ground, but it could be worse. China had traffic jams that took almost two weeks!
Hopefully they can get back on the road and maybe go home to enjoy the holidays, safe, healthy and without spreading the virus.