The introduction of the European Union’s Entry/Exit System (EES), set to take effect on 12 October 2025, is causing concern among British international transport operators. The new regulation will tighten enforcement of the 90-days-in-180 rule for non-EU citizens, directly affecting drivers and logistics operators who regularly cross EU borders.
According to a statement by the Road Haulage Association (RHA), highlighted by Jason Edwards – owner of the Welsh company Jason Edwards Travel and a member of the association’s board – the issue impacts both passenger and freight transport companies. British drivers who make regular trips to the Continent risk exceeding the permitted stay and being forced to forgo scheduled contracts. “We need a work permit for professional drivers,” Edwards told The Guardian, stressing that the inability to replace drivers quickly could compel companies to cancel services.
The economic risk is significant for the freight sector, where the same rules apply to those moving goods or supporting events and exhibitions in Europe. British companies could lose competitiveness compared to EU-based hauliers, who are not subject to stay-time restrictions. As RHA managing director Richard Smith pointed out, a decline in British transport activity would mean reduced tax revenue for the UK in terms of fuel duty, vehicle excise duty and HGV Levy contributions, indirectly affecting funds allocated to road infrastructure maintenance.
In the international haulage sector, the introduction of the new system coincides with a period of strain for British companies, which already face higher costs and additional regulatory burdens compared with their European competitors. The RHA continues to urge the UK government to negotiate with Brussels for an exemption for professional goods and passenger transport drivers, in order to safeguard operational continuity and the competitiveness of British operators.
The EES is an automated IT system that digitally records border crossings into and out of the Schengen area by citizens of third countries. It replaces manual passport stamps with a secure electronic record, designed to modernise border controls, reduce errors and enhance Schengen security. The system automatically logs each entry and exit of non-EU, non-EEA and non-Swiss travellers on short-term stays. This includes British drivers who cross the border regularly for work. Exemptions apply only to EU citizens, holders of long-term residence permits and certain diplomatic or official categories.
At the first crossing, the system creates an individual electronic file containing personal and biometric data – including a facial image and four fingerprints – as well as details of each entry and exit. For those travelling with short-stay visas, mainly facial data will be stored, while longer visas will also include digital data. The system will be operational in 29 European countries, including all EU member states and several associated nations such as Norway and Switzerland, with full implementation expected by April 2026.
Among the main declared benefits are a reduction in control errors, prevention of document fraud and better detection of overstayers. However, the system will lengthen verification times at first entry – from three to five minutes for initial registration, and one to two minutes for subsequent crossings. In peak periods, this could lead to delays at major logistics hubs and ports used for freight transport between the United Kingdom and the European Union.
