03/02/2024
Don't get caught out in France
With all the blockades by the French Farmers currently all over France, HGV Lorries are going off the Toll roads and onto the National Roads and these are frequented by Illegal Immigrant Teams usually at PAYAGES or Fuel Stations and at services.
A horsebox driver got a bit of a surprise at Calais when they opened a locker coming back from Olivia Nova as the French Security Dog went ballistic indicating people in there-2 immigrants squashed in there! Had the horse lorry got to the UK and these 2 immigrants found that would be a £10,000 fine for the owner of the horse lorry.
How to prevent the unwanted on your horsebox
These gangs are professional-they can cut wires and glue them back together on ARTICs and the professional drivers are used to this and know where to check and have a lot of security on their vehicles but also they walk round the vehicle every time they get out
These gangs are quick and efficient and come to your lorry fully equipped-ladders, bolt cutters, glue a full tool belt!
NEVER leave your horse lorry unattended when going to the services-1 or 2 people to remain with the horse lorry and keep an eye of the whole horse lorry.
Keep an eye on your mirrors when slowing down on the back roads and coming to T junctions, your person in the passenger seat needs to act as a spotter as well-watch the vehicle. Horse Lorry's slow down a lot more than normal lorries and are easier to get on to
Use numbered seals for ramps-these can be easily snapped and removed in an emergency but show also if been tampered with much safer than using padlocks for emergency situations
https://www.universeal.co.uk/security-seals?gclid=Cj0KCQiAwvKtBhDrARIsAJj-kTgkjoyW7Al00vtFpgET2ugw5TaWhi3wiohIuRlWjYSBVteKXJbZDVgaAsj6EALw_wcB
Check underneath on the chassis - yes illegals use rachet straps to strap themselves to the underside of lorries-the most dangerous thing to do ever, but rachet straps are found on every HGV and can be easily stolen to be used
As a professional HGV Horse Lorry Driver you are legally supposed to check your vehicle every time you get out-walk round and wipe your lights clean and check the tyres and basically the walk round check really, Senior Traffic Commissioner Richard Turfitt has said this many times now. This will give you an indication if your vehicle has been tampered with.
Allow the horse lorry to get dirty (apart from lights) this way if an illegal gets in they are more likely to leave marks but this will only be spotted if you CHECK YOUR VEHICLE!
Every horsebox using JMRT for paperwork gets the correct Border Force paperwork for the immigrants
Don't get caught out!
This horsebox used a service that did not want to answer the phone at night and had paid a LOT of money for the EHCs and CHEDs and Carnet.
We had them on their way after fully checking the vehicle and using the paperwork sent so on arrival in the UK (france had alerted UK to the vehicle) a quick check and they were on their way!
