Freight News, Logistics, Road


Report calls for action to address distress loads ‘crisis’

[ July 24, 2025   //   ]

Distress load management specialist Oakland International is calling for immediate action to address a wave of clandestine infiltration of commercial vehicles in a new report.

Distress Loads and Clandestine Infiltration of Commercial Vehicles has been developed in partnership with market analysis company Analytiqa and highlights a lack of clarity and understanding of best practice when it comes to the responsibility, or accountability, for distress load stock.

It includes contributions from the British International Freight Association (BIFA) and Road Haulage Association (RHA).

RHA senior public affairs lead Ashton Cull commented: “The Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration (ICIBI) said in their recent report “the threat of clandestine entry at the juxtaposed ports remains high and is unrelenting”, findings echoed in this report. That means everyone based at or using these ports has their part to play to keep the border secure.

“However, failings within Border Force and the Clandestine Entrant Civil Penalty Scheme identified by the ICIBI mean that all the responsibility and liability is being unfairly shifted onto drivers and businesses who have taken all possible steps to secure their vehicles from clandestine entrants. That’s why we recently wrote to the Home Secretary to call for reform of this Scheme.

“We want to see a fair system in place that protects drivers, goods and businesses as well as our borders. We look forward to seeing greater urgency on this issue.”

Oakland International co-founder Dean Attwell said: “The rise in clandestine infiltration is a ticking time bomb for food safety, driver security, and public health. Every compromised load puts the public at risk and costs the industry millions per year. We need urgent, coordinated action across the supply chain to implement robust security protocols, improve traceability, and ensure accountability at every stage.”

In first nine months of 2024, almost 100 people per month were detected infiltrating trucks entering the UK, up 12.8% and 60.6% respectively on the equivalent periods of 2022 and 2023.

However, the actual number of incidents and people detected is likely to be significantly higher, as Border Force do not record the number of vehicle checks that require no further action.

The value of stock lost due to an infiltrated load can be up to several tens of thousands of pounds and the consequential loss of revenue can be many multiples of this.

Attwell added:: “We are witnessing a perfect storm, desperate individuals risking their lives to cross borders, criminals exploiting vulnerabilities in vehicle security, and a food industry struggling to maintain safety and compliance. The current system is failing to protect both people and products. The Food Standards Agency must step up, and the entire industry must unite to close security gaps and safeguard our food supply.”

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