RHA: rework Schengen driver travel rules

By Categories: NewsPublished On: Tuesday 21 January 2025

The Road Haulage Association has issued a fresh call for a fair­er deal for truck and coach drivers and their employers operating in Europe, through reform of current travel restrictions which prevent non-EU nationals from spending more than 90 days out of any 180 in the Schengen area.

“The much-delayed Entry/Exit System (EES) will enforce this rule far more strictly. Biometric checks and digital tracking of all entries and exits will ensure compliance,” the RHA warned.

“Exceeding the limit could re­sult in drivers being denied entry, facing fines, or other penalties. All of this adds to operating costs.”

The European Union has de­layed introducing the EES, which incorporates fingerprint and facial scan check technology for non-EU citizens at all EU borders. It was most recently due to be implemented in November but has been postponed due to a lack of systems readiness in a number of EU member states.

The 90/180 regulation is not new in itself: it was reported in 2023 that a lorry driver working for an RHA member company received a penalty and was told to not to return to the EU, after being discov­ered to have violated the rule in the Netherlands where the driver had been dropping off a trailer.

But the EES system, which is now expected to be implemented at some stage in 2025, will make it far easier for border officials to detect British freight and coach driv­ers who might overstay the 90 in 180 days limit in the Schengen area.

RHA says operators are report­ing that they cannot meet busi­ness demands without exceeding the 90-day limit: “We continue to highlight this concern to government represent­atives and key industry stakehold­ers so that they may consider a Professional Drivers’ Exemption for people moving goods and pas­sengers between the UK and EU.”

But it said that in the mean­time: “operators must remain steadfast in ensuring they meet the legislation. Drivers must un­derstand the 90-day rule and how it impacts both work and personal travel. Regrettably, drivers who ex­ceed the 90/180 day limit, could not only face legal ramifications, but the company may also be held accountable for these transgressions.”