Motor & Tyre Trade

Here you can learn more about how First European manages UK imports, export, VAT and Duty payment handling and CMR documenation for the import of goods from non EU countries such as Switzerland.

PRODUCT CARRIED: Used Tyres
COUNTRY FROM: Switzerland
COUNTRY TO: Manchester, UK
TRANSPORT USED: Trailer, Tautliner [Ferry]
TYPE OF SERVICE: Full loads

We are shipping part worn tyres from Switzerland into the UK on a weekly basis.
This client owns several tyre warehouses in and around Manchester and the North West, where they restore Used Tyres to meet the UK law legislation, ready for resale to wholesale and retail clients.

We collect the tyres on a Taultliner, but as we are dealing with loose and heavy goods, we have to make other considerations; in this case we use additional side boards.

Initially the standard curtain sided trailer is loaded (hand-balled) from the back and from the sides. For this specific load, we then ensure the truck has side boards which slot into the curtain side to ensure the heavy tyres are held securley and in place during transit.

To import anything from an non-EU country, we need to ‘Customs Clear’ the goods and pay the required VAT and DUTY based on the value of the goods. We help with every step of the process using our own Faster Payments Customs Account.

First, we ask the Swiss supplier to provide us with the commercial invoice that we then produce to customs.

First European are now able custom clear the goods and will pay the VAT and Duty directly to customs, before re-charging to the client.

First European has a deferment account with customs so we can make the faster payments on the client’s behalf, we do this by using the clients EURIO number (importing VAT number).

All transport is carried under a CMR document. This CMR documents is written out by the driver at the loading point, the team loading the truck then sign that they have given the driver the goods in a clean, working order and keep a copy.

The same documents are then given to the offloading point to sign and confirm they have received the same goods, in clean and working order and again they keep a copy. The driver then hands all the paper work back into this office where they are then sent over to us at the First European offices. Copies of CMR documents are available upon request.

This is a time critical collection and delivery. Our client personally flies from Manchester to Switzerland as part of his initial Tyre purchasing process. Whilst he is there he then manages his team who hand load the tyres onto the tauliners.

Once the truck is loaded he flies back to the UK, where he meets the driver to commence the off-load.

As you can see our route planning and logisitcs have to be spot on as this is a time critical process, as the clients flights are pre-booked well in advance.

This transport had a transit time of 3 days, we check on the progress of the truck each day and keep the client fully informed. As the cargo is handballed, the loading/offloading becomes a 4 man job to make sure the driver is away quickly. 24 hours before the delivery is due take place in the UK, we advise the client so that he can have his team ready to unload.

By tracking the goods, the client is deligthed we can provide advance notice of the delivery, as this saves him time in labour cost and resource.

The customer is extremely happy with our service and this shows as we have been working with them for over 3 years now. Loading 4 trucks per month and managinng the import from Switzerland to England on such a regular basis just goes to show we know what we’re doing, we do it well and always look after our trailers, loads and customers.

Written by: Richard Singleton
With kind permission of the Client.