Odd question I know but went to Belgium/France this weekend to stock up on cigars and wine and on the way back there were an inredible number of foreign trucks on the motorway. In fact from M25/M1 junction today we got to Milton Keynes before we spotted an English truck (McFarlane of Leeds) among the hundred or so foreign trucks. Most of these were from Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Slovenia odd one or two from Bulgaria and Romania. One or two also from Slovakia. Wife and I were trying to think what the trucks could contain and couldn't come up with much at all except pickled gherkins from Poland!!
Any suggestions? (And don't say illegal immigrants!!)
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According to tinyurl.com/59of4 , the principal exports are timber and wood products, fish and fish products.
There'd be little point in smuggling people from Latvia as it's part of the EU now!
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We may merely import trucks and drivers, i.e., truck drives from Latvia to Germany, for instance, full or empty, and then on from Germany to us, takes another load back to Germany, Belgium, Netherlands etc. and finally back to Latvia, exporting lower Latvian labour rates to EU journeys from other countries. All you need is a middleman that can track trucks' movements and can arrange the best price for the journey.
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I think DavidHM has got it right. Only the other week my SIL who is an HGV driver was complaining bitterly that the East Europeans are putting many hauliers out of business, as we are unable to compete against them in wages, taxes and other factors which make them so much cheaper. He said they weren't regulated as much as our own companies and there wasn't a level playing field in this industry.
Incidentally he does some driving for Eddie Stobart and alhough the name is still on the vehicles its no longer owned by the Stobarts.
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Latvia's export commodities include wood and wood products, machinery and equipment, metals, textiles, foodstuffs.
The UK was Latvia's No 1 export partner (2003) recieving 15.6% of the country's exports.
It's a transshipment point for opiates and cannabis from Central and Southwest Asia to Western Europe.
Source - CIA World Fact Book.
Leon
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Don't know about Latvia, but alot of the shipments we send out to France are loaded on Polish trucks. Presumably for the reasons mentioned above...lower labour costs etc.
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Don't know about Latvia, but alot of the shipments we send out to France are loaded on Polish trucks. Presumably for the reasons mentioned above...lower labour costs etc.
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Just come off the M25 where there were lots of Polish trucks.
Thanks for the info. I will now stop wondering on that topic.
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Latvia exports snow to the east coast of the UK. (when its an easterly)
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I think the Polish trucks are exporting all the bacon to the UK because you sure as hell can?t buy it here in Warsaw. Although you can get baked beans which is some consolation.
Dave, Poland.
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Lorry loads of new costumes for Prince Harry!
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i send out and bring in clothing
we can send anything out
literally anything go's curries, to car parts
tea towels, false limbs
etc
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How in gods name do you survive at breakfast with eggs, beans but no bacon?
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Reminds me of all the haulage companies I used to see when shlepping up and down motorways in Britain
Prestons of Potto (where the heck is Potto!)
Norbert Dentressangle (Nobby)
Eddie Stobart (Stobby)
Ah the memories
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Norbert Dentresssangle is the Eddie Stobart of France.
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They even have a supporters club just like train spotters!
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And just like Eddie Stobart.
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"where the heck is Potto!"
Little village just to south of Middlesbrough.
Talking of transport company names I like "Knights of Old" - Old is in Northants I think.
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