What logistics and shipping challenges are members facing for EU-to-UK shipments, and what solutions or workarounds exist?

Members report significant disruption to EU-to-UK freight due to COVID-19, Brexit and a global container shortage. Obtaining reliable quotes and securing hauliers is taking weeks.

**Key challenges reported:** - Container shortage is causing "worldwide chaos" and dramatically extending lead times - Securing haulers from the EU to the UK is unreliable; members are being told it's "a nightmare" - Quote turnaround is slow (4+ weeks for a single quote is typical) - Pricing has spiked significantly—one member received a quote from Italy to the US at 3× expected cost - Collection times from EU suppliers are now running 4+ weeks to get a single pallet to the UK

**Workarounds mentioned:** - Members recommend casting a "wide net" with multiple freight contacts to increase chances of securing capacity and competitive pricing

**Caveats:** While members acknowledge these are real, industry-wide constraints rather than individual supplier failures, no specific recommended logistics partners or alternative routes were shared in the discussion. The consensus is to expect delays and higher costs as the new normal for EU-UK shipments.