We have received a few queries about the UK quarantine exemption for freight drivers and their use of the Public Health Passenger Locator Form.
For your information, answers to the most common questions are as follows:
Do freight drivers need to quarantine for 14 days upon entering the UK?
No, freight drivers are exempt from this rule. However drivers must fill out a Public Health Passenger Locator Form before every single journey into the UK, available here. More details about the types of travellers who are exempt from the UK quarantine rule are available on the government’s website.
Do drivers have to fill out a new form for every journey?
Yes. Drivers must fill out a Public Health Passenger Locator Form before every single journey into the UK and UK Border Force will be performing checks. The person making the booking should confirm that either the driver or his representative (forwarder, planner) filled out a driver form for their journey. Any drivers who have not filled out the form may face financial penalties and may either be delayed or turned back by UK Border Force when they try to enter the UK.
Can someone else fill out the form on behalf of the driver?
Yes. But note that the form requires various personal details about the driver, including their passport number and email address, so the person filling out the form must have those details. If the driver does not have an email address, then either their company email address can be used or noemail@homeoffice.gov.uk.
Do drivers need to carry a hard copy of the form with them on their journey?
No, a hard copy is not necessary. However, drivers must be able to provide the reference number from their form to UK Border Force, on request, on each and every journey. This is so that UK Border Force can check the driver’s details on their system. Note that the completed form (showing the reference number) can be stored and viewed on a smart device.
