DB SCHENKER boasts Europe’s most comprehensive land transport network. While moving goods within the EU, from Madrid to Malmö or Paris to Prague, is relatively straightforward, trade with the UK has become significantly more complex since 2021. Logistics Matters interviewed Chris Clayton, who heads Business Improvement for Customs Europe at DB SCHENKER, to discuss the implications for the customers of DB SCHENKER and how DB SCHENKER services are adapting to facilitate UK trade in the post-Brexit era.
Logistics Matters: Chris, you have been in the customs world at DB SCHENKER for over four years. A lot has happened during this time. As Head of Business Improvement for Customs Europe, what occupies your time today?
Chris Clayton: Customs is primarily about trust. Our customers are confident DB SCHENKER compliantly complete their declarations on their behalf – but we want to do more than that so we are constantly thinking about what we can do better and how we can do more for our customers. I believe great customer service is about “making life easy for your customer”. To do that you need a great team and systems and processes that are as efficient and effective as possible. So that’s where I spend my time – finding ways to make life better for our customers and my customs colleagues. For example, we could be working on a webinar in Austria to help our customers better understand CBAM (Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism) or implementing game-changing AI software that supports our customs brokers in preparing declarations. It’s a really rewarding job with lots of variety and continuous improvement at its heart.
Logistics Matters: What makes trading with the UK most challenging for businesses right now?
Chris Clayton: We do not see trading with the UK as challenging now. Of course, leaving the EU has meant that for the remaining EU27 the UK is now a 3rd country and requires a Customs declaration – but that’s no different to trading with Switzerland or Norway. We have helped educate our customers on what is required to complete a compliant declaration and we have developed a strong customs team in the UK so despite the additional complexity we see very few problems – and if we do we have the knowledge on hand to fix them.
Logistics Matters: How does DB SCHENKER help to reduce the additional complexity?
Chris Clayton: The most important point is that we cover the shipment from start to finish – export and import. We are fortunate to have over 1000 talented customs colleagues in 34 countries which means we can provide DB SCHENKER, country-specific, customs support for both shippers and consignees. As a large organisation, we are able to offer a range of solutions tailored to our customers’ needs. We see some customers who have been trading in a particular way because it suits their previous provider rather than being the best solution available. We are able to work with our customers, understand their needs, and ensure they have a solution that works for them.
Logistics Matters: Several companies are promoting “Smart” DDP solutions – Does DB SCHENKER do that?
Chris Clayton: We have been shipping DDP into and out of the UK for our customers since Brexit. We submit customs declarations in our AEO-approved warehouses as well as using the “Smart” border via France. We do not see either of these things as being special – it’s just what we do. Where exporters do sometimes need additional support is when no entity in the receiving country can (or will) act as the “Importer of Record”. This requires something called Indirect Representation – that is a little more complicated and carries with it additional challenges should the goods ever need to be returned. Customers need to be sure it’s the right solution for them – if it is, then of course, we can provide it.
Logistics Matters: How does DB SCHENKER guarantee the fastest delivery times for the customer, even when shipping across borders? Can customers be sure to receive clearance when choosing DB SCHENKER as their logistics provider?
Chris Clayton: No one can guarantee a clearance as it is the Customs authorities that decide what will be inspected and when. What we can say is we know the formalities in each country, so we get the declarations right. Our expert teams are highly experienced and know how to ship all kinds of goods. Our Land Transport Network is the most comprehensive in Europe. So, wherever our customers’ deliveries are going, we get there fast. We are also investing heavily in our systems and processes to reduce lead times even further and take away “non-value-adding” work from our customs colleagues. Skilled customs people are a scarce resource, and we want to make sure our people’s time is focused on helping customers.
Logistics Matters: To close, what would you tell a company that is currently looking for shipment options to or from the UK?
Chris Clayton: We’re over 3 years on from Brexit and everyone has learned a lot about how customs works into and out of the UK, as well as discovering how buying and shipping patterns have changed. The most important thing, in my opinion, is for customers to be confident that the choices they made of how and when to ship post-Brexit are still the best solutions for them today – shipping frequency and lead times, how duties & taxes are paid, costs and, of course, the compliance of your declarations all need to be considered. At DB SCHENKER we have the experts and the network to provide the right solution whatever the customer needs. We are over 3 years on from Brexit and have learned so much about how the customs process works since the UK left the European Union, including how customer buying and shipping patterns have changed. The most important thing, in my opinion, is for customers to have confidence that the choices they made of how and when to ship post-Brexit are still the best solutions for their business today. It is important that the optimum shipping frequency and lead times are considered, together with the compliance of declarations and of course how duties and taxes are paid.
At DB SCHENKER we have the experts and the network to provide the right solution whatever the customer needs.
Published: August, 2024
