Brexit? No worries!

August 2020 - Customer update on Brexit

As a global company engaged in transport to or from the UK Brexit will present challenges to your business as you seek a smooth transition when the UK leaves the European Union at the end of the year. DB Schenker understands the complexities these changes will bring and is employing significant resources to ensure the continuity of our market leading services.

It is of the utmost importance that we approach the Brexit challenges in genuine partnership with you as the success that we both seek is interdependent.

We at DB Schenker have been engaged in detailed preparations for the past two years including the setup of a pan-European Brexit taskforce.

Following the EU and UK negotiation culminating in the signing of the withdrawal agreement the UK left the EU on the first of the 1st of February 2020. During the transition period until the 31st of December 2020, there is no change in the trade formalities between both economic parties.

The possibility of a further extension elapsed on the 30th of June 2020 and the UK will exit the current trade agreement with the EU by the 31st of December 2020. At this point in time, there is no agreement to govern the post Brexit trade relationship between the EU and the UK. It is also unclear about the status of freight moving between GB and Northern Ireland.

From the 1st of January 2021 there will be significant changes to the trading relationship between both parties. These changes will lead to new trade regulations and customs procedures.

Businesses in the EU and the UK must, therefore be prepared for new customs processes and procedures at the end of the transition period regardless of the outcome of the negotiations regarding the future partnership.


The following steps will help our customers prepare to minimize possible Brexit ramifications:

  • Review your business, if you have not already done so, to understand what impact Brexit will have on your EU supply chain.
  • Keep up to date with the political situation regarding Brexit and the effects it will have on your Brexit planning.
  • Share client/consignee Proof of Attorney with DB Schenker, or generate in designated local customs system as soon as possible (this is a legal requirement in many Countries).
  • Make sure your partners are providing the required information on their commercial documentation to allow a Customs declaration to be made.
  • Review your own commercial documentation and ensure it provides the information required to allow a Customs declaration to be made.
  • For IE into the UK, check what UK procedures your Importer is intending to use.
  • Advise DB Schenker of Authorizations you have in place with Customs.
  • Advise DB Schenker of potential Modal shifts that you are considering i.e. from the road to airfreight.
  • Speak to your trading partners about the information they supply on their documentation (relevant to Customs requirements).
  • Advise DB Schenker if you intend to use postponed VAT accounting to account for your VAT.


Prices will be defined by costs incurred in each country and we will provide you with comprehensive list of customs services and a pricing matrix shortly.

We have created a Brexit Taskforce and have expanded our project team structure. We currently have a competent group of experts who jointly work on this important project.

This includes:

  • Brexit Program Manager
  • National Brexit Experts
  • Commercial and Transportation Leads (e.g. Sales, Business Services, etc.)
  • IT Project Managers
  • Customs Consultants

The preparations made by the Brexit Taskforce are designed to ease the transition post-Brexit to ensure continuity of service for our customers.

The team is covering a wide range of themes within four main business areas: Customs, Operations, Communications and Commercial. In order to help us to prepare we need to understand your requirements in detail. Your account manager will be your main point of contact.

We are strengthening our operational and customs teams to accommodate the additional workload that will be necessary from 1st of January 2021.

Our core objective is to provide a seamless transport and customs service to and from the UK for all our loyal and perspective customers. DB Schenker will prioritize customs resources towards clients who use our transport services.

In preparation for providing a detailed report to you and the rest of our customers, our Brexit Taskforce team will introduce and release the full contingency plans in the upcoming customer summit webinar.

DB Schenker has the largest network across all of Europe with a multitude of routes and potential crossing points from Europe to the UK. We already have sophisticated procedures for dealing with tunnel and ferry disruptions that allow us to calculate the potential advantages of changing routes should there be a delay at any specific crossing point.

For more information on Brexit you can visit the following pages:

As of October 8, 2020 – this information is supplied without liability.