The European Union (EU) Entry/Exit System (EES) could “kill” the overseas sleeper bus sector, an operator has warned.
EES means strict application of the Schengen Area’s 90/180-day rule. It is causing concern to Bryan McGuire, Operations Manager at Megasleepers, which specialises in taking bands on tours.
Mr McGuire, who fears the most testing times will come at peak periods next year, says: “This 90-day rule is absolutely going to kill this industry.”
He says that the specialist nature of his work means he will have difficulty finding alternative drivers, with trips typically six to eight weeks in length, and sometimes longer.
“There’s a lot to know about the industry and what’s needed, so we can’t just go and pick a driver out of a job centre,” says Mr McGuire, who adds that around 80% of the business’s work is in Europe.
“I’m having to try and find European drivers within our industry and try and entice them away from other companies, which means changing our pay structure, changing how much we charge, potentially putting our own drivers out of work.”
Another operator adding to calls for ministers to lobby the EU for an exemption to professional drivers is Michael Lee, Managing Director of Pegasus Coaches, which operates around 450 European tours per year, mainly for schools.
“Our pinch point will be mid-June when drivers will be on the limit of their 90 days,” he says. “We’ve two months where we’re going to be without experienced drivers to do work that we’ve already got booked in, which is quite scary.
“What happens to the drivers who have used up their 90 days? They’re not going to be happy to go out doing school contracts in the UK, and we’re going to lose even more people from the industry.
