Port of Dover

The Port of Dover

Investment totalling £1 million is being made at the Port of Dover in the UK.

Motis, the freight services specialist that took over the Freight Services Agency (FSA) within the Port of Dover at the end of 2012, is investing the seven-figure sum towards the development of the site, creating additional employment in the process.

Work has begun to provide hauliers and drivers with state-of-the-art facilities at Motis' freight clearance and truck-stop facility within the Kent port.

Over the coming months, new toilet facilities, showers, launderette, catering and TV lounge will be added to ensure that drivers experience industry-leading levels of service 24 hours a day, every day.

Cargo handling facilities are also being upgraded to include ambient, frozen and chilled storage/transhipment.

A hand truckwash is already in progress and will be opening soon. The entire site will have free wifi and discounted international calls will be available, and safety and security is being further enhanced with 1km of new fencing, upgraded ANPR and additional CCTV equipment.

Rob Hardy, Motis FSA general manager, said: “It has taken a little longer than anticipated to start the key works on site, but meanwhile we have been able to provide an interim service. Going forward we aim to be the benchmark for truck parking and have many innovative plans to further add value which we will be implementing over the coming months.

'Now that work has started we can really look to the future and to provide the service levels our customers expect from Motis. The site has been particularly popular with hauliers disembarking in Dover in the evening, parking overnight with us and then paying the HGV Levy on exit helping to ensure they comply with their legal break requirements.'

Chris Polwart, Motis commercial director, added: “Motis are proud to provide these additional facilities at such a key geographic point in Europe. The majority of our customers are now passing our doorstep on a regular basis so providing these additional facilities is fantastic and natural progression to our already strong product range including freight ferry bookings, motorway 6olls, alpine tunnels and rolling highways. This facility also gives us the opportunity to offer some unique product packages to our customers based on specific requirements they may have for their vehicles / drivers on arrival in the UK.'

The Motis freight clearance and truck-stop facility is located off Lord Warden Square in the Port of Dover’s Western Docks. It operates 24 hours a day, 7 days per week and is the largest facility of its kind in the UK.