Hauliers Impose Surcharge as Congestion Grips London Gateway

Haulage operations at London Gateway are under pressure as growing port congestion disrupts container pickups and driver schedules. Hauliers have begun implementing surcharges on collections, pointing to persistent delays and mounting inefficiencies.

A series of issues—including IT disruptions, power outages, limited crane availability, and recent rail network incidents—have contributed to extended queue times and slower turnaround at the port. Morning gridlocks and yard congestion are now common, with some drivers experiencing delays of several hours before accessing containers. The disruptions are affecting fleet planning, causing missed delivery slots and adding pressure to supply chains. Many haulage providers have also warned of additional wait-time charges for prolonged delays.

While port authorities have indicated gradual improvements, the impact on daily logistics operations continues to be significant, prompting calls for urgent infrastructure and process upgrades.