Guides for hauliers
Plain-English guides to GB ENS, EU ICS2 and the ELO port pass for hauliers and freight forwarders moving goods between the UK and the EU.
How to Submit an EU ICS2 Entry Summary Declaration on ENS Ready
How to submit an EU ICS2 entry summary declaration on ENS Ready, step by step through transport, consignor, consignee, carrier and goods details.
How to submit an S&S GB ENS declaration on ENS Ready?
How to submit an S&S GB ENS declaration on ENS Ready, step by step: transport, consignor, consignee, carrier, consignment and goods details.
How to Apply for an EU EORI Number for ICS2 (Step-by-Step)
A step-by-step guide for GB hauliers on applying for an EU or XI EORI number for ICS2: which country, the documents you need, and how long it takes.
What Counts as a Valid Goods Description in ICS2?
A practical guide for hauliers on writing ICS2 goods descriptions that pass validation. Plain-language rules, examples, and how to avoid rejections.
How do you submit an ICS2 EU ENS for an empty vehicle?
How to submit an ICS2 EU ENS for an empty vehicle: what to enter for consignor, goods description, gross mass, package type and shipping marks.
ELO Is Mandatory for UK–France RoRo Trade: What Hauliers Need to Know
Since 20 April 2026, every truck crossing between the UK and France by RoRo needs an ELO barcode from French Customs. Who it affects and how to create one.
France's ELO (Obligatory Logistics Envelope): The Mandatory Port Pass for GB–FR Freight
France's ELO has been mandatory for UK–France RoRo freight since 20 April 2026. How the digital port pass works, its ICS2 link and how to prepare.
ICS2 for Road Hauliers: What You Need to Know
ICS2 is now mandatory for road freight into the EU. The deadlines that passed, and the data every ENS needs: 6-digit HS codes and EU or XI EORIs.
Do GB Hauliers Need an EU EORI for ICS2?
Yes, GB hauliers need an EU or XI EORI for ICS2. The first point of entry rule, and how to apply in Northern Ireland, France, the Netherlands and more.
List of ICS2 stop words
The EU's ICS2 stop words: vague goods descriptions, names and addresses rejected in an ENS, including the words added in 2026.
Do you need an ENS for an empty vehicle?
Do empty vehicles need a GB ENS? Yes, if they move under a transport contract (for hire or reward). Here is how HMRC applies the rule.
Does HMRC allow multiple consignments for GB ENS?
Can one GB ENS cover multiple consignments? Yes, if they share the same country of routing codes. HMRC's routing rule and the 999-item limit explained.
How do you submit a GB ENS for an empty vehicle?
Submitting a GB ENS for an empty vehicle? How to fill in the goods section: consignor and consignee, goods description, gross mass, package type and marks.
What are the location codes for GB ENS?
Need the first place of arrival code for a GB ENS? See HMRC's full list of S&S GB location codes and what to do for missing ports like Cairnryan.
What are the mandatory, conditional and optional S&S GB fields?
The mandatory, conditional and optional fields for a GB ENS: the full S&S GB dataset, with XML tags and HMRC's rules for each field.
What is an ENS?
What is an Entry Summary Declaration (ENS)? How it differs from an import declaration, and how GB ENS (S&S GB) and EU ENS (ICS2) are submitted.
Whose responsibility is it to submit an S&S GB declaration?
Who is legally responsible for a GB ENS? The carrier keeps the liability, even when a third party submits it. RoRo rules and filing consent explained.