The challenge
Seven jobs in three cities, eight days, and a long way between them. The route took in seven countries and five ferry crossings, so the crew's hotels and flights home had to be booked around a drive that couldn't slip.
The paperwork was the bigger risk. Since Brexit, a run like this comes with a long list of things to do before a van is allowed to cross a border, and every one of them has to be finished before the van leaves Fleet.
Our approach
We drove it ourselves. Every van was covered by our international operator licence.
Our own tools, cases and handling kit went on an ATA carnet, with more than 300 items listed. We take our own equipment because a decommission or install can't wait for a missing trolley or a borrowed ratchet strap.
The crew also had EU posting declarations in place.
The order was simple. Two decommissions in Helsinki, two in Amsterdam, then three installs in Paris.
The result
An eight day run across seven countries: four decommissions in Helsinki and Amsterdam, then three installs in Paris, with five ferry crossings on the way.
