Hauliers' Guide: Preparing for S&S Declaration Submission
A practical checklist for hauliers and drivers on what information needs to be ready before an ENS or EXS can be filed cleanly.
Why the Checklist Matters
For hauliers, the operational cost of a messy S&S declaration isn't the filing itself — it's the dispatch delay, the waiting driver, and the rebooked ferry. Most of that can be avoided if the data is collected properly at booking, before anyone goes near a submission screen.
This is the practical checklist we work through with every new haulier client.
1. Consignor and Consignee
- Full legal name of the consignor (shipper) and consignee (receiver)
- Registered address of both parties
- GB EORI number of the consignee, where applicable
- Confirmation of any known "additional parties" on the movement (notify parties, customs agents)
If a consignee doesn't have a GB EORI, flag it early — it takes time to obtain.
2. Goods Information
- Plain-English description of the goods (avoid generic terms like "spare parts")
- Accurate commodity code — validated against the cargo, not copy-pasted from last time
- Gross weight
- Number and type of packages (pallets, cartons, drums, etc.)
- Container / trailer numbers where relevant
3. Transport and Route
- Mode of transport (road, ro-ro, deep sea, air)
- Conveyance reference (vessel / flight / ferry)
- Vehicle and trailer registration, where applicable
- Loading and discharge points
- Estimated time of arrival in GB
4. Timing
- Transport-mode cut-off confirmed
- Buffer time built in for data gathering
- A named contact on the operator side who can answer questions fast if a data point is missing
5. After Submission
- MRN (Movement Reference Number) received and forwarded to the driver / next broker
- Amendment path agreed if trailer, route or cargo changes
- Audit record kept for HMRC queries
What the Best Hauliers Do
The hauliers who move most cleanly across GB borders share a few habits:
- They collect S&S data at the point of booking, not the point of filing.
- They have a single named filing partner for both ENS and EXS.
- They treat amendments as routine, not as exceptions.
- They invest 15 minutes to train dispatchers on what the declaration actually needs — so data is captured right the first time.
How We Work With Hauliers
Our Hauliers & Freight Forwarders service is built around this checklist. We plug into your booking process, act as the appointed filing partner, and keep your trucks moving.
Contact us to get set up.