Government plans for a transition period after the UK leaves the EU in 2019 could help Kent avoid the prospect of a logjam on roads and long delays at ports.

And the government has said the UK could secure a permanent solution to the issue of border controls by joining the Common Transit Convention (CTC) which simplifies border crossing for goods in transit.

Hauliers gave a cautious welcome to the idea for what would effectively be a temporary customs union, as did the Port of Dover.

It follows a warning last month by economic analysts that Kent could see the almost permanent instigation of Operation Stack if no arrangements were made for new customs checks.

The Road Haulage Association said in a statement: "If we don't get this right, people will see empty supermarket shelves and huge traffic jams around the ports.

"The news is encouraging but we will carefully follow the detail to ensure we get the best possible customs arrangements for the UK haulage industry.”

"The ideal scenario for us would be a transitional arrangement that looks and feels the same as the customs arrangements we have now and we are looking to ministers to deliver that in the forthcoming negotiations".

Tim Waggott, chief executive of the Port of Dover, said it was vital that the “rapid transit” of goods could continue.

He said: “The Port of Dover welcomes government’s understanding of the need for a time limited transition period and will study any detailed proposals carefully.

“Maintaining fluidity at the Dover Straits to protect and promote UK-European land-based trade flows must be one of the key imperatives during the Brexit talks.

"There is no substitutable capacity anywhere else that can take the type and volume of traffic that we handle at Dover.

"We need a tailored solution to ensure business as usual, which means maintaining the rapid transit of goods through the crossings and the wider freight corridor post-Brexit.”

A report issued by the government’s Brexit department said joining the Common Transit Convention, under which goods do not need to complete import and export declarations each time a border is crossed, could “make border clearances easier at key ports...such as Dover.”

It also said the government would “look to simplify the requirements for moving goods across borders” and identified two possible solutions,including “negotiating a waiver” to avoid the need to make declarations for goods moving between the UK and the EU.