Congestion chaos at the Dover port crossing is reportedly costing transport companies £800 per lorry - as British hauliers of perishable goods complain the long waiting times are causing products to go bad.
The suspension of P&O ferry services at the terminal as well as Easter traffic, IT issues and bad weather, have led to lengthy queues for transporters.
Hauliers of perishable goods now want to be given priority at the busy port in Kent.
The British Meat Processors Association says some of its members are currently waiting for 24 hours or more to cross.
Nick Allen, chief executive of the group, said the delays meant that the UK was losing business, as customers were turning to other countries to source goods at a time when their members' products were in hot demand.
"We are told to expect disruption well into next week. With Easter weekend approaching and a very busy time for exporting fresh meat, this is really bad timing."
Lockerbie-based Eardley International takes fresh meat from the UK into continental Europe, operating 25 trucks at any one time.
"Our products have a very short shelf life," company director Graham Eardley told the BBC.
"If we load lamb in the UK on a Monday, we'd expect to deliver that product to Germany on a Tuesday. Now we are seeing delays of 20 to 25 hours to cross the Channel, and the quality and the sale value of that product falls by every hour it is delayed."
For Mr Eardley, the delays mean losing up to £800 per truck. He says the abattoirs who use his services are also getting claims for late delivery and loss in value.
"We are paying for the driver to be sitting in the truck not being productive and seeing the loss of the revenue that the vehicle could be making."
The government said traffic management measures were under regular review.
However, a Department for Transport spokesperson gave no indication that there would be a change made for those transporting perishable items.