Home News Features Compliance

🕒 Article read time: 2 minutes

Drivers’ hours extension is not the answer to skills shortage, says Logistics UK


Logistics UK reacted with dismay to the announcement last week (7 July 2021) of the continued relaxation of drivers’ hours legislation until 8 August 2021, which governs the length of time which HGV drivers are legally expected to work.

“Government has ignored the industry in deciding to relax these road safety laws,” said James Firth, Head of Road Freight Regulation Policy, Logistics UK, “and it will be the hard-pressed HGV drivers on our roads who have to carry the burden.”

Throughout the pandemic, the UK’s professional drivers have worked tirelessly to ensure that the nation’s shops, homes and businesses are supplied with everything needed to keep the economy going.

“The current workforce cannot be expected to fill the gaps created by the current skills shortage,” Firth continued, “The road freight industry vehemently opposed the extension of these vital road safety laws, yet the government has ignored the will of those who will be most affected by the changes.

“The logistics sector has been experiencing a significant shortage of drivers for a number of years, but this situation has been exacerbated by factors including the COVID-19 pandemic and Brexit, which has seen many EU workers return to their home countries. The industry needs a longer-term solution to the recruitment of drivers – including temporary visas for EU workers to cover the gaps while new recruits can be trained, and interest free loans for those wishing to enter the market – not a stop-gap measure that will heap more pressure on existing workers. The relaxation of drivers’ hours should only be used in an emergency situation, when a foreseeable end date can be identified – or is the government suggesting that the current shortage of drivers will be resolved by 8 August?”

Before the pandemic and Brexit, logistics was already experiencing a shortage of around 76,000 drivers, and Logistics UK now estimates the shortfall to be approximately 90,000 workers.  The industry believes that an extension of drivers’ hours will not have the required impact and could be detrimental to the existing workforce;

“Existing drivers have been working flat out since the start of the pandemic,” Firth continued, “and this could be the final straw for many of them. Instead of trying to paper over the gaps, government should be working with industry to produce a plan to support moving drivers through the current bottleneck of HGV driving tests and support potential new entrants to the industry with the expensive process of acquiring a professional driving licence. Industry met with Transport and Work & Pensions ministers to discuss the situation on 16 June but no plan has been forthcoming to date – extending working hours is untenable and not the solution to the wider issue. Logistics businesses need and deserve answers, not wallpapering over the problem!”

Logistics UK has been highlighting this issue via its Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook channels and has been receiving high levels of support and engagement.

*www.logistics.org.uk/road

Published On: 15/07/2021 16:00:00

 

Comments Section

If you are a Logistics UK member login to add comments.

There are no comments yet.

Latest articles

Royal Mail using drones to reach remote Scottish islands

Anyone who’s travelled around remote Scottish islands such as Jura and Islay will know it can be a challenge getting from ‘a’ to ‘b’ by car or van, especially when the weather ‘comes in’. Enter the drone – Royal Mail’s latest initiative aimed at delivering packages in a more reliable, efficient and environmentally friendly way.

Read time: 2 minutes

View article

Save this hedgehog - dispose of your litter properly!

Did you know that discarded litter, including drinks cans and plastic bottles, sandwich packaging, discarded plastic wrapping and even fruit, lures hungry animals like hedgehogs and rabbits out of their natural habitats and closer to the roads network, where they are either hit by vehicles or can become trapped and die in tossed litter?

Read time: 2 minutes

View article

BidBird seeks to revolutionise freight management with its Monarch™ system

BidBird, an innovator in maritime logistics technology, is developing a freight management system aimed at transforming container handling practices on vessels in port.

Read time: 2 minutes

View article

E-news archive

You can also view our e-news archive here.

E-news archive

Interested in Membership?

Get in contact using the Membership Enquiry Form.

Membership Enquiry Form

Logistics Magazine Portal

The hub for finding relevant and informative features, news & compliance guides from Logistics Magazine

Logistics Magazine Portal Home

Sponsorship Opportunities

Learn more about advertising on the new digital Logistics Magazine, with a variety of advert options to reach 30,000 relevant readers.

Sponsorship Opportunities

Magazine Contents

News

Logistics Magazine will cover all the latest news on stories breaking in the industry, including developments on COVID-19,  Brexit, Clean Air Zones, transport law and decarbonisation.

News

Features

Our frequent features will tackle the broader issues affecting logistics such as the COVID-19 vaccination programme, technology and innovation, the political and economic landscape, global trade and the drive to reduce emissions across all transport modes.

Features

Compliance

Each month we explore a different topic in depth in our popular Compliance section, while each week we will publish answers put to our Member Advice Centre team.

Compliance

View Supplements and Previous Printed Editions

View Supplements and previous printed editions of Logistics Magazine here.

Previous