Logistics UK chief stresses the severity of the driver shortage to Transport Secretary

The focus of the meeting was to highlight the impact of the driver shortage on the industry and the serious risk it poses to the UK’s highly interconnected supply chains.

“During my meeting with the Transport Secretary last week, I impressed on him both the urgency of the skills crisis and the scarcity of short-term solutions to address it,” Wells said, “The two main approaches Logistics UK has identified to increase the pool of available drivers are to increase DVSA’s driver testing capacity and allow a number of temporary work visas to allow already qualified drivers from abroad to enter the UK market.

“The announcement to changes to the HGV driver testing process just three days after our meeting was welcomed by Logistics UK and shows that the ministers have listened to and acted upon our concerns. However, I must stress that these changes need to be implemented quickly if the UK is to avoid disruption to the Christmas peak.”

At the meeting, Logistics UK also pressed for a stronger commitment from government to improve facilities for drivers, to make logistics more attractive to employees considering entering the sector.

*www.logistics.org.uk/skills

Published On: 16/09/2021 16:00:56

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