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Make driver training affordable and fast-track testing, Logistics UK urges government
The shortage of HGV drivers is now so severe that it is placing real pressure on the UK's interconnected supply chain, Logistics UK has said.
The latest Logistics Performance Tracker (LPT) from Logistics UK reveals that more than six out of ten respondents (60.9%) expect severe or very severe difficulties recruiting HGV drivers. Close to 80,000 EU logistics workers have returned to their home countries and this combined with an existing shortage of 76,000 HGV drivers has meant that haulage firms are now struggling to recruit new drivers.
“Logistics UK is urging the government to make HGV driver training affordable, accessible and attractive for all,” said Alex Veitch, General Manager – Public Policy, Logistics UK. “With the logistics industry in urgent need of these workers, Logistics UK is urging the government to include training for HGV drivers in its list of courses funded through the National Skills Fund to reskill potential employees and help recruit them into the industry.”
Logistics UK’s Chief Executive David Wells and Director of Policy Elizabeth de Jong addressed the issue of the shortage of HGV drivers at a ministerial round table last week (16 June 2021). The meeting, which was led by Transport Minister Baroness Vere of Norbiton and Employment Minster Mims Davies MP, had three objectives to tackle the labour shortage: to ensure there is an exchange of views and information between government and sector representatives; to consider some steps to be taken in partnership between government and the sector; and to discuss other steps related to the lorry driver shortage across sectors.
All proposals from the round table will be taken forward with Logistics UK members through the business group’s Employment Action Group.
In addition, Logistics UK is pushing for the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) to maintain its fast-track programme to catch-up on at least 30,000 driving tests that were postponed due to COVID-19 between March and December 2020.
Veitch said: “The shut down of testing owing to COVID-19, while understandable, has left thousands of potential HGV drivers waiting in the wings when the UK needs them most to support every facet of UK PLC. It is vital that DVSA catch up with the backlog of tests as quickly as possible.”
*www.logistics.org.uk/campaigns/the-workforce-logistics-needs
Published On: 24/06/2021 16:00:39
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