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HGV driver shortage: Logistics UK keeps the pressure on Government
Logistics UK continued to pressure the Government this week to seek effective resolutions to the HGV driver shortage.
The Department for Transport (DfT) published an open letter to the industry, saying it is considering several measures to increase testing capacity, however, Alex Veitch, General Manager of Public Policy at Logistics UK, does not believe this will deliver change swiftly enough. He said, “The quickest these measures would be introduced is early 2022; the driver shortage needs urgent Government action to protect UK supply chains now.”
DfT is aiming to see 2,000 successful passes per week to help overcome the backlog of missed driver tests owing to restrictions under the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mr Veitch said: “While this will not be enough to clear the backlog from this year in all likelihood, it is a good start and Logistics UK will be holding Government accountable on this target. In the meantime, we will continue to push for short-term measures, including easements to immigration rules to enable members to source fully trained HGV drivers from the EU.”
While the Government is resisting calls for immigration reform, Logistics UK will continue educating government on the necessity of this as a solution for industry.
*www.logistics.org.uk/skills
Published On: 29/07/2021 16:00:00
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