The Freight Transport Association has voiced concerns about the shortage of lorry drivers. This is an ongoing problem for them but one that they believe will start to impact on everyone in the run up to the festive period. They anticipate the problem is going to get worse if something isn’t done soon to address the problem. If you are a driver or you work in recruitment in this sector this will come as no surprise, the shortage of qualified drivers in the UK has been an issue for some time.
An ageing workforce of lorry drivers, the costs associated with training and obtaining a HGV licence and the image of the industry are all exacerbating the problem. Recruiting new, younger drivers will be crucial to solving the problem but business leaders in the transport and logistics sector believe that the key will be in funding training to encourage new recruits.
Retention of older more experienced drivers is not being helped by the new EU regulations for them to hold a Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC). To obtain their CPC professional drivers are required to complete 35 hours of periodic training every five years. Those who don’t could face a hefty £1000 fine.
Whilst we’d all like to believe that our Christmas presents are lovingly made my elves and then delivered by sleigh most of us grownups realise that isn’t the case. The shortage of drivers in the UK could lead to problems in the run up to the festive period. At the moment a lot of the work is being carried out by agency drivers but agencies have also warned there simply may not be enough of them to cope with the surplus demand anticipated over the next few months.
