However, since the recovery in 2011, the entire trucking industry came under the grip of a. Transport select committee examines hgv driver shortage the problem around hgv driver shortages in the uk has been a focus of attention in the houses of parliament so far in 2016, with transcom, a parliament select committee sitting and hearing evidence. Lgv driver shortages threaten christmas business deliveries. Mar 04, 2016 the driver shortage vanished during the 2008 recession. The muchreported shortage of uk truck drivers may be attributed more to a paucity of. The hgv driver shortage in the uk, whats being done about it. Our aim was to establish whether the results of the drivers survey could help haulage operators, industry and government understand the issues that are currently facing them. If something isnt done to attract more drivers to the industry the shortage will have a huge impact on goods being delivered around the uk and beyond. This shortage has caused chaos for retailers, as the shortage will affect the christmas deliveries. Members have highlighted that hgv drivers and mechanics are becoming increasingly hard to recruit and the age demographic, specifically within the hgv driver population, is. Government funds hgv driver apprenticeship cpc training. However, since the recovery in 2011, the entire trucking industry came under the grip of a driver shortage problem, which skyrocketed to. The summit will bring together member companies who want to learn more about effective methods of recruiting, hiring, training, and retaining hgv drivers.
Trucker shortage threatens brexit boom with 45,000. Driver shortage rha sets the record straight 15th december 2017 there has been a lot of speculation in the media recently about the hgv driver shortage, the possibility of christmas delay disasters, and postbrexit supply chain disruption as a result. And the shortage is growing at the rate of 50 a day with a. Calls for support to tackle huge truck driver shortage in wales. The fta has gone so far as to describe this as not fit for purpose because it fails to address most hauliers needs and does not address the hgv driver shortage.
This content has been compiled by a qualified hgv class 2 driver. A failure to deliver safe, secure rest areas and address shortcomings in the apprenticeship levy are damaging efforts to tackle the driver. The haulage industry is facing tough times ahead with the continuing shortage in hgv drivers throughout the country. Multimodal 2019 the hgv driver skills shortage continues. Truck driver shortage spreads to southern europe freightwaves. I wonder how quickly things would change if a large majority of drivers were able to work together to shut the country down. Feb 26, 2018 in the uk there is a drastic shortage of qualified hgv drivers. Logistics businesses anticipate that 15% of their current hgv driver vacancies will not be filled due to the nationwide skills shortage. The number of hgv drivers out of work in september was at its. Brilliant bit of manoeuvring from a lorry driver this morning on the rossmore. Government urged to act over hgv driver shortage truck news. Published on feb 5, 2016 so now you have passed your class c test. The trucker is becoming an endangered species as lorry driver.
How to address uks hgv driver shortage in 2019 anthony jones. The trucker is becoming an endangered species as lorry. Your not alone and remember every driver started with no experience and. Shoppers are taking to the streets in search of christmas gifts, but a large percentage of them will also be shopping online, for the sake of convenience and to make use of online deals being offered by retailers. In addition, for a further 36% of current hgv vacancies, businesses anticipate a long delay in finding the right candidate and 33. Trucking industry struggles with growing driver shortage.
A shortage of qualified hgv drivers threatens the boom in trade predicted once we have shaken off the eus shackles credit. The american trucking associations says the industry needs to hire. Hgv driver shortage at crisis point as critics question. The shortage of lgv drivers in the uk is heading towards crisis point as a perfect storm of circumstances will see the current 50,000 gap in the workforce widen unless rates of pay and working conditions are rapidly improved, according to recruitment specialist driver require. In its most recent skills shortage report, the freight transport association fta in november reported that uk driver shortages had risen sharply to 52,000 in the twelve months leading up to the second quarter of 2017, an increase of 49%. So why are fewer people choosing to drive for a living. Hgv driver shortage will grow to crisis point unless pay.
Over the last 15 years there has been a steady increase in average driver age, rising from 45. Theres a shortage of hgv drivers in an economy that relies on moving. Ewing says supporting employers and individuals to gain the necessary skills is an important aspect in. Why do companies come up with work they would never dream of working themselves. Testimonials and letters are provided by third parties.
Back in 2016 the government commissioned the transport committee to investigate factors affecting and contributing to the shortage of drivers. The shortfall in lgv drivers by 2020 has been estimated to be 150,000. If your business relies on getting things from a to b, search a to brexit or visit. Jan 17, 2018 a driver shortage is the biggest challenge facing the transport industry in 2018, according to a uk customer survey by paragon software systems. In february 2016, carried out an opinion survey inviting hgv drivers to take part. A growing shortage of lorry drivers is putting millions of christmas deliveries at risk.
Jan 14, 2018 a shortage of qualified hgv drivers threatens the boom in trade predicted once we have shaken off the eus shackles credit. The yearlong apprenticeship, launched in 2016, includes only the cat c licence, limited to rigids. What plans are in place to tackle the hgv driver shortage in 2016. In 2016, the industry was short more than 36,000 drivers, according to the american trucking associations, which expected that number to. This is on top of the yearround lgv driver shortage currently being experienced in the uk. Some claim that less immigrant drivers are choosing to work in the uk. The main reason for this shortage is how unappealing the career looks. There is a shortage of 60,000 drivers and a quarter of truckers are set to retire in the next ten years. Government funds hgv driver trailblazer apprenticeship. Recruitment firms say they are struggling to find truckers for retailers and distribution companies. Caught on camera foreign idiot hgv driver reveres into uk. Sep 27, 2015 the trucker is becoming an endangered species as lorry driver shortage hits the industry there is a shortage of 60,000 drivers and a quarter of truckers are set to retire in the next ten years share.
The driver was a lady who didnt speak a word of english, which may explain why she kept ignoring us. Others place the blame on the high cost of hgv licences. The road haulage association is providing free industry advice on how brexit will affect your business. The uk is experiencing a lorry driver shortage that spans back several years, threatening to throw the supply chain industry off course. The driver shortage plaguing europes northern freight markets has now spread southwards. Fta is addressing the increasing concern surrounding skills shortages within logistics. There is, a surplus shortage, of drivers desperate for work, that the industry can use to keep wages and conditions down. The hgv driver shortage is limiting the haulage industrys ability to deliver high quality services. The trucker is becoming an endangered species as lorry driver shortage hits the industry there is a shortage of 60,000 drivers and a quarter of truckers are set to retire in the next ten years share. Currently, 2% of employed drivers are under 25 and with the average age of a hgv driver in britain being 55 there just arent enough qualified people filling the. Lgvhgv driver shortage continues this christmas tta. The uk is among several other european countries experiencing major driver shortage issues. The purpose of the survey was to get the drivers opinions about the current hgv driver shortage. There are plenty of myths that have been in circulation for many years about the hgv road haulage industry.
Jun 17, 2015 number of hgv drivers in the uk april june 2014. But what is being done to address this hgv driver shortage. Thousands of lgv licence holders not driving trucks transport. I dont think its a secret in the hgv industry that there is a driver shortage and has been for quite some time, in fact throughout the last few years the situation is actually getting worse. Trucking industry struggles with growing driver shortage more than 70 percent of goods consumed in the u.
Hgv driver shortage driver survey 2016 return loads. Commercial vehicle tackling the hgv driver shortage. Any information, advice and jobs provided on driver shortage are for reference purposes only. If there was a real driver shortage then newbies would be offered a full time permanent job the moment they passed. Aug 02, 2016 a mirror vision of industrial failure the uk lorry trade. Transport select committee examines hgv driver shortage. Nearly every period of economic growth is accompanied by a driver shortage, including the recovery that began in 2009. The freight transport association fta, one of the leading voices representing the haulage and transport industries, is planning a summit for the spring to deal with the ongoing driver shortage. No container or straight truck or trailer moves without, at some point, a truck driver. The annual survey revealed that almost half of respondents 46 percent state that the lack of drivers and other skilled workers across the industry was the biggest hurdle to success. Jan 09, 2018 trucking industry struggles with growing driver shortage more than 70 percent of goods consumed in the u. Hgv driver shortages in the uk there is a massive shortage of heavy goods vehicle drivers at the moment. A mirror vision of industrial failure the uk lorry trade. How to get back in the driving seat amid hgv driver shortage.
The purpose of the survey was to gauge the drivers opinions about the current hgv driver shortage. Added to that, only 2% of hgv drivers in the uk are 24 or under, according to its research, with 64% of drivers aged more than 45. The truckload fleet driver turnover rate in 2016 was 81%. I share his conclusion that the shortage of hgv drivers poses a real and present threat to the scottish and uk economies.
Blog hgv driver jobs coverwell recruitment services. Theres a shortage of hgv drivers in an economy that relies on moving mountains of heavy goods. Ive been a hgv one driver for 30 years and cant wait to leave the industry,because the industry has nothing to offer a driver. Dec 20, 2018 but what is being done to address this hgv driver shortage. Jul 26, 2016 brilliant bit of manoeuvring from a lorry driver this morning on the rossmore. The shortfall is predicted to increase to 150,000 by 2020. It is not good news then that over the last 20 years there has been a 40% decline in teenagers learning to drive. A mirror vision of industrial failure the uk lorry trade polly.
Christmas deliveries threatened by growing shortage of. One in seven hgv driver vacancies cannot be filled. The driver was a lady who didnt speak a word of english, which may. The hgv driver shortage in the uk has hit crisis point. Free seminars and webinars delivered by legal experts, backhouse jones, and a dedicated industry helpline will help you to plan ahead. Threequarters of operators are struggling to recruit heavy goods vehicle hgv drivers, despite government efforts to. Wholesalers are facing a crisis in recruiting hgv drivers, with countless vacancies now unfilled.
The driver shortage vanished during the 2008 recession. This ultimately led to the introduction of the lgv driver trailblazer scheme. Hgv driver shortage 2016 in february 2016, carried out an opinion survey inviting hgv drivers to take part. The shortage of hgv drivers means that logistics businesses anticipate that 15% of hgv driver vacancies will not be filled in 2019, according to a march 2019 fta logistics survey report. Why is there a shortage of haulage drivers in the uk. January 4, 2017 in driving, hgv, news by the source partnership its been hard to avoid the news throughout the past months about the shortage that the uk haulage industry has been suffering from in terms of drivers for hgvs. A driver shortage is the biggest challenge facing the transport industry in 2018, according to a uk customer survey by paragon software systems. The road haulage association has today launched another exciting initiative, road to logistics. Martyn fisher finds out why lorry driving has lost its appeal and how you can get back in the driving seat. The summit is to be held in march 2016 and will cover. Latest hgv driver shortage facts, figures and perspectives. Mar 17, 2017 research conducted by the freight transport association fta found that there is a shortage of 35,000 hgv drivers. Members have highlighted that hgv drivers and mechanics are becoming increasingly hard to recruit and the age demographic, specifically within the hgv driver population, is significantly older than the national average.
Lorry driver shortage supply chain skills gap the nx group. By richard simpson in news january 29, 2016 189 comments. The driver shortage is currently estimated at 35,000 lgv drivers 2. Last month we carried out an opinion survey inviting hgv drivers acorrs the country to take part.
There are an estimated 300,000 hgv drivers in the united kingdom, of which scotland hasor should haveapproximately 30,000, but it is estimated that the driver shortage in scotland may be as high as 11,000. Calls for support to tackle huge truck driver shortage. The freight transport association fta estimates that there is a hgv driver shortage of 45,000 in the uk. As britain emerged from the recent recession, the number of new trained drivers slumped by 25%, according to the freight transport association. Truck drivers, do not stick together, therefore, nothing will ever change reply. Estimates suggest another 50,000 to 60,000 drivers are currently needed and its expected the situation is only going to get worse. The trucker is becoming an endangered species as lorry driver shortage hits the industry. How to address uks hgv driver shortage in 2019 anthony. Even so, trucking companies, especially truckload carriers, often have great difficulty finding, hiring and keeping drivers.
Hgv driver shortages in the uk absolute magazine fashion. The driver shortage has regained its status as the trucking industrys most. With the long hours of 14hour straight days, the only upside would be the pay. Transport select committee examines hgv driver shortage the problem around hgv driver shortages in the uk has been a focus of attention in the houses of parliament so far in 2016, with transcom, a parliament select committee sitting and hearing evidence from industry leaders and experts regarding the situation. Lorry driver shortage rings christmas alarm bells financial times.
Although this means that levels of unemployment amongst drivers was, conversely, at its lowest point with unemployed drivers virtually a nonexistent concept in 2016. Europes driver shortage is spiraling out of control jordon. Hgv driver shortage at crisis point as critics question government steps to address issue. In the uk there is a drastic shortage of qualified hgv drivers. Hgv driver shortage is a ticking time bomb for uk logistics sector. Atas bob costello says driver shortage will press fleets.