Difficulties Sourcing HGV Drivers For Christmas Peak 2019

1.4m people are employed in the supply chain logistics sector in the UK. 250,000 additional temporary staff will be required  during the Christmas peak in HGV driving, courier, delivery work, warehouse, but also in retail,  restaurants and customer service across the UK. Delivery companies such as Yodel are looking to hire 1,500 temporary staff nationwide, including HGV Class 1 drivers, warehouse operatives, van drivers and couriers.

However, an October 2019 FTA  report showed that there is still a 59,000 shortage of HGV drivers in the UK, with availability down 16,000 or 5.0% year-on-year, increasing at a rate of 50 drivers per day.  64% of transport and storage businesses said they were now facing severe skills shortages. Factors contributing to the shortage including the ageing driver workforce, low unemployment, declining Brexit-related EU net migration and difficulties attracting new, younger people to the sector. It is a similar story across Europe in Spain, Germany  and Norway for example – a recent survey by the International Road Transport Union (IRU) revealed a driver shortage of 21% across the European freight transport sector and the same set of recruitment challenges as the UK.

Current Measures To Tackle The UK Driver Shortage

• The FTA is calling for the Apprenticeship Levy to become a Skills Levy, for previously unused funds to be utilised for more flexible training programmes. The FTA say the current scheme is not fit for purpose. The FTA is also calling on government to improve driver facilities to make HGV driving a more attractive career for individuals of all ages and to appeal to women also
• In September 2019 the UK government launched a £1m fund to help boost HGV driver recruitment and assist the ‘Road to Logistics’ programme which aims to support those who may find it difficult to get permanent jobs such as ex-offenders. There was a successful trial of the programme at HM Prison Sudbury where the scheme helped train 300 HGV drivers in the first year. The plan will also see prisoners linked with potential employers, undergo training, gain qualifications, a driving licence, and ultimately a guaranteed job on release.  The programme will also target the 40,000 unemployed ex-armed forces personnel and also the long-term unemployed

Managing HGV Driver Christmas Peak 2019

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