The lot of HGV drivers is often not a happy one and if it is not resolved soon Britain’s logistics industry will lose its accolade as arguably being Europe’s best. It is not as though there is anything new about this because the chronic shortage of drivers has been ongoing for years and reflects various dissatisfactions, but it is not just about drivers.
The Freight Transport Association (FTA) cites in its 2019 logistics survey a vacancy rate of 52.7% for vehicle mechanics, fitters and technicians which they claim will not be filled in the near future. It warns that unless the skills shortage is tackled workshops will struggle to keep up with demand and queues for vehicle inspections and repairs will grow longer, forcing longer downtime periods which could have serious knockon effects for businesses and consumers used to JIT deliveries.
At present 15% of HGV driver vacancies cannot be filled owing to a nationwide skills shortage and the average driver age is 48, 13% of whom are EU nationals working in Britain. To tackle this skills shortage the FTA is pressing for unused levy funds to be used for more flexible training programmes and for amendments to the future immigration White Paper. But far more needs to be done.
The lack of recruitment reflects pay and conditions that need addressing. Why, for example, should drivers want to drive when they are exposed to crime, congestion, red tape and abusive staff at depots. The woefully inadequate infrastructure for their support to enable them to take their legally mandated rest levels makes Britain a poor second to the facilities enjoyed by Continental drivers. Britain’s Department of Transport’s own survey of lorry parking showed that there was an immediate need for 1,411 parking spaces around the country and 37% of these are required in the south-east now. But existing parking spaces need security upgrades because criminals see lorry parks as easy pickings. Now while lorry drivers can use alarm devices fitted to their key fobs that will bypass local police stations to save response time what use are they if the nearest police help shows disinterest allegedly forced on them by staff shortages, and so no investigations are made? In such conditions is it any surprise that lorry thefts continue to rise alarmingly? The National Vehicle Crime Intelligences Service reports 2,709 cargo thefts in 2018, up from 1,596 the year before.
The crime issue, in particular, is likely to dissuade female talent from joining the industry and thus relieving the driver skills shortage. By making lorry parks more secure and amenable, however, and catching thieves in the act will see crime rates fall. The police would like to help more but if they are understaffed through underfunding then Government must do better. Given the importance of the £124 billion logistics industry in Britain, is it too much to expect more respect to be shown to drivers without whom your morning cuppa would be a fond memory?
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