Hgv driver shortage at crisis point as critics question. Fta is addressing the increasing concern surrounding skills shortages within logistics. At that hgv training centre, we want to encourage exmilitary to consider hgv or lgv driver training for a career as a professional driver. 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. A driver shortage is the biggest challenge facing the transport industry in 2018, according to a uk customer survey by paragon software systems.
Apr 30, 2015 driver shortages in the hgv industry and in logistics in general is a huge issue and potentially the greatest challenge that the industry has ever had to face up to. Latest hgv driver shortage facts, figures and perspectives. Average age of a truck driver in the uk hgv training. Mar 12, 2015 what is the view of truck drivers who are on the roads in the uk, and why do they believe there is a driver shortage problem.
Shortage of hgv drivers is a real threat to christmas road haulage association. A uk commission in 2014 suggested that the industry had an employee shortfall by around 60,000 people a number significant enough to place enormous strain on an already. Government to address hgv driver shortage motor transport. The shortage of hgv heavy goods vehicles drivers in the uk has climbed to 59,000 as 64% of transport and storage businesses now face severe skills shortages, according to a recent report by fta. Julian thompson, managing director of 247 staffing, said his company faced demand for 75% more drivers in the buildup to the festive period last year, and worked with customers to offer drivers block. 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. No container or straight truck or trailer moves without, at some point, a truck driver. In addition, the latest information from the office of the traffic commissioners in great britain and. Without trucks and drivers to transport goods to distribution.
Lorry driver shortage could put christmas deliveries at risk. A shortage of qualified hgv drivers threatens the boom in trade predicted once we have shaken off the eus shackles credit. If there was, and transport companies had trucks parked up because of it, recruiters would be trawling industrial estates, truckstops, and outside transport firm. At 56, he personifies an industry that is experienced but top heavy, with nearly half of drivers on domestic routes aged over 50. Its not the cost of becoming a hgv driver thats the problem, the problem is low wages, long hours, stupid start times and. Earlier in the year, organisations such as the freight transport association and road haulage association were estimating the current driver shortage to be about 40,000. And while that is certainly true again for 2015, there is an added concern. And the shortage is growing at the rate of 50 a day with a. The road haulage association have also added that over the next 2 years we are due to see another 35,000 jobs become available due to retirement. Shortage of hgv drivers is a real threat to christmas.
Difficulties recruiting hgv drivers in the uk and concerns about driver shortages increased throughout last year and have continued into 2015, with 60% of shippers and freight transport operators expecting shortages this quarter, according to the latest quarterly survey from the freight transport association fta. And with a shortage of drivers across europe, its vital that the sector does more to bring people into the industry. 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. Only 17,000 new hgv drivers qualify each year, so over time, the shortage is set to increase. Government to address hgv driver shortage march 18, 2015 emma shone the government will look into funding support for hauliers to recruit and train new drivers as part of george osbornes 2015. Department for transport, statistical release domestic road freight statistics, united kingdom 2014, 26 november 2015. May 08, 2020 no container or straight truck or trailer moves without, at some point, a truck driver. Investigation into hgv driver shortage launched published. Moving goods between the uk and the eu will change from 31st october. Lorry driver shortage could put christmas deliveries at. Even so, trucking companies, especially truckload carriers, often have great difficulty finding, hiring and keeping drivers. Between june 2015 and may 2016, 70,233 hgv category c licences were issued, compared to 55,161 in the period from june 2014 to may 2015 a substantial increase but just getting back to prerecession levels.
The freight transport association fta estimates that there is a hgv driver shortage of 45,000 in the uk. Hgv driver shortage hgv training the hgv training centre. Driver shortage my arse, shortage of good quality drivers, who will work for a fair days money yes and i know this for surei had the misfortune to go to a mates funeral this week truck driver and my old boss was there too we both worked for him at one time, anyway boss was saying hes got 6 motors parked up, cant get drivers yet pays em. Lgv truck licence information and hgv jobs at driver shortage.
Hgv driver shortages in the uk there is a massive shortage of heavy goods vehicle drivers at the moment. There is a huge amount of negatives to being a truck driver, and few, if any, incentives to pursue a career as a hgv driver. Its the centrepiece of a campaign called truckers toilets uk to make access to toilets a. Sep 27, 2015 only 17,000 new hgv drivers qualify each year, so over time, the shortage is set to increase. Driver shortage could start affecting online shopping. While the cbt and others debate the necessity of ending bus privatisation, the hgv training centre will continue doing our part by offering pcv driver training at more than 45 facilities throughout the uk. The haulage industry is facing tough times ahead with the continuing shortage in hgv drivers throughout the country. The road haulage association have also added that over the next 2 years we are due to see. A shortage of lorry drivers is getting worse the economist. The shortfall in lgv drivers by 2020 has been estimated to be 150,000. A wakeup call for industry as truck driver shortage reaches. Uks hgv driver shortage climbs to 59,000 air cargo week. Driver shortage appears to be accelerating hgv training.
The current hgv lgv jobs available are estimated at over 45,000 across the uk, so a great time to be looking at lgv hgv as a new career. The cost of getting the licence is putting potential young drivers off. Jun 17, 2015 number of hgv drivers in the uk april june 2014. Published on mar 12, 2015 would you be a lorry driver. Very simple and basic i know, but that is the point, it is very simple to get your hgv license, through hgv driver training centre. 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. Exmilitary to be recruited for hgvlgv driver training. The exact size of the driver shortage ranges from 45,000 to 50,000 drivers according to the road haulage association rha, and 52,000 by british international freight association bifa estimates. Apr 12, 2016 over past few years there has been a major driver shortage throughout the uk, as older logistics workers come to retirement age and potential younger drivers struggle with the. 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.
Nearly every period of economic growth is accompanied by a driver shortage, including the recovery that began in 2009. The hgv driver shortage in the uk, whats being done about it. The uk haulage industry is currently facing a shortage of between 45k and 50k hgv drivers and we as an industry need to face this challenge headon, said rha chief executive richard burnett. A mirror vision of industrial failure the uk lorry trade. That seems like a lot, but we should remember that not everyone with an hgv licence will be working as an hgv driver. British government pledges to help reduce uk truck driver. In the past five years, hgv licence applications have dropped by more than 32,000. The trucker is becoming an endangered species as lorry driver. Hgv jobs in the uk recruitment hgv training prices. Investigation into uk hgv driver shortage return loads. Apr 22, 2015 very simple and basic i know, but that is the point, it is very simple to get your hgv license, through hgv driver training centre. 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.
Over the last 15 years there has been a steady increase in average driver age, rising from 45. With the long hours of 14hour straight days, the only upside would be the pay. Fta has been out to find out and spoken with the people behind the. Difficulties recruiting hgv drivers in the uk and concerns about driver shortages increased throughout last year and have continued into 2015, with 60% of shippers and freight transport operators expecting shortages this quarter, according to the latest quarterly survey. Mar 17, 2017 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. Mar 12, 2015 published on mar 12, 2015 would you be a lorry driver. How to get back in the driving seat amid hgv driver shortage. Lorry driver shortage long hours, unsociable shifts, training costs and a high demand for online goods all factors. But new estimates released from a report prepared by the road haulage association and dunlop say the shortage has now reached between 45,000 and 60,000. Hgv driver shortage will grow to crisis point unless pay. Driver shortage least of worries for britains bus services. Consider a job as a hgv lgv truck driver driver shortage.
Fta november 2014 the above are just two quotes easily found on the net these days, outlining the shortage of hgv drivers here in the uk. Nor is the driver shortage confined to employed drivers. If your business relies on getting things from a to b, search a to brexit or visit. The latest hgv driver news uk based hgv jobs adr network. Oct 25, 2015 lorry driver shortage could put christmas deliveries at risk this article is more than 4 years old shortfall of 45,00050,000 drivers has the potential to harm the uk economy, according to the. The logistics skills report, sponsored by manpower, provides a detailed examination into how various factors, including brexit and artificial intelligence, are impacting the logistics workforce. In addition, the latest information from the office of the traffic commissioners in great britain and northern irelands transport regulation unit shows that the overall number of olicence holders in the uk has fallen by 1. Fta has been talking with members of the public to discover what their perception is of the logistics industry, and asked them whether they. If you have any thoughts on the above, get in touch and let us know, otherwise youll hear from me in next weeks blog, which is about the benefits of periodic cpc training.
We believe it is important they know our training is both fast and convenient, giving them the opportunity to get to work almost immediately after leaving the armed forces. The driver shortage is currently estimated at 35,000 lgv drivers 2. It is not good news then that over the last 20 years there has been a 40% decline in teenagers learning to drive. At this time last year, we were reporting on concerns that the uk lorry driver shortage would affect the upcoming christmas shopping season. The trucker is becoming an endangered species as lorry. The uk logistics industry is facing its worst driver shortage in the run up to christmas, and is blaming eu regulation. Free seminars and webinars delivered by legal experts, backhouse jones, and a dedicated industry helpline will help you to plan ahead. The road haulage association is providing free industry advice on how brexit will affect your business. Driver shortages in the hgv industry and in logistics in general is a huge issue and potentially the greatest challenge that the industry has ever had to face up to. Ons, there was a 21% increase in those applying for hgv practical and theory tests in q4 2015 compared to q4 2014. The main reason for this shortage is how unappealing the career looks.
A wakeup call for industry as truck driver shortage reaches crisis point in the uk a survey of leading uk companies on behalf of the chartered institute of logistics and transport cilt has highlighted the crisis faced in the supply chain from a worsening heavy goods vehicle hgv driver shortage. 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. The hgv driver shortage uk based hgv jobs adr network. We also found evidence to suggest claims of a driver shortage were overstated. Lorry driver shortage could put christmas deliveries at risk this article is more than 4 years old shortfall of 45,00050,000 drivers has the potential to harm the uk economy, according to the. This has led to problems within the transport industry. 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. What is the view of truck drivers who are on the roads in the uk, and why do they believe there is a driver shortage problem. According to an article in a national newspaper haulage bosses need to train 45,000 new truckers just to fill existing vacanciesthe shortage is growing at the rate of 50 a day with a further 20,000 expected to quit by the end of the year. According to a report by the bbc june 2015, statistics reveal that some 1. Government to address hgv driver shortage march 18, 2015 emma shone the government will look into funding support for hauliers to recruit and train new drivers as part of george osbornes 2015 16 budget plan. There is no doubt that a career as a hgv driver is one of the most unattractive career paths that one can take at present.
The chronic shortage of qualified drivers continues to make hgv news headlines, unsurprising given the nations use of road haulage across the supply chain. Employment and unemployment of lgv drivers, united kingdom, 1999 2015. Hgv driver shortage at crisis point as critics question government steps to address issue. Hgv driver shortages in the uk absolute magazine fashion. The hgv driver shortage is limiting the haulage industrys ability to deliver high quality services. Why do companies come up with work they would never dream of working themselves.
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