Tunbridge Wells, UK: Driver pay jumped 10% on average in the nine months to October 2021 in order to retain existing staff and attract new drivers, according to Logistics UK’s Skills and Employment Report 2021.
The report reveal that, there were 44,000 fewer HGV drivers by this autumn compared to the same time in 2019. However, there has been a 25.6% increase in HGV driver tests from the July to September 2019 period compared to the same period in 2021 and a three-fold increase in applications for vocational provisional licences.
Elizabeth de Jong, policy director at Logistics UK, said the sector was seeing “green shoots” of recovery, and that HGV driver numbers should improve as new trainees join the sector but she stressed that there is still much work to do.
“It is still a challenging time, there is still an acute shortage of drivers
certainly but there a number of signs of improvement that could be coming.”
“We’re seeing hope that more people are beginning to enter the industry, but we’ve got to keep attracting them by really improving the facilities.”
“Government announcements to help address issues across our sector, including increasing driver testing throughput, funding Skills Bootcamps to train HGV drivers and a commitment to improved overnight parking provision, have been at pace. There needs to be continued focus from government to ensure they are delivered, so business and industry can take full advantage and continue to raise awareness of logistics and the opportunities it offers.”
“The flexibility and resilience of our sector in coping with a smaller workforce, coupled with issues caused by Brexit and supply chain disruption caused by worldwide container shipping issues, have been incredible,” she said. “With higher wages now helping to plug the gaps in employment for companies which can afford them and an increase in HGV driver tests of 25.6% and three-fold increase in applications for vocational provisional licences, there is hope that the shortage of HGV drivers will ease.
“However, this is not cause for complacency just yet; although average driver pay surged 10% in the nine months to October 2021 in order to retain existing staff and attract new drivers, smaller fleet operators are still not back to full fleet capacity after the Covid-19 pandemic shutdown, and their inability to compete for drivers by offering higher wages appears to be hindering their efforts to recruit new staff. “
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: “We’ve taken 32 measures to help tackle the driver shortage and they’re working: Logistics UK is seeing green shoots to recovery and a significant increase in HGV tests compared to pre-pandemic.”
The Logistics UK Skills Report 2021 has been compiled in partnership with independent research agency Repgraph. A copy of the report can be downloaded here: https://logistics.org.uk/campaigns/logistics-uk-skills-and-employment-advice-hub/logistics-uk-s-skills-and-employment-report
