London, UK: The government is considering using Army HGV drivers to alleviate the driver shortage crisis as fears over food distribution intensify, according to an article in The Sun.
The newspaper reports that around 2,000 HGV army drivers from the Royal Logistics Corps and other regiments are being put on a five-day standby for driving jobs in major distribution centres. The call is expected by the end of September
According to the article, the government is poised to make a formal request for military help with food distribution, along with medical supplies and other essential goods.
Road Haulage Association policy director Rod McKenzie stressed that the government is continually using short-term measures to address the driver shortage crisis.
He said: “There are 2,000 qualified HGV drivers in the Army. [But] we’re 100,000 lorry drivers short. Another issue is Army drivers are used to driving Army lorries and not civilian vehicles. Once again, they are using a short-term fix. It is not a good idea. We need to address what to do to get another 100,000 drivers.”
Some 450 Army workers drive articulated trucks.
