London, UK: Haulage bosses may well find some hints for driver retention by reading a truck driver’s account of why it is a dreadful career choice.
So, You Want to be a Lorry Driver? by Kevin Mervin “spills the beans on the lorry drivers shortage”.
He has 25 years experience driving HGVs and says the cause of the driver shortage starts way before Covid-19 and Brexit. He warns those who feel an urge to answer the call for new HGV drivers, to think long and hard about this “hazardous career move”.
“It is an extremely stressful, thankless and unappreciated job. Having to work long unsociable hours, only to eventually return home physically and mentally knackered, wreeking of sweaty cab odour, and to slowly develop sleep apnoea.
“You also have to adhere to an unbelievable wedge of bureaucratic nonsense – EU driving directives as well as UK regulations. Oh, and not forgetting them cyclists.”
He points out that it is “ludicrously expensive to become an HGV driver, having to take three other driving tests before reaching the HGV category, outrageously expensive to retain a vocational licence, and you have yet to earn a single penny.”
The self-published So you want to be a lorry driver? by Kevin J. Mervin is available at Amazon in paperback priced £5.50.
