London, UK: Logistics UK has written to the government about the driver shortage crisis, warning that supermarkets are beginning to diversify drivers onto food delivery from other products.
Logistics UK says that one in three members (29%) are unable to fill HGV driver vacancies while one third of EU national workers working as van and lorry drivers have returned to their home nations in the last year.
The trade association estimates that the shortage stands at around 76,000 drivers (the Road Haulage Association believes the figure is higher, at over 100,000 drivers).
The letter states: “One of our supermarket members told us that they are diversifying drivers onto food deliveries, meaning that shipments of other products for their stores may start being delayed.”
Short-term measures to address the crisis include:
- Extending drivers’ hours’ regulations
- Increasing DVSA capacity to catch up on the backlog of tests
- Reforming immigration rules to allow HGV drivers from abroad access to Skilled Worker visas
- Introducing a ‘Get back to driving’ initiative – a new joint cross-industry campaign to encourage HGV license holders to return to the road haulage sector
