Dr Maja Piecyk, Professor of Logistics, and Julian Allen, Senior Research Fellow at the School of Architecture + Cities, have recently published a report about the ongoing Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) driver shortages in the UK and how we can understand and address the problems this has caused.
The briefing report investigates the current and longer-term HGV driver shortage in the UK and the overall composition of the driver workforce. The UK road freight transport industry is currently receiving substantial media attention due to the shortage of HGV drivers, which is reported to be leading to difficulties in the movement of goods in many sectors and resulting in good shortages in retail outlets, restaurants, and other businesses.
In the report, they explained the potential causes of this problem, including the COVID-19 pandemic, Brexit, and the recently introduced tax charges for HGV drivers.
Dr Piecyk and Allen found that the level of impact of this combination of public and private measures already taken such as making temporary visas available, relaxing drivers’ hours and maximising HGV driver testing in response to the shortage is not yet clear, and several of the government actions will take some time to take effect. Therefore, it will take time to understand whether those who hold HGV licenses but are not currently using them, prospective entrants into the industry and the existing driver workforce view these measures as adequate.
They also highlighted the essential need for the industry to offer attractive rates of pay and direct employment to HGV drivers, especially to new and more diverse recruits, including young people, women and those from BAME communities. Joint efforts by industry and Government to support HGV driver training and to improve working conditions is also imperative to resolve the driver shortage.
Other suggestions they made to resolve the shortage include improving the availability of locations for drivers to take breaks and overnight stops, which must offer suitable washing, catering and security facilities at a realistic price.
They argued that the industry and Government alike should work together on the positive promotion of HGV driving and the wider industry to help increase the workforce and reinforce the integral contributions made by freight transport and logistics, which are vital to the UK economy and wellbeing of society.
If the above actions do not prove accurate and fail to achieve the necessary improvement in driver retention and recruitment, it could lead to a more fundamental reorganisation of supply chains. As a result, this could involve stockholding levels having to increase and less reliance placed on frequent deliveries of goods. Should this occur, it would likely result in long-term pressure on vehicle technologists and Government to increase development of fully autonomous HGVs. However, the availability and approval of such vehicles remains some years away.
Talking about the report, the authors said: “The HGV driver shortage in the UK is not a new problem but the combined impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic and Brexit have greatly exacerbated these difficulties. For too long, insufficient attention has been paid to HGV driver recruitment and retention. The industry and Government must work together to address the wide range of problems that exist, especially driver pay rates and working conditions. However, distribution problems with food, fuel and other products are likely to persist for some time as these actions take effect”
Read the full report on the Centre for Sustainable Road Freight website.
