On 24th Sep’21, the road haulage association (RHA) insisted that visa restrictions by the government for foreign workers be relaxed to resolve the current shortage of drivers.
According to Grant Shapps, the UK transport secretary, he does not wish to see UK lorry drivers be “undercut” by cheaper EU-based labor.
The haulage industry has “systemic problems” that need to be fixed, he stated, noting that the profession is mostly populated by white males with an average age of 55 and poor conditions and wages.
He said now that wages are increasing and the number of new drivers is growing.
Nevertheless, he stated to Sky News that he would “move heaven and earth” to resolve an ongoing shortage of truck drivers that could threaten fuel supplies at some petrol stations, while adding that motorists should not panic since the problem will be “smoothed out fairly quickly”.
During his remarks, Shapps said he would examine all options, including issuing short-term skilled worker visas to tap into mainland Europe’s pool of potential HGV drivers.
Sky News quoted him saying, “I’ll look at everything.”. “I wouldn’t rule anything out. We will move heaven and earth to do whatever it takes to make sure shortages are alleviated with HGV drivers.”
The nationwide scarcity of HGV drivers has forced some petrol stations to close in the UK.
BP reported on Thursday that up to 100 of its forecourts were short of at least one grade of fuel, with some having to close completely due to a lack of deliveries.
Rod McKenzie of the Road Haulage Association trade body has accused ministers of “government by inertia”, which has allowed the situation to become “gradually worse” in recent months.
A “very short-term” measure would be to allow foreign drivers to be put on the shortage occupation list and to be granted “seasonal visas.”
The industry body Logistics UK commented on the petrol station closures by saying: ” The driver shortage is a very serious issue that needs urgent government and industry action to resolve .”
The government announced earlier in September 2021 that it plans to streamline the HGV driver testing process so that 50,000 more tests can be offered annually.
Despite Logistics UK’s praise for this measure as a positive step forward for bringing new drivers to the occupation, the new, streamlined processes need to be implemented quickly if they are to make a significant impact before Christmas on the current shortage.
“The logistics industry is doing everything it can to overcome the driver shortage and ensure stores are stocked with the goods they need – through measures such as recruitment drives, the introduction of apprenticeship and upskilling training schemes, increasing pay rates and offering bonuses – but the situation will worsen if further government action is not forthcoming.”
“The logistics industry is committed to employing domestic drivers to overcome the current shortage. But while these drivers are trained and qualify into the workforce, which can take up to nine months, and DVSA (Driver and Vehicle Standard Agency) works through its backlog of outstanding HGV driver tests delayed due to the pandemic – which we estimate could take until early 2022 – Logistics UK is pressing for temporary visas to be made available for European workers. This would help to overcome the current supply chain problems experienced across the UK.”
“The industry needs drivers now, and we are urging the government to replicate its temporary visa scheme, introduced for agricultural workers and already in place for seven other industries, for logistics so that retailers can keep our shelves stocked.”
“Logistics UK is also urging the government to review longer-term measures, such as implementing funded training to open the industry up to as many people as possible and addressing the long-term recruitment issues which logistics has faced for many years, such as poor welfare facilities across the strategic roads network, which leave drivers without adequate access to hygiene or food provision.”
As part of a new nationwide initiative for its members, Logistics UK is taking its own steps to highlight career opportunities across the sector, including job vacancies and training schemes, as well as the opportunity to take part in work experience.
The Discover Logistics Careers weekend runs from 29 October to 1 November 2021, bringing together logistics companies across the nation for local outreach and showcasing the range of job opportunities to the potential workers.
As announced by Logistics UK, discount grocery chain Aldi will be conducting an open house at its Warwickshire distribution centre the weekend, and other retailers are expected to announce their plans shortly.
