A new report warns of a critical shortage of lorry drivers in the UK, jeopardizing government plans for increased housebuilding and infrastructure projects. Despite efforts to attract new drivers through training 'bootcamps', the industry struggles to retain young drivers due to unsociable hours and perceived dangers. Furthermore, attempts to lure foreign drivers through relaxed immigration rules have fallen short due to high sponsorship costs. The report highlights the risk of delayed deliveries for essential construction materials, potentially impacting the government's ambitious housing targets.
Efforts to recruit new and younger lorry drivers have failed, leaving housing and infrastructure projects at risk, official report warnsA looming lorry driver shortage threatens Government plans to ramp up housebuilding and infrastructure projects in order to drive economic growth.
Sally Gilson, policy manager at the RHA, said: “We need to keep these young drivers in the sector as we don’t want to see people get funded training, get their licence and then leave shortly after… We saw quite a number train up, stay for three to six months and then leave the sector.” Gilson warned that unless these issues were tackled the Government’s house building plans would be in jeopardy. “So many businesses work on just-in-time deliveries, so the impact of just a few hours can be great to production lines,” shesaid.“One of the big targets for the government is the 1.5 million houses plan. You can’t do that without supplies like bricks and mortar being delivered quickly.
The RHA report, to be published next week, will highlight the problem of the age of drivers, with a “significant number” set to retire in the next five years. It will highlight that only 2.2 per cent of HGV drivers are 24 or under, and blames part of the problem on the ability of firms to get insurance for inexperienced drivers.
LOGISTICS DRIVER SHORTAGE CONSTRUCTION INFRASTRUCTURE ECONOMY
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