An influential industry think-tank has discovered the real reason for the current lorry driver shortage – and proved that it is not primarily due to Brexit or foreign drivers – but the impact of Covid.
In a powerful analysis, the report explains why the current HGV driver shortage has happened, why no-one saw it coming and what should be done to solve it.
It has established why the shortage was not foreseen, and how it suddenly occurred during the first quarter of this year, but was not spotted until May.
The think-tank comprises key people from the e-commerce, grocery, pallet, training, fleet, trade body and statistical analysis sectors.
In the most comprehensive, accurate, compelling and fully-validated study of the UK HGV driver market ever produced, the think-tank uses original research and hard facts.
It also debunks the distorted views and numbers bandied around over the past weeks and months – such as the impact of Brexit and EU drivers – to uncover the real truth.
The results are truly surprising. For a start, the report proves that the shortfall of drivers is over-stated. It’s not 100,000, or even 70,000, but actually between 50,000-60,000.
Commenting on the figures, speaking to Matt Eisenegger on the CV Focus podcast, Kieran Smith who heads the think-tank also points to official daily traffic-flow statistics: “HGV traffic is now at pre-Covid levels – how could you drive that many lorries with one-third of the workforce missing?”
He describes the current situation like “trying to grab onto a train passing through the platform – it’s just ripped our arms off.”
And, in the podcast, the think-tank sets out the short, medium and long-term measures that the industry and government need to take to address the situation – which also draws on best-practice from the EU.
Listen to the podcast here
Read the report here
