UK Van and HGV Driver Shortage: A Persistent Challenge
Despite recent improvements in numbers, the UK's van and HGV driver shortage continues to pose significant challenges for fleet operators across all sectors.
While the situation has eased compared to previous years, driver retirement remains a major contributing factor. In the first quarter of 2024, 35% of businesses with vacancies cited driver retirement as the pimary reason for shortages.
Key factors driving the van and HGV driver shortage:
- Brexit: Changes to immigration rules led to an exodus of EU national drivers, while a shortage of drivers in Europe and improving pay and conditions is keeping drivers from coming back.
- Pandemic: The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted training and testing, resulting in a backlog of applications. However, the backlog is now mostly cleared thanks to additional examiners and training courses.
- Working conditions: Long hours, poor treatment, and inadequate rest facilities have contributed to the shortage. These are in the process of being improved. (Read more)
- Aging workforce: A significant portion of UK HGV drivers are over 50 years old, increasing the likelihood of shortages due to retirements. (ONS Data) Although the permitted age to drive an HGV has come down, (Read teenagers to drive HGVs), fewer young people are choosing lorry driving as a profession.
The impact of the van and HGV driver shortage:
- Missed deliveries: Businesses have missed deliveries due to a lack of drivers. (Discover how to deliver more with your current fleet, read 8 Ways to improve productivity.)
- Wage increases: Salaries for HGV Drivers and thus van drivers have risen sharply over the past 4 years, increasing operational costs, which companies have had to pass on to their customers.
- Supply chain disruptions: The driver shortage continues to affect some supply chains and businesses and can lead to delays, missed opportunities and increased costs.
Addressing the van and HGV driver shortage:
The UK government has implemented initiatives to address the driver shortage, but more still needs to be done to attract and retain talent.
Key areas of focus include:
- Improving working conditions: Enhancing pay, benefits, and working conditions to make the profession more appealing. Over the last two years' there has been a total investment of £64m in driver’s roadside facilities and the number of parking places has been increased.
- Promoting the industry: A number of advertising and promotion schemes have helped to raise awareness of the opportunities and benefits of becoming a van driver.
- Investing in training: Providing accessible and affordable training programs to help new drivers enter the industry.
- Addressing supply chain issues: Addressing broader supply chain challenges to create a more stable and attractive working environment for drivers.
- Optimising deliveries: The use of technology can optimise routes and how deliveries are made, support drivers with aids and improve overall productivity by 35% or more.
- Automation: The use of route and delivery optimisation can automate manual time-consuming processes. Freeing up staff to work on more value-added activities and maximising fleet productivity. As the UK continues to navigate the current driver shortage, implementing training and investment schemes to attract and retain talent, businesses themselves can mitigate the negative impacts of this ongoing challenge by implementing the Descartes platform of logistics solutions, improving productivity and reducing costs.
Descartes’ research on overcoming labour shortages revealed what companies are doing to survive the driver shortage challenge - Supply Chain and Logistics Workforce Challenge | Descartes Routing UK
To talk to one of our logistics experts, complete the below contact us form and we will be in touch as soon as possible.
