The worsening HGV driver crisis in the United Kingdom is something that the government has been struggling with for some time and now reports that they’re thinking of drafting in specialists from the Army’s Royal Logistics Corps (RLC) to help alleviate the issue have been met with disdain by the head of the Road Haulage Association (RHA) Richard Burnett.

The deployment of army personnel to address the UK’s shortage of lorry drivers was described by Burnett as a derisory measure that would not even “scratch the surface” of the problem. And with the issue now leading to visible gaps on the shelves of supermarkets across the country, it’s something that is being brought into sharper focus with each passing day.

Reports Denied By Official Spokesman

The official word from the government at this point is that they’re denying the veracity of these reports, but according to Burnett, it would be a largely ineffective measure anyway. He also had this to say on the matter “This measure really wouldn’t provide any reassurance as things get worse during the Summer, as drivers take more holidays. We’ve got no drivers to backfill, so this isn’t really a resolution to the problem at all”.

Instead, he pointed towards the exodus of European HGV drivers from the UK market at the start of the pandemic as being the primary reason for the acute issues faced, with the likelihood of them returning being unlikely due to Brexit. This has led to the current shortfall of qualified drivers hitting the 100,000 market, with little or no sign that the issue will improve in the near future.

More Meaningful Measures Required

Burnett went on to say that the current situation requires the government to dispense with half-measures and accept the gravity of the situation. He called for those in charge to take far more meaningful action, starting with a relaxation of immigration rules.

He continued…”We really need the government to wake up and realise that the only solution here is to address the problem through the Home Office shortage occupation list and with temporary visas to provide us with short-term additional labour while we train a UK-based workforce – something that’s  going to take at least 18 months to tackle”.

Working Hard to Offer Meaningful HGV Training Services

It’s perhaps no surprise that calling in the Army is viewed with such scepticism, as it would only add somewhere in the region of 2,000 extra drivers into the equation. Logistics firms are actively upping bonuses and overall pay to encourage the recruitment process, but the on-going disruption seems certain to increase in the lead up to Christmas.

At HGVC, we’re working hard to do our part by providing high quality HGV driver training for companies across the UK, with our industry-leading ManPower-backed driver training programmes able to cater for both small and large-scale driver acquisition needs. With our help, companies are able to upskill their existing staff and circumvent the currency scarcity of drivers.

If you would like to know more about us and how we work, you can call us on 0330 818 8888 today and speak to a member of our friendly team to discuss your HGV training needs.