RHA calls for action on driver shortage

The Road Haulage Association has urged the UK government to help with a “chronic” truck driver shortage” which “threatens to slow the UK economic recovery”. According to the RHA, the UK is already facing a truck driver shortage “estimated to be in the region of 45,000”, and the situation is “deteriorating fast” as more than 35,000 existing drivers are due to retire in the next two years, the situation is deteriorating fast.

RHA chief executive Richard Burnett said: “We are now facing an unprecedented and critical shortage of qualified truck drivers – currently estimated to be in the order of 45,000 across the country. Current retirement levels and low levels of new entrants to the industry are creating a perfect storm.

“The cost of training to be a truck driver is very high – typically some £3,000. This is a serious barrier for individuals wishing to train up. Margins in the small and medium sized haulage companies that make up the bulk of our industry are very tight and this limits their capacity to fund the required training.

“To keep the economic recovery on track, the government needs to act, and act fast. We are urging the Prime Minister and Chancellor to invest £150m in driver training in the July budget.”