UK lacks more than 10,000 truck drivers

The transport and logistics sector has asked the government to grant 10,000 temporary work visas to encourage EU truck drivers to return to the UK. This is the only short-term solution to end the driver shortage.

 

Analysis, commissioned by Logistics UK and conducted by an independent company, showed that 14,000 heavy truck drivers from the EU left their jobs in the UK in the year ending June 2020 and only 600 returned in the year ending June 2021. These departures have exacerbated the shortage of drivers in the country.

 

According to Logistics UK the government must extend to the transport and logistics sector its temporary visa program used for agricultural workers. This program has allowed up to 30,000 people to come to the UK on T5 visas to work in agriculture for up to 6 months. The industry is asking the government to grant 10,000 temporary work visas to encourage EU drivers to return to the UK.

 

This short-term solution would keep trucks moving to move goods across the country. The sector has recruited local drivers but their training is long and can take up to 9 months.

 

Logistics UK, formerly FTA (Freight Transport Association), is one of the UK's largest organizations. Its mission is to represent the views and interests of over 18,000 companies in the transport and logistics industry, essential to sustaining trade in the UK.

 

 

 

source : logistics.org.uk