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A long-term solution to the HGV driver shortage? The need to tackle the many problems facing the UK transport sector is becoming even more urgent, says Robin Woodbridge, Head of Capital Deployment at Prologis UK
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ith HGV driver shortages creating a widescale fuel crisis last October, that some say could have been avoided with a more creative approach to logistics and transport, coupled with the UK’s aim to reach net zero carbon by 2050, a long-term solution to this problem is yet to be put forward by the Government. As the gravity of the crisis only seems to escalate, what can be done to reach an effective solution, and could rail offer an answer?
suggesting that the UK is short of 100,000 drivers, a boost of 5,000 is unlikely to make a significant difference. With this in mind, more must be done to encourage businesses to think creatively about their logistics operations, allowing them to move goods in a sustainable cost-effective way. Covid isn’t the only crisis Covid-19 isn’t the only ongoing global crisis
and climate change was a pressing issue long before the pandemic. In 2019, the Government set out targets to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050, requiring a major overhaul of all industries. Efficient use of energy, extensive electrification of both transport and heating, and the development of a hydrogen economy must all be focused on if these ambitious targets are to be achieved.
How did we get here? The Covid-19 pandemic is only one of the many factors contributing to pressures facing domestic and international supply chains. Whilst no one could have foreseen the lasting impact of the pandemic, many argue that problems around moving goods around the country were already rising. The combination of an ageing driver base, a lack of skilled workers entering the sector, low pay and in many cases, substandard driver conditions, had all taken their toll on the sector, long before the pandemic took effect. Suddenly, potential new drivers were not able to take HGV tests, and the demand on home delivery rose exponentially, putting an even more significant strain on the sector. With Brexit also meaning many European drivers decided to leave to leave the UK, the country now finds itself amid a supply chain crisis that is rapidly becoming more serious. Even as the Government invites 5,000 EU drivers back to the UK on temporary visas until March 2022, there is still an absence of a long-term solution to the problem. With the Road Haulage Association (RHA) Rail Professional
