20 Jul Our Plan to Tackle the 100K HGV Driver Shortage

Logistics Skills Network has put forward a 6-point plan which provides both practical, and feasible, solutions to deal with the current 100,000 HGV driver shortage. It calls for support from government, particularly DfT, DVSA and DVLA, together with the engagement of fleet operators working in partnership with HGV vocational training providers.

Perfect Storm

The latest Think Tank report by Driver Require on the critical HGV driver shortage highlighted the fact that each year 10,000 drivers retire and a further 20,000 drivers leave the UK pool to pursue other careers. These would normally be replaced by the 43,000 new drivers passing their HGV tests each year. However, in the 12 months to March 2021 only some 15,000 HGV test passes were achieved due to the 8-month suspension of testing during the pandemic which has resulted in a shortfall of 27,000 new drivers.

On top of this, it is estimated that the number of EU nationals working as drivers in the UK had fallen by 15,000 in 2020-21 partly due to Brexit and partly to Covid-19. There is also an unquantified impact of the new IR35 regulations. All together and on top of a pre-pandemic driver shortage of 59,000, current driver shortage could be as much as 100,000.

The impact of the shortage is already beginning to emerge with daily reports of supply chain interruptions and empty shelves. Inflationary pressures are building with employers advertising vacancies quoting an earning potential up to £47,000 a year and a joining bonus of £1,000 for new drivers. This will inevitably lead to consumer price inflation as the transportation cost of goods rises.

Solution: 6-point plan to deliver 100,000 new HGV drivers

The Logistics Skills Network on behalf of logistics training providers and key logistics operators propose the following 6-point plan to deliver an extra 104,000 drivers over the next 12 months:

1. Return to driving

DfT should back a campaign to persuade a proportion of those people who hold an HGV licence but are not currently driving to return to the sector. It is estimated that there are 295,000 non-military people who hold an HGV licence who do not declare their occupation as an HGV driver. If 10% of these could be persuaded to return to driving this would quickly add 30,000 to the driver pool.

They may need additional support and training to return to driving and research is required to determine these needs. The vocational training companies could undertake this research and provide the required Driver CPC and other training programmes. The DfT could fund this training to incentivise lapsed drivers to help out.

The campaign should also be directed at recently retired drivers who have been persuaded to give up their LGV licence purely on the grounds of their age, by the DVLA, to return to the sector. DVLA should re-instate licences to drivers where these have been revoked on non-medical grounds.

Target: 30,000 additional drivers

2. Testing volumes

DVSA should at least maintain their pre-pandemic output of 72,000 LGV tests per annum (1,385 tests a week) despite ongoing issues related to Covid. This could be achieved by placing B+E tests with car examiners, and overtime working and recruitment and training of new examiners.

Target: maintain the driver pool as a minimum (74,000 tests / 43,000 passes a year)

3. Delegated Examiners

DVSA to increase the volume of HGV tests. Facilitated by private HGV instructors trained to become delegated examiners to conduct the manoeuvring element of the practical test freeing up DVSA examiners to test 50% more people per day.

Target: 21,000 additional drivers

Private HGV instructors to become part-time delegated examiners to deliver the Mod 3 practical test. This practice is already being undertaken by haulage companies staff testing drivers at their own training schools.

Target: 8,000 additional drivers from 25 FTE examiners

4. Pay and conditions

Employers in the sector could collectively stem the attrition rate of drivers giving up the occupation by offering better pay, social / flexible working hours and better roadside facilities.

Target: 20,000 additional drivers

5. Service leavers / Service examiners

Enable service personnel to gain a licence before they leave so they can quickly move into driving jobs.

Target: 3,000 additional drivers

Permit service examiners to test civilians at both private and public testing sites thereby increasing the testing capacity by 20%.

Target: 8,000 additional drivers from 25 additional examiners

6. Training Programme

The Department for Education to respond to the national crisis by funding a re-training programme to create skilled and qualified new drivers. In October 2020 the ESFA approved a new level 2 learning aim for LGV driver training. Currently this is only available for Mayoral Combined Authorities to fund at their discretion through their devolved Adult Education Budget (AEB). Greater Manchester added this as a local flexibility for GM residents. The ESFA could make this qualification funded for all unemployed learners under devolved and non-devolved AEB. Alternatively, the ESFA could issue a call for providers to deliver a Boot Camp re-training programme funded under the National Skills Fund.

Target: 10,000 additional drivers

Total target: 100,000 additional drivers in 12 months

Total possible new drivers in 12 months = 143,000

According to analysis by logistics consultancy Aricia Ltd. at mid-2020 there were:

 944,000 HGV licence holders in the UK

• 287,000 people who declared their occupation as an HGV driver
• 330,000 holders of both an HGV licence and a valid Driver Qualification Card
• 295,000 non-military held an HGV licence but no Driver Qualification Card (327,000 less 32,000 military personnel)

DfT driving test statistics: