RHA in plea for £150m fund to train new truck drivers
A House of Commons reception attended by Transport Operator was hosted by the Road Haulage Association (RHA) last month, to plead for £150 million to be given direct to hauliers with driver vacancies to fund training for people to fill them.
The Dunlop/RHA HGV Heroes truck, pictured, was parked opposite Parliament as the reception took place as part of the RHA’s National Lorry Week.
RHA chief executive Richard Burnett told an audience of over 50 MPs and civil servants that there were 2.2 million people employed in road transport, that it was the fifth-biggest industry sector in the UK, and that 85 per cent of UK consumption goods were delivered by road.
However, the average fleet size in the UK was just six trucks, and that 85 per cent of the haulage companies in the UK were classified as ‘medium’ or ‘small’.
“These smaller businesses need help to drive the economy,” he said, pointing out that the industry faced a “severe crisis” in recruiting qualified drivers.
“We are between 45,000 and 50,000 drivers short. The average age of a truck driver is 56, and just one per cent of drivers are under 25.
“The cost of acquiring an LGV licence is £3000 and up, and how many young people have that kind of money?
“Profit margins in this business aren’t sufficient to allow smaller hauliers to put aside money for training.
“We need a driver apprenticeship scheme. The apprenticeship levy won’t help. It’s just a tax on employment.
“After 32 years in the logistics and distribution sector, I’ve never experienced anything like this driver shortage.”
Stalwart RHA haulier members attended the event, including Bill Hockin, chairman of William C Hocking of Barnstaple, and Andy Boyle, managing director of ABE of Ledbury.
Both these individuals, operating from predominantly rural areas, have done more than most hauliers to attract and retain quality drivers to their own companies, not least by offering attractive terms and conditions, and recruiting and employing directly rather than relying on agencies.
“We were delighted at the turnout for our parliamentary event,” said Richard Burnett. “It presented us with the perfect opportunity to talk to MPs about the incredible job the industry does in delivering daily life and of course the problems that we as an industry face… We have been following up these contacts and many are now actively helping us press our case to secure a proper LGV Apprenticeship and for emergency government funds for driver training to be made available.”
