Driver shortage: the industry speaks out

Transport Operator has received an overwhelming response from readers to our lead story last month – in which we reported on statistics gathered by logistics consultant Kirsten Tisdale, suggesting that the much-publicised driver shortage represented not so much a lack of qualified truck drivers, as one of decent employment prospects for them in the industry.

It was clear from the volume of feedback received that the Driver CPC had been the last straw for many drivers; they could see no good reason for giving up their own time and money to attend training to do the job that, as far as they were concerned, they were already qualified to do.

Drivers were also concerned about the general pressures of the job, as well as declining wages and poor conditions. One correspondent suggested that the tendency of online retailers to offer ‘free carriage’ effectively devalued the transport job to zero in the eyes of the public.

As a driver trainer and depot supervisor at Nagel Langdons, former large goods vehicle (LGV) Cat E driver Kenneth MacKellar is as qualified as anyone to identify the issues making drivers turn away from the industry. It should be noted that Nagel Langdons provides Driver CPC training for its own staff and third parties.

“I totally agree,” he said. “The overnight facilities for drivers in the UK are appalling at best, with an inflated cost and no value whatsoever. It’s a highly emotive issue coming up in DCPC time and time again.

“Other EU member states put us to shame with their truckstops and services. Perhaps government subsidies could help? We pay enough road tax after all…”

He continued: “There is little respect shown to professional drivers both by Joe Public and people within the logistics sector itself. Very demoralising.”

Alan White, managing director of Fresh Fridge Hire, said: “Drivers’ pay, treatment by employers, DVSA and customers, and conditions, are terrible.

“You can earn more money stacking shelves at a supermarket with better conditions, hours and career prospects. The industry has tried everything else except the obvious. Just pay and treat your guys well – really simple solution.”

Bob Holt, a former haulier now working as a specialist trailer service manager, said: “Being one of the ‘thousands’ myself I definitely agree with it being down to poor wages and conditions as well as long working hours. But most of all I think the lack of respect by employers and the public, as well as the joke that they call the Driver CPC, was the reason I decided to leave a job I always wanted to do.

“I had my own haulage company for years and was then in a position where I could own the vehicles, be the transport manager for my business and had a licence saying I could drive them, but had to sit in a classroom to ‘learn’ things… I’m all in favour of training and quality of drivers, but I think they’ve gone too far.”

Former driver turned bre-wery transport coordinator Jade Oxlade said: “I have a Class One licence; I just don’t like being out on the road due to people’s attitude out and about, so now currently work as a transport manager.”

Another correspondent queried whether there was a shortage of drivers at all. Qualified truck driver Scott Woollett was recently made redundant from an administration position at a large own-account concern in the Midlands, where the driver shortage is supposedly at its worst.

“There can’t be much of a shortage,” he reports. “I’ve contacted a few agencies for driving work and I don’t even get an e-mail or phone call by way of reply.”

Many more readers’ responses were posted at the foot of the original story, where they can be read in full.

Though not a scientific sample, our respondents’ chief concerns regarding the state of the industry have since been enumerated and categorised by Kirsten Tisdale, the source of our original story –  the results of which can be seen in the table opposite.