MPs report on driver shortage

By Categories: NewsPublished On: Tuesday 30 August 2016

westminstertrafficThe House of Commons transport committee has published its report on skills and workforce planning in the road haulage sector, which includes recommendations on how the current driver shortage should be addressed.

“For every driver the sector needs there are three people in the UK with a valid LGV licence who could do the work, but two in three choose not to,” the report stated.

“We believe that the driver shortage is a shortage of people willing to work in the sector, rather than a shortage of people with the right qualifications and licences –  [which it seems] will get worse unless action is taken to improve retention and increase recruitment.”

Among the reasons the MPs identified for the shortage were a lack of investment in drivers and driver training, poor roadside facilities, terms and conditions, the relative attractiveness of similar occupations, and the cost of licence acquisition.

The MPs said that it was “imperative that the industry takes steps to improve the terms and conditions so it can recruit and retain the drivers it needs”, as well as investing “more in recruitment, training and driver welfare, following years of under-investment”.

The committee recognised this would be challenging for smaller fleets given tight margins.

It also called for improved conditions, facilities and promotion in schools and colleges in order to attract young people into the sector, while expressing concern about “the terms and conditions under which some agency drivers are required to work”.

“The driver shortage has resulted in a dependence on agency and particularly foreign drivers that goes beyond what is needed to cope with seasonal variations and is now necessary to sustain normal operation,” the report found.

“The dependence on agency staff means that operators in the sector are probably not investing enough in their staff.

“We think this creates two risks that need to be managed. First, if the UK becomes relatively less attractive as a place for foreign drivers to work, the shortage could become much more acute, possibly quite rapidly.

“Second, the longer-term sustainability of the UK’s road haulage sector could be undermined if there is not a steady stream of people through the sector gaining the skills and experience that they need to become transport managers and operators.”

MPs also cited the importance of broadening the pool of people from which it recruits, including those from black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds, which it was estimated comprised only three per cent of the road haulage workforce in England in 2010.

The need to attract more women to the industry was also highlighted.

“Efforts to attract women or BAME drivers to the industry will not solve the driver shortage if the issues currently affecting retention are not addressed,” said the report.

“It should not be the case that these groups are targeted to replace drivers who have been driven away from the industry because of poor terms and conditions; attracting less represented groups should be done alongside improvements in the sector, not as an alternative.”

MPs added that it was “up to the industry” to find ways to fund licence acquisition, and cited the bus and coach sector as an example of how a different approach may be required.

“We do not think the sector will be able to broaden its appeal beyond its core demographic unless it changes its approach,” found the committee.

“It is not uncommon for bus and coach companies to fund acquisition of a PSV licence.”

However, the committee accepted: “that bus and coach companies tend run on much better margins and can receive public subsidy for non-profitable work, so this kind of investment may be more affordable for them.”

It added that: “the government’s support, in the form of apprenticeships and loans, is welcome and we expect to see it being more active in providing this kind of support.”

On roadside facilities, the committee said that driver facilities were: “scarce and inadequate and must be improved. The provision of roadside facilities is principally a matter for the private sector, but the government can take steps to encourage investment in more and better facilities.”

While welcoming a government commitment to survey the presently available roadside facilities, the committee warned: “It is not sufficient to look just at the roadside facilities on the strategic road network. Many of the problems arise at depots and customer facilities where drivers collect or deliver goods and materials.”

Insurance was also highlighted as an issue, particularly as regards young drivers.

“Drivers go through extensive training, their work driving is closely regulated, and in many cases their driving is monitored using telematics,” said the committee.

“We believe that it should not be impossible to find a way to reduce the cost of insurance to encourage more operators to consider employing younger drivers. It is primarily the responsibility of the industry to find ways of addressing the cost of insurance, but the government has a role to play in facilitating this work.”

The Freight Transport Association (FTA) said the transport committee report had supported its claim that the driver shortage “won’t solve itself”.

Sally Gilson, FTA skills policy development manager, said: “We strongly agree with the committee and its calls for government to provide more support, and with the need for better roadside facilities for drivers.”

She added: “FTA has held driver and skills shortage summits to explore solutions and is working with various groups including students and service leavers to raise the profile of the industry and make a career in logistics more aspirational.”

FTA also said that it strongly supported the committee’s calls for government to provide “clear, accessible guidance on skills, funding and support, employer standards, regulation and insurance for young drivers.”

A recent Twitter poll by FTA found that 71 per cent of parents did not want their children to become truck drivers.

“Sadly this poll is a reflection of the public view of the industry,” said Gilson.

“However, things have moved on and modern day trucks are technologically advanced and probably not what the public imagines. FTA has been working with the government and other agencies to make logistics a more aspirational career and to improve conditions for those working in it.”

Meanwhile, the Road Haulage Association (RHA) said it was pleased that the committee’s report reflected many of the points it had been making to government since 2014.

“Today’s report represents a fair reflection of the issues facing the industry. But let’s not lose sight of the positives,” said Richard Burnett, RHA chief executive.

“This is a diverse and vital industry with a wealth of opportunities – and we need to get that message across.”