shortage of HGV drivers UK

vegansrock

Interesting article in the Times explaining how , although there is a shortage of drivers in many EU countries, it has not led to shortages in supply, as being in the single market means that logistical difficulties can be met with some flexibility of labour movement within the SM. So, although the driver shortage is not caused solely by Brexit, the supply problem is, since we don’t have the flexible pool of labour that the SM provides. ditto problems in hospitality, social care etc.

Exactly, that is why the government are very careful to say "there is a shortage of tanker drivers across Europe", which is true, and to avoid saying "there is a shortage of fuel at the pumps across Europe" which is false.

Apparently we are short of butchers! Talk of a 1000 work permits in the offing - I might have imagined the last bit - seems extraordinary.

And Wetherspoons are short of staff, miserable Tim is pushing for work permits - couldn't happen to a nicer chap!

Where doesn't it all go wrong?

I was thinking (outside the box) yesterday when looking after my young grandson. All day long he played enthusiastically with his bin lorries, his hgvs and his dumper trucks. I could hear him having conversations with his Playmobil men about shifting rubbish and stuff, so I made a point of telling him what valuable jobs these people do.
By the time he is 12 years old there will be no way he will want to consider such a job and it won't necessarily be be cause of the money.
We need to change people's mentality towards thus work.

Totally agree Josianne

We need to change people's mentality towards thus work.

Sorry, I don't understand. What is 'people's mentality towards this work'?

Do you mean they should accustom themselves to be treated like robots, as the 'fulfilment centre' workers are, or the couriers that deliver your online orders? Every move tracked and queried?

My son, who is a local authority head of services told me that all the bin wagon drivers in his area, along with all other holders of HGV licences, including those who have retired or changed career, have received a letter from the Dept of Transport telling them that they are much needed.
He is now concerned that the powerful unions will hold local councils to ransom for higher pay to keep hold of their drivers resulting, of course, in a further increase in council tax to cover these costs…
and so the spiral continues.
It will be a slow climb back but we do need to incentivise young people to take on these vital jobs and a training grant for a hgv licence would be a start.

He is now concerned that the powerful unions will hold local councils to ransom for higher pay to keep hold of their drivers resulting, of course, in a further increase in council tax to cover these costs…

That's a rather strange take on the subject of HGV drivers - why should drivers or anyone else for that matter, not strive for higher pay, or a different job?

Supply and demand - it's a free market economy!

Supply and demand - it's a free market economy!

Not for the peasantry, it isn't, Riverwalk. they have to be grateful they have any job at all and keep silent.

Bib wagon drivers taking higher paid jobs elsewhere will result in rubbish left stinking on the pavement. To stop this happening wages will go up, council will rise to pay for it pushing more in to poverty. The knock on effect of driver shortages was my point.
I then went on to say we should be incentivising young people with training grants.
Better conditions and away from home payments might help but rocketing pay increases is never the whole answer as seen by miners and car factory workers on the past.

Bin wagon sorry

Shocking lack of checking. Apologies

In your confusion, you're conflating two different scenarios.

Past demands by 'powerful' unions for higher pay for miners and car workers, can't be compared to bin lorry drivers changing jobs for higher pay.

Bin lorry drivers are currently in demand, so why should they not seek a better paid job?

Like everywhere else, demand for labour is high so wages will have to rise, and we will all pay the price.

I assume you approve of the free market economy?

And do the unions still collectively negotiate wages with local councils - I though those days were long gone?

It's all so confusing! People were promised that wages for jobs often done by EU nationals would increase.

There aren't any accurate figures on how many people have returned to their home countries because we didn't have accurate figures on how many were in the UK in the first place. However, estimates of tax returns, school places, GP patients suggest that over a million have gone. I don't know how true that it is, but I'm assuming it's somewhere around that.

So the people have gone and there are vacancies. People haven't forgotten what they were promised (or, at least, thought they were being promised), so it's no wonder that they've become aware of their worth and are agitating for more money. Additionally, many of them were doing the kind of jobs which had to carry on throughout lockdown and have been disproportionately affected.

None of this is much of a surprise - or shouldn't be.

Like everywhere else, demand for labour is high so wages will have to rise, and we will all pay the price.

This was exactly my point but poor, silly, confused little me didn’t articulate it quite as well as clever old you.

LauraNorder

Like everywhere else, demand for labour is high so wages will have to rise, and we will all pay the price.

This was exactly my point but poor, silly, confused little me didn’t articulate it quite as well as clever old you.

The false modesty doesn't really become you. I agree with you BTW.

The problem is that I don't think it's just a question of supply and demand. Just because a job pays well doesn't mean that there are the right people in the right place to do them. It's going to take years to train/retrain people and encourage them to move to places where property prices might be much higher. That's if people can be persuaded that some of these jobs are attractive anyway.

..

Well, My DD got her invitation to join Johnson's Army of HGV drivers today.

I suspect she'll pass on that...

Missed this yesterday:

Fear no longer- we are saved...

27 (twenty seven) foreign HGV drivers have applied for special visa.

yes ... twenty seven

LauraNorder

My son, who is a local authority head of services told me that all the bin wagon drivers in his area, along with all other holders of HGV licences, including those who have retired or changed career, have received a letter from the Dept of Transport telling them that they are much needed.
He is now concerned that the powerful unions will hold local councils to ransom for higher pay to keep hold of their drivers resulting, of course, in a further increase in council tax to cover these costs…
and so the spiral continues.
It will be a slow climb back but we do need to incentivise young people to take on these vital jobs and a training grant for a hgv licence would be a start.

My son received one of these letters as he gained an HGV licence when in the Army. But he lives in the US now, has done for over six years, so they need to check the data base! The letter came to my address as this was his UK base when in the army and I still get the odd letter.

Kali2

Fear no longer- we are saved...

27 (twenty seven) foreign HGV drivers have applied for special visa.

yes ... twenty seven

One for each of the 27 member states

They're taking the Michael, aren't they?

Here's another twist to the driver shortage problem.

Apparently containers are being held up in UK ports because there aren't enough HGV drivers to take them out. Which, of course, means delays to supplying whatever is in the containers and increased cost to business for container storage charges, which are being raised in an attempt to get the containers moved out faster.

It's explained here:

trans.info/en/shipping-lines-raise-fees-as-driver-shortage-clogs-up-british-ports-257101

Lucca

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Love it Luca!

It seems the EU is cleverly staying well ahead of the game, and offering 5 year Visas to out of EU HGV drivers. Good for them.