Do you sometimes get really frustrated when things seem to have such an obvious solution?

I agree. With so many people having to rethink their career it would seem logical to offer incentives. Perhaps they need to change the mindset of the public and employers. Would it be feasible to use trains to transport foodstuff.

We have been ok here as our butcher gets his meat locally mainly, but beef comes from Scotland. Lidl is well stocked and so did our Tesco that replaced Waitrose . The market was in full flow when we walked past. Most of their suppliers are local as well.

Spinach leaves grow quickly and are very tasty.

We are in the process of moving and running down food stocks so probably not the best timing.

Unfortunately there seems to be an issue with many companies only hiring experienced drivers because of insurance liability.

Perhaps better pay and conditions would be more effective that a training grant?

Apparently part of the problem is that HGV drivers have to be re-tested every five years and there are backlogs for tests.

There are backlogs, delays and staff shortages everywhere - due to Coronavirus. I still don't think anyone is badly hit by it, except those waiting for medical procedures.

As a temporary measure I think HGV drivers should be on the same list of exemptions as ballet dancers.
At least the port checks would be shorter.

Peasblossom

Perhaps better pay and conditions would be more effective that a training grant?

Or perhaps a combination of the three?

I don't know if it a nationwide initiative but our local authority are offering free Level 2 qualifications on line atm in care, business, erm hang on..

oh look!

Might be helpful for some people?

You’d be wrong there Hetty58. It was reported only a few days ago that there are hundreds of thousands of learner drivers unable to take their driving tests, which is impacting people’s ability to work.

I thought some of the problem was not enough people to train the learners due to covid. People having to isolate has caused a backlog in the numbers qualified to drive HGVs

GillT57 Mr. B and I were saying this earlier!

Peasblossom

Perhaps better pay and conditions would be more effective that a training grant?

I agree about better pay and conditions to retain current drivers, but it will not resolve the shortage of around 100,00 drivers.

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202108/medium-228771-5d38e2e0-b8fd-484e-9f2f-b8235cd55477.jpeg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202108/medium-154658-9f3ffa73-9e30-4b83-ae6a-3fd4e82df800.jpeg

NotSpaghetti
As a temporary measure I think HGV drivers should be on the same list of exemptions as ballet dancers

. I shouldn’t take it lightly but I had this image of Carlos Acosta driving up the motorway. He can park his lorry in my drive any time he likes
“I am indicating right “

“I am parking up”

Currently less than 1% of HGV drivers are women. As I take a lot of coach trips up and down the motorways, I always notice the drivers and wonder why more don’t take it up. Apparently there is an interest and if women are driving buses, I can’t see why we can’t pad out the force.

I understand that part of the problem is that the training and everything they have to get through takes at least 6 - 9 months and, of course, you have to have thepeople who want to do it.

Truck driving is an arduous and pretty lonely job and drivers can be away from home consistently for three or four days at a time, sleeping in their cabs. Even if some people will do that, often their families are not happy about being at home without their partners for company or to help with child care.

He can park his lorry in my drive any time he like Hahahahaha, what a euphamism!

WHY don't they just extend every HGV drivers licence by a year? They way they did with the MOT last year?

Would be a simple fix.

hollysteers I think one problem with women driving HGVs is that many of the jobs include loading and unloading and with a 40 tonner that takes a lot of muscle. DH was 6' 4" and 17 stone. Most of his mates were the same. The actual driving isn't the problem.

GillT57

The main thing I am thinking of is the well discussed shortage of HGV drivers which is causing delivery problems. To me, the obvious solution would be to offer some sort of career development loan to enable people to take lessons and achieve their HGV licence, either independently or through a logistics company. What about ex-service personnel? The career loan could be deducted at source as with student loans. Surely I can't be the only one who sees this solution? Or does anyone know if there is such a plan?

I think people don't get frustrated because they know they don't have all the answers; difficulties like these rarely have an "obvious solution".

To start on an HGV Apprenticeship you need

*be competent in English and maths (to take the LGV theory test)
*be 18 or over.
*hold a full car licence and have a good driving record.
*have good eyesight.
*pass a medical as part of the LGV test.

The difficulty I can see here is that non-emergency driving tests were suspended in January. They may be back now; I'm not sure.

Then I think you have the issue of who would want to be a long-distance driver? I agree with everything M0nica says on this.[Thu 26-Aug-21 17:33:57] This means some/many will have had time during covid and decided they could have a better life in another way. So you have a shortage of those who would, under other circumstances, be entering straight from education. You also have people leaving; you also have the clamp down on people from Europe working here.

I know I don't know all about HGV driving. Therefore, I would imagine there are more issues and that you would have to be on the coalface to know.

Oh I am sure that there are more factors than I have thought of PippaZ, but surely something has to be done? Yes, the process of getting an HGV licence is arduous, quite rightly so for such a responsible job, but it has to be faced up to. The current 'batch' of lorry drivers is aging, EU drivers have been forced to leave by our Brexit supporting friends who wouldn't be warned, even by the RHA, and that is without the covid19 difficulties. The examiners and tutors must be getting back to work now, the usual driving instructors are back down my quiet cul de sac with their nervous teenagers , so the same must be applying to the HGV tutors and examiners. The backlog must start being cleared soon, or are we just to leave it to our marvellous government whose answer so far, has been to suggest extending the working day for current HNG licence holders?

That begs the question "what is being done". Nothing helpful as far as I can see but then things are often going on behind the scenes.

There aren’t enough tutors or examiners to train thousands of new drivers even if they could be recruited.

They would quickly be found if the wages were good.

It is often claimed that Brexit and Covid caused Eastern European drivers to leave Britain and never return, resulting in a driver shortage.
However an HGV driver employed by a large retailer, wrote recently that the real reason they left was because of a tax change called IR35.
Previously these drivers could set up a limited company and pay much less tax and national insurance. IR35 took effect for them in April 2021, having been delayed from April 2020. From this point on, full contributions couldn’t easily be avoided.

You can’t just rock up and be a tutor or examiner however good the money - this requires some evidence of competence and some training. Agree more money at every level would be a first step.