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

If push comes to shove i am pretty sure the government would bring the army in to help.
Just a thought.

My son got his full HGV licence in a week when he was in the Army so maybe Army personnel could be used to speed up the testing process - if that is indeed the problem rather than a shortage of people wanting the job. I appreciate that not everyone can go off for a week just to get their licence but it might be a possibility for anyone currently out of work?

Just a random thought of mine!

That is correct Mawbe although not common knowledge. If the drivers were to return they would now have to pay much more tax and NI which isn't as appealing.
If however the rate of pay significantly increases then they might reconsider.

Why can’t freight trains be used ( not sure if that’s what they’re called) . You would still need lorry drivers but they wouldn’t have to be on the road for days on end and would be available to do more collections from railway stations. Might be more of an incentive for people to train as HGV drivers including women.

I think IR35 is 'part' of the reason; that and the loss of EU drivers.

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.

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.

They would quickly be found if the wages were good.

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

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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”

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.

GillT57 Mr. B and I were saying this earlier!

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

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 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?

Peasblossom

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

Or perhaps a combination of the three?

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.

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.