Whitewavemark2
GrannyGravy13
Ashcombe
Copied from a post on Facebook:-
"After seeing the news last night about fuel shortages, I popped in to Tesco and I spoke to a very nice tanker driver who was rather informative and told me that the boats carrying fuel are arriving daily at Plymouth, the two depots in Plymouth are extremely well stocked and there is no shortage of drivers. His only concern was news articles misleading the public. He finished by explaining that it is only BP who have issues."
Yep, today’s petrol buying frenzy is entirely the fault of U.K. media.
But not the driver shortage
The U.K. is undeniably suffering from a shortage of 100,000 truck drivers – but it is not alone.
The Continent is also experiencing an estimated shortfall of 400,000 people qualified to get behind the wheel, according to logistics analysts Transport Intelligence
In some parts of the world, a quarter of driving jobs remain unfilled, according to the International Road Transport Union.
Here is how some countries are trying to fix the problem
Holland
Long-running shortages that predate the pandemic have prompted several transport companies to recruit and train asylum seekers. Schemes can include language classes and help getting a driving license. It has attracted refugees from Syria, Eritrea and Iran.
Germany
The industry has adopted the same approach as Holland of targeting refugees, even making it possible to pass a driving test in Arabic since 2016
It is also trying to attract more women. For example, a German company in Europe’s International Road Transport Union recently employed a female ambassador to help improve its outreach.
Spain
Last December the country reduced the minimum age for driving commercial heavy goods vehicles to 18, hoping to target the high number of unemployed young people in the country
“ The shortage of young professional drivers in our country is acute, while the youth unemployment rate exceeds 40 per cent,” said Ramón Valdivia, the general director of the country’s road transport association
Poland
The country has one of Europe’s biggest road haulage sectors, but is short an estimated 100,000 drivers due to the job being seen as unattractive, prompting industry figures to call for urgent changes to boost its appeal
“ It’s essential that improvements are made to guarantee better working conditions to encourage more women and young people into the profession,” said Jan Buczek, president of the Association of International Road Hauliers in Poland
Looks like we are in good (?) company.
is it just me who thinks that there is some intellectual snobbery about careers in this country?
