shortage of HGV drivers UK

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?

Totally agree Josianne

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.

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!

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.

I think the food and goods shortages are an inevitable result of leaving the single market / customs union so abruptly. The government chose to become a third country and this inevitably caused increased paperwork and checks at borders, issues with cabotage and a consequent reluctance of some suppliers to send goods to the UK.
The EU offered a delay in the implementation of Brexit because of Covid and the UK government said no.
Actions have consequences.

.

Whitewavemark2

Next boss

Damning from Lord Wolfson “HGV crisis was not only “foreseen”, it was building for months....also skills crisis in warehouses, restaurants, hotels, care homes"
"crippling inaction is becoming an overwhelming feature of Johnson’s government."

Article in Telegraph.

Lord Wolfson still backs Brexit, though.

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It is clear however that shortages improved in Europe once we had sent their HGV drivers back. Win win for Europe.

Chips

down!

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.

So, The Times is blaming Brexit?

Next boss

Damning from Lord Wolfson “HGV crisis was not only “foreseen”, it was building for months....also skills crisis in warehouses, restaurants, hotels, care homes"
"crippling inaction is becoming an overwhelming feature of Johnson’s government."

Article in Telegraph.

I'm sure it's true that other countries have a shortage of drivers, but they seem to be managing it.

I'm afraid we've become a bit of a laughing stock.

twitter.com/i/status/1443432376898568198

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.

GrannyGravy13

Lucca if the BBC is accused of being a bunch of lefties at the same time as being wary of upsetting the Government, doesn’t that mean they are getting it right?

Does it ?! Maybe so.

Lucca if the BBC is accused of being a bunch of lefties at the same time as being wary of upsetting the Government, doesn’t that mean they are getting it right?

There is a shortage of 50,000 lorry drivers here in France I believe so not as bad as UK but still a problem. There are better facilities here as well.

Riverwalk

Listening to LBC and Nick Ferrari is talking to various people in Europe - reporters and locals.

There seems to be no problems with fuel or supermarket shortages, so we shouldn't comfort ourselves that we're all in the same boat, it's just not true.

As an aside, I've taken to listening to LBC & LBC News - they are so on the ball and aren't afraid to be upfront and ask hard questions of politicians - unlike the BBC which won't say boo to a goose, in case they upset the government.

Which is odd as I have seen posters on GN complaining of the BBC being a bunch of lefties …..

..

Heard an HGV driver on LBC this morning totally frustrated as cannot get through to DVLA to get organised. Eventually sent them an email and they answered giving him the same telephone number.
He said it is going to take him four weeks before he can get a medical with his doctor.

Listening to LBC and Nick Ferrari is talking to various people in Europe - reporters and locals.

There seems to be no problems with fuel or supermarket shortages, so we shouldn't comfort ourselves that we're all in the same boat, it's just not true.

As an aside, I've taken to listening to LBC & LBC News - they are so on the ball and aren't afraid to be upfront and ask hard questions of politicians - unlike the BBC which won't say boo to a goose, in case they upset the government.

There maybe a shortage of drivers in other countries but it hasn’t led to a shortage at the pumps and supermarkets and the consequent queues. The majority in NI wanted to stay in the EU. It’s the extremists who march in bowler hats who are scared of alignment with the ROI. Being in the single market is proving to give NI many advantages, unlike the rest of us in the U.K.

sodapop

My husband was an HGV driver for some years. Conditions were not good then. No access to showers, lavatories etc. He was afraid to leave his vehicle in case someone broke into it. Supermarkets were very precious about delivery slots, if he arrived a few minutes late then the slot was gone. Very few safe areas to park up for the night and so it goes on. Not a job for the faint hearted.

I don't remember the exact reasons now, but about 15 years ago a Romanian lorry appeared parked near the the edge of our village. Some of our neighbours started up a conversation with the driver - who didn't have good English - to discover that he was being forced to wait 5 days to unload, with little or no money to support himself.

The village set up a rota of meals and showers for him but he insisted on sleeping in the cab in case of theft.

This is not an easy life that we impose on people so that we can have cheap food.

I don’t know where these needed drivers and farm staff will be allow to come from but looking back to what happened when there was a shortage of low paid workers and unwanted jobs in the 1950s, another sort of ‘Empire Windrush’.