shortage of HGV drivers UK

There was a shortage of HGV Class 1 drivers before Brexit. It was difficult to attract new drivers due to hours, conditions and pay. Driving a 40 foot long vehicle round London is no joke with cyclists whizzing up the inside cars whipping in front and expecting an articulated lorry to just stop. It isn't always great sleeping in the cab trying to find somewhere safe to stop etc. Facilities are much better abroad.

Some say we are short of 30000, others up to 90000. The reality is probably somewhere in between. Whichever is correct, it is an absolute mess and will have consequences for the whole of UK.

centralbylines.co.uk/ask-sire-john-hayes-where-the-fruit-and-veg-has-gone/

Talking about drivers from the EU and Eastern Europe having left with no intention of coming back, for all the reasons stated.

One factor never talked about is the value of Sterling. Those drivers, and other workers in agriculture and restaurants/hotels, etc - work abroad to save money to build a home when they return, and have a better quality of life long-term. Much better to work in countries where they are welcome, can work in good conditions, AND have their salary in a currency that will represent much higher conversion 'back home'.

Keeper1

There was a shortage of HGV Class 1 drivers before Brexit. It was difficult to attract new drivers due to hours, conditions and pay. Driving a 40 foot long vehicle round London is no joke with cyclists whizzing up the inside cars whipping in front and expecting an articulated lorry to just stop. It isn't always great sleeping in the cab trying to find somewhere safe to stop etc. Facilities are much better abroad.

yes exactly, so why was there no forward thinking, no investment just nothing?

I don't understand why nothing has been done.

faringdon59

Having been married to a HGV driver in the past I have a bit of an insight on this subject.
Most of them sleep in their cabs, so sometimes you'll sleep well, sometimes not. Your access to health food when away can be limited as well.
If you do continental work there is added paperwork to consider and nowadays possibly people trying to hitch a ride in the back of your lorry.
It's never been viewed as a profession, which is a shame, considering it's importance.
Recently there has been a government change in allowing the number of working hours on the road to be increased.
In view of safety I feel this to be a very retrograde move.

I’m very concerned about the increase in the amount of hours drivers are allowed to drive. There was a horrible accident last week involving a couple of lorries and my first thought was that I hoped it hadn’t been caused by tiredness. I’ve also read that the government are planning to make it easier for people to obtain a HGV licence by lowering standards. I hope they don’t do away with the medicals as well. All of this seems to be being slipped through with very few people noticing it.

My DSIL is an HGV driver, including driving the large double articulated trucks.
He is an excellent driver, the problem his company have had getting new drivers is getting worse. The Eastern European drivers turn up with licences which look like they came out of a lucky bag, definately not valid here.
He has to collect from farms and just last year ended up in a ditch because the farmer had not gritted the lane as per his contract.
It is not just a UK problem but a problem for every ethical company.

I remember a Grandad on GN, when I first started posting, who was very knowledgeable about lorry drivers and their conditions of employment. I think he ran a haulage company and even 18 months ago was telling the same story. Perhaps he will join the discussion.

Ellianne

I remember a Grandad on GN, when I first started posting, who was very knowledgeable about lorry drivers and their conditions of employment. I think he ran a haulage company and even 18 months ago was telling the same story. Perhaps he will join the discussion.

Hopefully

The misandrists drove him and most other grandads away a long time ago!.

Katie59

The misandrists drove him and most other grandads away a long time ago!.

Crikey!

Felice
When I lived in Bulgaria 2 people from my small circle of friends bought their driving licence ?

Ellianne

Katie59

The misandrists drove him and most other grandads away a long time ago!.

Crikey!

Rubbish, I'm afraid. He was well able to hold his own, at great length, too... I think he stopped posting because no-one was relishing the death of the Labour Party as much as he was...

He ran a Health & Safety consultancy IIRC. Formerly in road haulage.

Nonsense indeed MaizieD.

Do we have any men posting now I havn’t noticed any?.

Katie59

Do we have any men posting now I havn’t noticed any?.

Railman & Cunco have posted recently.

You must know very well that there are a few who post in other places.

I don't know how long you've been on Gnet, Katie, because I've only noticed you contributing to N & P threads relatively recently (certainly long after the poster you're claiming to be a victim of misandry stopped posting) but I've been here about 5 years and there have never been many men posting.

Katie59

The misandrists drove him and most other grandads away a long time ago!.

I think he was well able to stand up for himself!!

If this is the poster I'm thinking of, he had a career in the transport industry but then started up a Health & Safety training company if I remember rightly.
He would be a source of information about this.

I see MaizieD has already posted that.

I should rtp.

Callistemon

I see MaizieD has already posted that.

I should rtp.

No worries, Callistomen. Great minds think alike...

N&P ?.

News and Politics Katie59

BTW, Callistemon, apologies for spelling your name wrong. I'm usually so careful to get it right...

Katie59

Before Brexit most driving agencies used East European drivers, they didn’t need working visas then so they went home
The government tell us that 5 million foreigners have applied for visas, not many have been approved yet, another benefit of Brexit.

I don't think that is true:

As of 31 May 2021, there had been 2,754,100 grants of settled status and 2,276,200 of pre-settled status. Considering the level of overlap between these groups (people moving from pre-settled to settled) it is likely that around 4,882,000 people have received either status through the scheme.

Refusal has been relatively uncommon. So far, around 94,000 applications have been refused, 72,000 withdrawn, and 75,000 classed as invalid (around 241,000 in total). Proportionally, there have been more unsuccessful applications decided each month as the scheme has gone on.

Although around 5.3 million people have applied to the scheme, the number granted settled or pre-settled status is closer to 4.9 million. A further 335,000 were still pending as of the end of May 2021.

House of Commons Library

The closing date was 30th June although late applications will be allowed if there are reasonable grounds.

MaizieD

BTW, Callistemon, apologies for spelling your name wrong. I'm usually so careful to get it right...

It's ok, looking less like one every day as my hair grows.

Callistemon

News and Politics Katie59

Also relationships, house and home, finance, ask a gran, health, even jokes occasionally probably others too, Pretty wide range but I guess some people have very blinkered recollections.

?

I was answering you query about N&P, Katie59, explaining that it's News and Politics!

Which many think should be separated.

Well, it looks like our own British HGV drivers are going to use the current situation to get better wages and conditions. I must say I don't blame them, but it is going to be awkward, and will push prices up for food and goods.

On M1 today, a lorry crossed over to other side and caused several injuries and massive disruption. Did driver lose concentration or go to sleep due to long hours?