Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Shortage of drivers wasn’t all of a sudden MLAS are told
THE lack of HGV drivers “did not happen overnight”, a Stormont committee has heard.
Seamus Leheny of Logistics UK said the current 76,000 shortage is a problem that has grown over a number of years, and not been addressed properly by government.
John Martin from the Road Haulage Association told how there is a shortage of between 4,000 and 5,000 HGV drivers in Northern Ireland.
MLAS also heard a plea for recognition of drivers and an academy to keep a flow of young people entering the industry.
Mr Leheny said there was a lack of young drivers, with fewer than 2% of HGV drivers in Northern Ireland under the age of 25, due to insurance costs and lack of visibility of the industry.
FACTORS
He also cited the lack of facilities for drivers and safe secure parking as contributing factors.
Addressing the Infrastructure Committee, Mr Leheny also referred to the overwhelmingly male workforce, with fewer than 1% of qualified drivers in Northern Ireland being female.
Mr Martin described contributing factors to the driver shortage as the loss of 2,400 HGV tests due to the coronavirus pandemic, which will take 12 to 15 months to claw back.
He also described a loss of capacity in the sector due to postbrexit trading arrangements between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Mr Leheny said: “That has slowed down the logistics chain and the result is that trucks are coming over to Northern Ireland with less product, maybe only 50% to 75% full, so there is a loss of capacity within the sector.”
He described delays at many of the major distribution centres and added: “Truck drivers could roll up at a regional distribution centre and maybe sit for anything up to four to six hours until he is given a slot to offload.
“There are a number of reasons for that, partly down to a lack of warehouse staff.”