Warning signs for HGV crsis ‘ignored’

THE head of a leading business group has said government has “ignored” warning signs over HGV driver shortages for too long.

Scott Knowles, chief executive of the East Midlands Chamber, says the shortage existed long before Brexit and Covid-19.

The dwindling number of HGV drivers has dominated headlines in recent weeks and has led to the current shortage of petrol after motorists started panic buying, while supermarkets such as Morrisons and pubs such as Wetherspoons have experienced disruptions in their supply chain.

But Mr Knowles claims the issue has been going on for far longer than people think.

He said: “While we welcome the government’s intervention to offer temporary visas for 5,000 foreign lorry drivers and to suspend competition law between oil firms, this is merely sticking a tiny plaster on a gaping wound.

“The issue of HGV driver shortages existed before Brexit and Covid-19, with the logistics industry losing workers to retirement and other sectors, while struggling to attract younger employees.

“But the reality of an estimated 25,000 European drivers returning home has left a huge hole in capacity, with the issue now exacerbated by driver training and testing being halted due to the pandemic.

“The fuel shortage has brought all these complex supply chain issues to a head, but other sectors had already been feeling the impact in recent months, including in retail where shelves are noticeably short of usual stock. This isn’t a temporary problem,” Mr Knowles added. “Government should be prepared to expand the number of visas and convene a summit that brings business and decisionmakers together to find both immediate and longer-term solutions.”