Military truck drivers ready to deliver to supermarkets

THE Army is on standby to restock shelves as military HGV drivers are prepped to deliver food and essentials amid the truck driver shortage.

Military drivers could help supply lines as the “pingdemic” hits logistic firms. The shortage of qualified drivers has reached crisis point, with ministers now examining every means possible to keep Britain supplied. Any action by the Army will come under existing plans.

Many haulage workers have been “pinged” by the NHS app and forced to self-isolate, adding to Britain’s shortage of 100,000 truck drivers. It has left some supermarket shelves empty and major food companies struggling to cope with demand. The formal request for other government departments to be supported by the military, called Military Aid to the Civil Authority (Maca), has yet to be issued.

A Maca need only be an email from a minister to Defence Secretary Ben Wallace. Then the Mod’s Standing Joint Command, responsible for operations inside the UK, issues activation orders.

A source said: “Messages are being sent to all Army personnel with HGV qualifications. They are being put on five-day standby notice for driving jobs at major distribution centres around the country. Soldiers will be put up in hotels where necessary, and work extended hours to assist with the crisis.

“They will be involved with food distribution as well as the transportation of other essential goods and medical supplies.” In July, the Government temporarily extended drivers’ working time rules, from nine to 10 hours, allowing them to make longer journeys.

The measure was described by the Road Haulage Association (RHA) as a “sticking plaster”, and deemed insufficient to solve distribution problems.

The MOD has been in discussions with environment agency Defra over the transport crisis, which has led Chris Hall, head of logistics at Asda, to say the supermarket giant was “just about keeping our head above water”.

Rod Mckenzie, of the RHA, said: “There are 2,000 qualified HGV drivers in the Army but we’re 100,000 lorry drivers short. Army drivers are used to Army lorries and not civilian vehicles.”