UK haulage industry bosses have told the prime minister Boris Johnson to “act now to prevent a Christmas crisis” as a result of continuing lorry driver shortages, reports stated today (26).
More than 1,600 haulage sector bosses, led by the Road Haulage Association (RHA), has warned Johnson that without decisive action there is a “risk of further damage to not only our businesses and livelihoods, but the UK’s integrated and finely balanced supply chains”.
Writing to Johnson, bosses of multiple trade bodies and businesses in the trucking and food industries have claimed not enough had been done to resolve the crisis, urging him to intervene personally.
“Without further action, this will only get worse, particularly as we begin the countdown to Christmas,” they added.
Although the government has launched a series of initiatives such as a three-month temporary visa, with around 5,000 visas for non-UK drivers, RHA has described the proposal as “lacklustre and ill-conceived”, calling for a longer-term scheme to be introduced.
They said HGV drivers should be added to the government’s “shortage occupation list”, which makes it easier for skilled workers to obtain visas.
“Put simply, we will not be able to build back better and recover from the pandemic without a thriving haulage industry and we urge you to take the necessary action to ensure that we can continue to play our essential role underpinning the UK economy, both now and in the future,” stated the letter.
The deficit of HGV drivers had increased from 60,000 before the pandemic to 100,000, the letter said, citing factors including Covid-19 and EU nationals leaving the UK. The signatories in the letter include the boss of trucking firm Eddie Stobart and trade bodies in food, haulage and fuel.
“There has never been a more challenging time for the haulage industry,” Rod McKenzie, managing director of the RHA, added.
“The Prime Minister must act now or risk even more drastic disruption than we have already seen in recent months.
“For months we have been calling for urgent action. The tin-eared approach from ministers to this spiralling situation cannot continue.”
Brian McLister
