Lorry driver shortage

Location
southwest
I've worked in and around the transport industry for about 30 years.

In all that time I can't remember a time when there hasn't been a shortage of drivers-I would describe a "shortage" as having to hire anyone who applied, rather than being able to select from a list of suitable candidates.

In all that time none of the businesses I have worked for -from small family owned operations to multi national Companies-have done anything to address the situation. Even the big companies that do in-house driver training for warehouse staff etc. put so many conditions on providing training that very few staff feel encouraged to sign up. One company even reduced it's driver training Dept by 60% despite having to use agency drivers on a daily basis.

I know of other Companies (Eg Morrisons, CWS group) that have either contracted out their transport operations to specialist haulage firms or stopped employing drivers "on payroll" and went down the "agency drivers only" route.

I would say that, until the last few months, only drivers who could not hold down (or didn't want) a full time job worked for driver agencies as there is zero job security. Driving for the big transport Companies is also mainly for those who can't get a job elsewhere as they tend to push drivers to the limit of their legal hours every week.

In my opinion the whole way the transport industry/supply chain is organised could be done a lot better. It is perfectly possible to legally drive from for example Carlisle to Cornwall in a day, most transport Companies have several Depots throughout the Country, 90% of roads are virtually deserted between 8pm and 6pm yet we still see huge numbers of HGV's spending nights out, travelling by day, driving past Company depots rather than doing trailer swaps, delivering into Distribution hubs during "normal working hours" etc. etc.
 

ffukedfarmer

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
West Kent
One aspect that seems to have completely bypassed the transport minister and her minions is that many people with a HGV qualification took the test with no intention to ever work in general haulage
Horse box drivers, builders, scaffolders, farmers, fairground people the list is endless of people who require a licence in order to carry out their work, rather than driving being their work.
So thats a million letters sent out most of which will go straight in the bin.

Some of those might be tempted to do a bit here and there if the money is right, but can't because of the stupid CPC.
 

kiwi pom

Member
Location
canterbury NZ
Reading the truck forums there seems to be some suggestion that there isn't really many vacancies on the fuel job outside of the odd position in the odd company and some companies have drivers on a waiting list for when a spot becomes available.
So have the fuel companies reduced capacity due to Covid and now found themselves in the s**t and unable to meet demand due to not enough equipment, so they're blaming a lack of drivers?
 

Sid

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
South Molton

Henarar

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Somerset

Don't know if this has already been posted

that will be because all the E European workers that were going over there to help out now can't because of brexit
 

kiwi pom

Member
Location
canterbury NZ
Things got cut back due to Covid now demand is spiking everywhere and its taking a while for the distribution chain to ramp up.
Freight rates are up in the US, people are flat out trying to get more trucks but they're not available, so those that already have them are doing quite well.
Its only 18 months to 2 years ago that people were getting out of trucking there because rates were so low.
 

Sid

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
South Molton
that will be because all the E European workers that were going over there to help out now can't because of brexit
I would imagine trump's wall policy on immigration maybe have an effect but of course as ever its usually multiple factors.

IMG-20211001-WA0000.jpg
Morrisons St Albans yesterday
 

quattro

Member
Location
scotland
Some of those might be tempted to do a bit here and there if the money is right, but can't because of the stupid CPC.
If there’s anyone who left driving to go to another job, can’t See them changing their mind just because they’ve got a letter saying what great opportunities there are
how much will it have cost to all those letters out bearing in mind most will still be driving anyway
 

Muck Spreader

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Limousin
Home Secretary Priti Patel said: “We’re ending the use of insecure ID cards for entry into the UK to strengthen our border and deliver on the people’s priority to take back control of our immigration system from 1st October.

85% of EU Truckers don't have a passport, they just use their id cards to cross borders. Could be interesting!
 

Hindsight

Member
Location
Lincolnshire
Eustice there will be no army truck drivers on the fuel

Javid this morning army drivers will be delivering fuel Monday

Yes, in general anything poor old George says publicly on the radio is usually countermanded by a more senior minister in time for the evening news. I wonder if George's role in government is to be the foil guy. He doesn't seem to mind. Along for the ride I'd say.
 

Hindsight

Member
Location
Lincolnshire
The 'call to arms' letter has caused some mirth among my daughters (22 years old) horsey friends. A few of them have HGVs so they can drive these luxury horse glamping vehicles (my comment about some of the horse boxes).
 

IH 414

Member
Do we really have a driver shortage. Speaking to a mate who delivers to rdc,s and he arrived at 6am for a 6.30 booking. Got told they are behind so a delay. 4pm he came out of there. By time he went back to depot his time was running out. He blames the foreign workforce that tipped the loads are away home so the rdc is short staffed so as he says dozens of drivers are sitting in rdc,s waiting to tip or load so if more drivers arrive there will be even more sitting waiting. Its staff in distribution centres that's required and u don't need an hgv for that to operate a pallet truck.
 

sahara

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Somerset
Do we really have a driver shortage. Speaking to a mate who delivers to rdc,s and he arrived at 6am for a 6.30 booking. Got told they are behind so a delay. 4pm he came out of there. By time he went back to depot his time was running out. He blames the foreign workforce that tipped the loads are away home so the rdc is short staffed so as he says dozens of drivers are sitting in rdc,s waiting to tip or load so if more drivers arrive there will be even more sitting waiting. Its staff in distribution centres that's required and u don't need an hgv for that to operate a pallet truck.
The above example is what is preventing me from getting too excited about driving again.
Does the rdc company get charged for the down time?
I think if I made a grain truck wait like that I would either be charged or be blacklisted by the haulier,
 

IH 414

Member
The above example is what is preventing me from getting too excited about driving again.
Does the rdc company get charged for the down time?
I think if I made a grain truck wait like that I would either be charged or be blacklisted by the haulier,

The above example is what is preventing me from getting too excited about driving again.
Does the rdc company get charged for the down time?
I think if I made a grain truck wait like that I would either be charged or be blacklisted by the haulier,
I doubt the rdc would get charged. Hauliers just can't stick together and if they charged the rdc and got blacklisted they may loose work. If they were like Ray White and pulled their trucks out of rdc it may make a difference but they won't. They deliver to and reload from this rdc 10 trucks a day poss so loss of all work would cost more.
 

le bon paysan

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Limousin, France

Don't know if this has already been posted

Tankers have been holding off the coast on a rising oil price. It's cheaper to keep them at sea. As the cargo has reached the sell price they've all started clamouring to unload.
 

SFI - What % were you taking out of production?

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Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

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As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
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