Some 96% of UK logistics businesses are now reporting problems recruiting HGV drivers, according to the results from Logistics UK’s September, 2021 Performance Tracker.

However, the Performance Tracker also highlighted skills shortages are growing across the entire logistics industry, not just affecting the availability of HGV drivers.

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More than 13% of British businesses are now reporting severe to very severe problems recruiting warehouse staff – compared to September 2020 – when zero respondents reported facing recruitment challenges of that scale – 24.5% of respondents also report severe or very severe problems recruiting van drivers; zero respondents reported facing such severe difficulties in September, 2020.

“The results of the September, 2021 Performance Tracker show the logistics industry is suffering from skills shortages that go beyond HGV drivers; businesses are also facing challenges recruiting for vital roles such as warehouse staff, van drivers, fitters, mechanics, technicians, forklift drivers and transport managers,” said Logistics UK Policy director, Elizabeth de Jong.

“While we are pleased to see logistics businesses are taking steps to attract and retain HGV drivers through measures such as pay increases, recruitment drives and the introduction of apprenticeship and upskilling training schemes, we are concerned some supply chain disruption will continue until these crucial roles are filled.”

The number of transport/logistics/warehouse online job adverts was double the same period last year, according to ONS vacancies data (provided by online job search engine, Adzuna) for 10 September, 2021. The report also identified overall business confidence has now recovered to pre-pandemic levels.

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Logistics UK’s Performance Tracker monitors the performance of the logistics industry each quarter

Logistics UK represents more than 7m people directly employed in the making, selling and moving of goods.

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