Britain’s Road Haulage Association (RHA) has met the UK government to highlight what it describes as the “growing peril” to UK supply chains from the worsening driver shortage.
“The need for action is clear and urgent,” said RHA chief executive, Richard Burnett, in the meeting with Roads Minister, Baroness Vere.
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“We and many others have provided overwhelming evidence the shortage is getting worse – the situation must be addressed right now.”
Other trade bodies and supply chain companies representing food, retail, manufacturing and hospitality, were also at the meeting, which was given details of the growing difficulties of recruiting lorry drivers.
Along with Baroness Vere, the government was also represented by Minister, Mims Davies, from the Department of Work and Pensions.
The meeting lasted more than two and a half hours, with discussions around the scale of the problems hauliers face and measures that can be taken in the short, medium and long-term.
The RHA re-emphasised the need for urgent actions to deal with the immediate shortage.
The association highlighted issues around driver training and apprenticeships, driver CPC (Certificate of Professional Competence), short-term access to non-UK labour, parking and facilities for drivers.
The government gave a commitment to continue to look at actions which can be taken to address the issues raised by industry.
