Marks & Spencer, Asda, Sainsbury’s and Co-op Food have urged the government to take action over the dramatic impact the driver shortage is said to be having on deliveries. High numbers of companies across the food industry detailed to the government the strain that supply chains are under.

The German confectionery business, responsible for Starmix, Gummy Bears, Tangfastics and numerous other varieties, has said their business has been hit by the same problem.

In a statement, the company said: “As is the case with many manufacturers and retailers throughout the country, we are experiencing challenges with regards to the nationwide driver shortage. We are working with partners across the food and drink industry to address and respond to this problem.”

Retailers and suppliers are struggling to find enough haulage drivers in the UK, with experts warning a “perfect storm” is brewing due to several factors hitting the sector.

As reported last week by NR, the Road Haulage Association (RHA) believes there is currently a shortfall of about 60,000 drivers due to around 30,000 HGV driving tests not taking place last year due to the pandemic. Typically, 72,000 candidates train to become HGV drivers, with 40,000 passing. But only 15,000 were able to complete training last year, the organisation said.

The RHA has written to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, warning many drivers also returned to their country of origin during extended periods of lockdown and restricted travel, with the vast majority not returning.

Brexit is also playing a part in the shortage, according to the RHA, with many drivers unsure of their rights to work in the UK.

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The situation has potential to hold up supplies, and force food prices up.

The RHA (Road Haulage Association) driver shortage data was featured on BBC Newsnight, as the programme investigated the UK’s ongoing HGV driver shortage.

The RHA presented the programme with a wealth of information which cast a harsh light on the full extent of the driver shortage in the UK.

The information supplied showed that:

• 95% of everything we consume in the UK is moved by lorry
• There are 16,000 fewer lorry drivers in the UK now than there were at the start of 2021
• 30,000 HGV driver tests were cancelled in the last year, due to Covid-19
• 40 of Britain’s biggest haulage firms have a total of 3,654 vacancies
• This works out at 91 vacancies per haulier
• Small and medium haulage firms have at least 2,573 vacancies
• That works out to at least 4 vacancies per haulier
• 58% of the haulage industry said that driver shortages were due to Brexit

Brexit transition

The shortage has been made worse by the ending of the Brexit transition period, which saw changes to the way goods move between the UK and EU, including approximately 15,000 EU lorry drivers returning home to mainland Europe.

“The full effects of the shortage had been masked by the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, which saw a downturn in demand for haulage from many sectors” the RHA stated.

“However, with all parts of the UK economy ramping back up as restrictions are eased and the vaccine rollout progresses, the crippling lack of fully trained truck drivers is truly starting to show.

“There are also concerns within the industry that the lack of HGV drivers will increase the price of haulage, which will in turn be passed on to the consumer with an increase in the price of goods in supermarkets and other businesses.

Dangerous Situation

Rob Hollyman of Youngs Transport and Freight also spoke out on BBC Newsnight last night, saying: “It’s a very, very dangerous situation.”

He also told the BBC that ultimately, we could see the driver shortage “having a very detrimental effect on pricing structures within supermarkets and the like”.

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The Federation of Independent Retailers (NFRN) is urging the government to take immediate action to avoid shops being faced with empty shelves.

The Road haulage Association (RHA) has warned that a shortage of HGV drivers will have a serious impact on maintaining delivery levels to stores.

NFRN national president Stuart Reddish said: “Some of our members are already experiencing difficulties in obtaining stock and, if this shortage of drivers is not addressed, the situation will only get worse.

“As many retailers are just starting to recover from the hardships caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the last thing we need is a lack of availability of stock, especially when it comes to essential products.”

‘Crippling effects of HGV shortages’

RHA chief executive Richard Burnett has written to Prime Minister Boris Johnson stressing the need for action on the crippling effects of the current HGV driver shortage.

The RHA says it needs access to EU and EEA labour to address the shortage and has asked for the introduction of a temporary worker visa for HGV drivers. It is also calling for this occupation to be added to the Home Office Shortage Occupation List.

Concluding the letter to the Prime Minister, Burnett said: “It is our collective view that there has never been a more challenging time for this industry and we urge you to take decisive steps to ensure that we can continue to maintain the UK’s integrated and finely balanced supply chains.”

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