Heavy Goods Vehicle Driver Shortages

That this House notes with concern that the transport industry currently estimates the labour shortages of Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) drivers to be between 60,000 and 76,000; recognises that whilst shortages are a longstanding issue, a combination of factors have exacerbated the situation and led to the current crisis point; these factors include the increasing number of retiring drivers, restrictions to vocational driving tests during the pandemic impacting the industry’s ability to train and recruit new drivers, and the loss of EU drivers due to uncertainty over their future rights to live and work in the UK; is concerned that haulage businesses have thousands of HGVs parked up because there are no drivers to drive them and that statistics released by the Road Haulage Association show that, as a result, lead times for deliveries have extended from an average of 24 hours to more than 80 hours; is further concerned about the knock on impact on supply chains; and calls on the UK Government to urgently add HGV drivers to the Shortage Occupation List.