How Can We End the Yearly Christmas Driver Shortage?
Every year, the media strikes fear into our hearts by claiming a shortage of anything from Christmas crackers to pigs in blankets. Consumers flock to the supermarkets to snag theirs before they’re caught short at Christmas, this in turn causes a spike in demand – demand that hauliers are tasked with covering.
This becomes a hard feat when there are barely enough drivers to cover the amount of supply on a regular day. The current climate sees the UK facing a shortage of about 90,000 HGV drivers. At the moment, we may not be seeing the full extent to the supply chain strain, however once the Black Friday and Christmas peaks hit, there may be problems.
This could result in a shortage of festive food, wines, increased delivery times on presents and in the worst case – lack of stock. Christmas dinner may look a little different this year as turkeys are in short supply, pigs in blankets are struggling to make their way into the UK and wines are stuck at sea.
So what can be done about this?
What Can We Do?
Surely there are several ways to mitigate the damage this Christmas, but what do they involve? We have looked into some of the efforts made to remedy this shortage, however, any efforts made to recruit more lorry drivers will inevitably take time to have an effect.
Employers
In an effort to recruit more drivers this Christmas, some retailers and haulage firms are offering higher wages as an incentive to join the workforce. Online food delivery firm Ocado, for example, has offered drivers incentives including improved wages and sign-on bonuses, potentially costing the company as much as £5m altogether.
Other businesses are offering similar incentives (most monetary) in the hope that it makes driving a more attractive proposition for workers.
Government
On the Government front, transport minister Grant Shapps announced recently that HGV driving test requirements would be relaxed to help reduce the shortage of drivers. Some of the changes that are being made are the shortening of tests, with certain elements – including coupling and uncoupling, and reversing exercises – being removed.
Drivers will also be able to obtain a licence to drive an articulated lorry without having to earn one for smaller trucks first.
The government hopes the changes will allow for an extra 50,000 HGV driving tests, but the Road Haulage Association – which represents haulage firms – has expressed concerns that safety could be compromised.
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