Driver shortage – RHA meets roads minister again to spell out growing crisis

The RHA met the Government today (Wednesday 16 June) to highlight the growing peril to UK supply chains from the worsening driver shortage.

RHA Chief Executive, Richard Burnett told Roads Minister, Baroness Vere: “The need for action is clear and urgent. We and many others have provided overwhelming evidence that 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 told details of the growing difficulties of recruiting truckers.

Along with Baroness Vere, the Government were also represented by Minister, Mims Davies from the Department of Work and Pensions.

The meeting lasted more than two and a half hours, with wide-ranging discussions around the scale of the problems hauliers face, and measures that can be taken over the short, medium and long-term.

The RHA re-emphasised the need for urgent actions to deal with the immediate shortage. The RHA highlighted issues around driver training and apprenticeships, Driver CPC, short-term access to non-UK labour, parking and facilities for drivers, and the need to treat drivers and the sector with the respect they deserve.

The Government gave a commitment to continue to look at actions that can be taken to address the issues raised by industry.

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