New warning over truck driver shortages

Figures show that 100,000 drivers have allowed their Driver Qualification Card (DQC) to lapse in the past year, representing one in six of all working-age HGV drivers.

Many of those leaving the profession are in their 30s and 40s, raising concerns about the long-term sustainability of the UK’s driver workforce.

RHA managing director Richard Smith said: “To future-proof businesses and the supply chain for the long term, driver recruitment, training and retention must be an urgent priority for government. With an ageing workforce and significant numbers of experienced drivers leaving, attracting people into HGV driving has become increasingly urgent.”

Smith called for the reinstatement of the national HGV driver bootcamp programme, which helped new drivers qualify quickly, and for reforms to the Growth and Skills Levy to fund permanent training schemes.

“A lack of roadside facilities and secure parking remains a chronic issue too. We are making headway, but there is a long way to go,” he said.

The driver shortage problem is not unique to the UK. Across Europe, more than 426,000 truck driver positions are currently unfilled, with the International Road Transport Union (IRU) expecting this figure to double by 2028.