The Freight Transport Association has warned that the problem of driver shortage is not just going to affect the Christmas rush – it is a long term issue.
An FTA survey of operators found that 94 per cent said they saw driver shortage as a real concern for the industry. The survey of delegates at its Transport Manager Conference series were asked how bad the driver shortage was on a on a scale of 1-5.
Two thirds of respondents in Durham said that driver shortage is “very bad – and that it will be a major issue”.
Some 60 per cent in Warrington said “it is bad and could impact Christmas deliveries” and 57 per cent in Dunblane said that it is “a potential problem in the longer term”.
Sally Gilson, FTA skills policy manager said: “FTA has long voiced its worries regarding driver shortage and is calling on the government to support the freight industry with funding to encourage new drivers to enrol in the logistics industry.”
The association estimates that the number of drivers that will need to be recruited over the next few years exceeds 45,000.
