Is there still an HGV driver shortage?

The HGV driver shortage isn’t necessarily headline news anymore – it’s been a persistent challenge for the UK’s road haulage sector for years. Now, in the last few years a number of government initiatives and industry-led efforts have helped ease some of the pressure, and vacancy rates are heading in the right direction. That means the most severe moments of the crisis seem to be behind us for now, but the issue hasn’t disappeared.

Industry data shows that around 24% of transport businesses are still struggling to fill vacancies. That’s a clear improvement from the 41% reported back in 2021, but still far from where it needs to be – so the shortage of drivers is likely to remain a problem in 2025 and beyond.

With decades of experience here at TankSafe in helping fleet owners and managers to secure their fleets with solutions like TankSafe Optimum, we know that this is a developing story that will be of strong interest to our customers – so if you need to get yourself up to speed, here’s what you need to know.

A quick look back at the peak of the crisis in 2021

Without question, one of the most acute points of the crisis was a few years ago in 2021 – when the Road Haulage Association reported a shortfall of over 100,000 qualified drivers. It was a tipping point for an industry that was already facing multiple pressures, and the result of several overlapping problems. Below is a quick roundup of some of the most pivotal ones.

The rising age of drivers

A major concern is the ageing workforce. Over half of HGV drivers in the UK are between the ages of 50 and 65, and the national average age is now 51. At the other end of the scale, fewer than 1% of drivers are under 25 – a clear indication of how difficult it is to attract younger people into the profession.

Industry perceptions

One of the biggest barriers to recruitment is how the industry is perceived by younger generations. As it stands, the prospect of long, unsociable hours combined with relatively modest pay has been enough to put many off. Conditions on the road haven’t helped either – 62% of drivers are dissatisfied with the state of the UK’s roadside facilities, according to figures from the RHA.

Brexit

The aftermath of Brexit delivered a significant blow to the UK’s driving workforce. Immigration changes led to the departure of as many as 20,000 EU drivers, many of whom cited concerns over their right to live and work in the country. Even now, the added complexity of customs processes and border paperwork continues to be a major barrier to enticing many of them back, when it’s easier (and often more lucrative) to get jobs elsewhere in Europe.

Covid-19 pandemic

You already knew this was coming – the unprecedented (there’s that word again) lockdowns over the duration of the Covid-19 pandemic meant that over 40,000 HGV driving tests were cancelled, creating a bottleneck in new driver recruitment. On top of that, many older drivers continued to retire. This all came at a time when demand for delivery services increased rapidly, which placed even greater pressure on the system.

There has been improvement

So that was the worrying side – now for a bit of good news. Since 2021, the government has launched more than 30 measures to help address the crisis. These have included easing delivery restrictions, introducing intensive training schemes, and ramping up the number of available test slots for new drivers. Let’s take a look at some of the biggest ones.

Improving roadside facilities

As part of a wider plan to make the job more appealing, the government has committed up to £100 million to improve roadside amenities for drivers. Rest stops are being upgraded to offer cleaner, safer spaces for drivers to take breaks, a measure that members of the RHA say is long overdue.

Addressing the skills shortage

One of the more promising initiatives is the extension of the government’s driver training programme, aimed at helping new recruits enter the industry. The scheme will now run until at least February 2026 – this gives more people the opportunity to gain the qualifications and experience they need to build a career in haulage.

Increasing wages

Pay has also improved in some areas. With support from government, many employers have raised salaries to attract and retain drivers. Some roles now offer upwards of £40,000 a year. Shannan Paterson, an industry figure and influencer, notes that while drivers are still due an increase, not many people could "get a job for £40-50K, that's classed as unskilled".

These combined efforts seem to be having an impact. In the final quarter of 2021, 43% of haulage businesses reported driver vacancies. In the third quarter of 2023, that figure had fallen to 23%, which shows signs of movement in the right direction.

But there’s still some way to go

Despite signs of improvement, the industry is still around 40,000 drivers short of where it needs to be to operate at full capacity. The RHA has warned that 200,000 new drivers will be needed over the next five years to avoid a repeat of the 2021 crisis, when supply chain disruption left empty shelves in shops across the country.

As you’ll have already noted, most of the challenges remain difficult to solve. One of the most pressing ones is the age of current drivers. Since more than half are in their fifties and sixties, that means a significant proportion of them are due to retire within the next decade – and as yet, we’re not recruiting young drivers fast enough to fill the gaps. The BBC recently quoted a transport manager who says the HGV industry is struggling to combat its “chronic driver shortage" because new recruits discover they "might not get back for tea".

Interestingly, the sentiment may well differ amongst drivers themselves. When SNAP surveyed drivers on this very issue, 72.5% of respondents disagreed with the idea that a shortage exists. But among that group, 28% once again pointed to low pay as the reason experienced drivers were leaving, and why new ones weren’t coming in.

Whatever the case, the issue is likely to be around for some time yet – with some predictions suggesting it may even last until 2032.

Touch wood, we’ll see further progress between then and now. Whatever happens though, you can always rely on our team here at TankSafe to do what we do best – protecting your fleet’s most valuable asset. Anti-siphon devices like our TankSafe Optimum are one of the single most reliable ways to protect your fuel. It’s the only anti-siphon device that offers 3-in-1 protection, with a patented mechanism that’s guaranteed to prevent fuel theft.

You can read more about how TankSafe Optimum works, or don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team if you have any further questions about the best ways to protect your fuel in 2024. Give us a quick call on 01253 400 401, and we'll be happy to help however we can!