Suggestions of using the army to deliver fuel to petrol stations

Rationing at Durkar Services £30 worth

 

A June 2021 survey by the Road Haulage Association of RHA members, regarding the driver shortage, showed the following results from the question:
"What do you believe to be the reasons behind the driver shortage? (please select all applicable)"

Drivers retiring 58.54%
UK leaving the EU 58.37%
IR35 53.01%
Drivers leaving for a different industry 47.64%
Unsatisfactory pay rates 46.83%
Covid-19 38.70%
Other 32.68%

The Report included notes regarding:
"The main factors which are currently affecting the driver shortage include -

COVID - many drivers have returned to their country of origin during extended periods of lockdown and restricted travel. The vast majority have not yet returned.

EU Exit - the uncertainty of Brexit and the rights to live and work in the UK forced many drivers to do the same. Again, the vast majority have not returned nor are they expected to.

Retiring Drivers - the average age of an HGV driver is 55, with less than 1% under the age of 25. Prolonged periods of inactivity have resulted in much of this ageing workforce retiring early or finding employment in other, less demanding, sectors.

Test Shortage - during a typical year 72,000 candidates train to become HGV drivers with 40,000 succeeding. The complete shutdown of vocational driving tests resulted in the loss of over 30,000 test slots and only 15,000 were able to complete training successfully - a drop of 25,000 from the previous year.

IR35 - the introduction of IR35 has resulted in agency labour withdrawing their services, as low-profit margin logistics businesses (typically 2-3%) cannot sustain demands for £5 £6 per hour rate increases. For clarity, we welcome legislation that ensures fair and equal tax for all. Government must now recognise the repercussions of this and other issues mentioned and urgently intervene to help us to resolve the resulting crisis."

The report was published on the 21st July!!

 

Duplicate post

 

Even after all this time, it beggars belief that someone can still use the word "Remoaner" whilst trying to make a serious point.

 

But the road haulage and logistic companies have been banging on about most of these issues since the Brexit result. Business conventions have spoken of these issues since the Brexit result. The government had been warned, then Covid came along and helped speed the process of collapse.
Just one of many nasty failed promises coming down the road.

 

RHA, been talking about shortage issue for many years now, well before Brexit included.

 

I copied the survey results and notes to show, hopefully, that the issue is far more complex than just one or two factors and that if the government are in tune with business organisations and listen to their concerns then it should have been apparent that a 'perfect storm' was heading down the haulage route. I guess people with agendas will look to focus on the factor which aids their particular point, but as far as I can see, from the survey results, there are at least 6 major factors here. Take yer pick.

 

This has been building since around 2010, with the introduction of the CPC rules.
Quick facts from a report in 2012:
31% decline in tests taken
In 2005/6 nearly 100k tests were taken
In 2009/10 43k were taken
25% of driver were over 60+, meaning by 2017 there would be 48k vacancies to fill from retirement alone.
1% of drivers were under 25
Out of 1.5 million registered drivers only 299k had completed the CPC, this figure will have increased as they had until 2014 for it to be compulsory.

 

Very true what you have stated, the constant in all of this is the Tory Party. However I work closely with HGV drivers, domestic and foreign. In nearly 20 years working on the front line I've never seen issues with the import / export or logistical movement of goods. Barring the 2000 industrial dispute, we've not had any issues with fuel delivery. These aforementioned issues are Brexit related, pure and simple.

This Tory PM and the 2 previous chose to spin many plates but didnt / don't have the competence or desire to stop them from smashing.

Government debt since 2010 is out of control, yet what benefits have we gained? Blue / Black French made passports? Many pointless slogans to recant when we start losing faith?

Yet you'll get some on here preaching that this stuff is normal, or better than it was before. It's just remoaners who are constantly complaining. Please!

 

Regarding CPC have you ever met a driver who has said they learned anything from the courses?

 

I have heard people admit they have learnt things on them yes.
But I’ve never met one yet who thinks they are worth doing and most resent having to retake regular(every 5 years)
I’m always amazed at how many companies make the driver do it in their own time and the driver pay for it.

 

the EU laws were there, it was the companies as usual that twisted there way around them..

 

The CPC is just another money making scam and an obstacle for many hgv drivers. You have to do 5 days training every 5 year, either a 1 weeks course or 1 day a year for 5 years, costing upwards of £300. The daft thing is, you can do the same module 5 times which is bonkers.

 

I see what your saying Helen but who exactly represented workers when these free market rules were put in place ? The politicians or big business because I'm going to guess they were the only 2 entities sat at the table .

https://euobserver.com/institutional/135227

Take former EU president barroso , walked straight into a job at Goldman Sachs after his stint as EU president ended . This is the same Goldman Sachs who advised Greece to join the euro then made billions out of the bailout when it all came crashing down . Unfortunately these are the type of people within the EU who make the rules and as we ve seen the average everyday worker is the last thing on their mind .
As for the current shortages get used to it because I don't see it going away anytime soon especially if the news coming out of China is to be believed ( fuel shortages such as coal etc ) .

 

Did my renewal over Xmas online, was the most mind numbing 4 days ever(only did 4 days as had already done ADR).


I get (and actually agree)the principal of making sure drivers are upto date with changes in regs etc, but in any other industry a tool box talk would suffice by the employer, equally surely they could cover through the Traffic Commissioner for self employed.

 

Agreed, could probably get away with doing a 1day refresher every couple of years to update on Tacho regs etc. Load of nonsense at mo.

 

It’s too late for common sense, that ship sailed in 2016