The House of Commons Transport Committee has called on the haulage industry to “get its house in order”, saying that it ought to be given two years to solve recruitment issues and improve working conditions or be hit with new taxes as punishment.
The haulage industry is afflicted by a major shortage of HGV drivers, which is causing multiple supply chain issues.
There were shortages in HGV driver personnel prior to the pandemic and Brexit, but the advent of both has seen many European drivers leave the country, exacerbating the problem.
The Road Haulage Association [RHA] welcomed the committee’s conclusions that changes had to be made but warned that the situation was beyond the control of sector operators.
The RHA also said that more than two years could be needed to properly address the issues.
Among its conclusions, the Transport Committee has called for the sector to contribute to improving overnight facilities to provide better working conditions for drivers and stump up the funding needed to train HGV drivers which trainees themselves currently pay for.
The committee’s report blamed the standard of facilities for drivers as one of the main factors behind the exodus of workers leaving the industry. It went on to suggest that minimum standards should be introduced for facilities, including better security, clean shower facilities and toilets, and improved services for female drivers.
While the RHA welcomed “measures that will improve HGV drivers' experiences on the nation's roads and the way they're treated”, it said that it was “unreasonable” for the industry to be expected to fund driver training due to financial pressures.
But should the changes not come on time, the committee recommended hitting the most profitable industry operators with the new levy, including supermarkets, online retailers and oil firms.
The Transport Committee suggested that funds raised by the levy could then be funnelled into making the overdue improvements needed to stimulate the industry.
Huw Merriman, the Conservative chair of the Transport Committee, commented: “If the industry won't deliver change, government should do so and send them the bill via increased taxes to those who produce and sell and make the most profits.”
The government has already taken its own steps to try to address the shortage of HGV drivers, opening up 11,000 places on training courses, increasing the number of HGV driving tests that can be booked in, and investing into bettering lorry parking facilities.
A spokesperson for the Department for Transport [DfT] said: “Tackling global supply chain constraints remains a top priority for government and we'll continue to support the road freight sector through our interventions.”
Image by Jack Blueberry on Unsplash
