Over to you A FAIR GO FOR OWNER DRIVERS by Ray Pratt
Governments need to become the leaders in the truck driver shortage problem
I
f you have been watching overseas news lately you may be aware that the United Kingdom has shown motorists queuing up anxiously trying to fuel up their vehicles. Britain does not have a fuel shortage as such, but it does have a significant shortfall of truck drivers. This is causing some very serious supply issues for retailers including fuel deliveries as they fail to get the fuel from refineries to the gas stations around the country. The situation is so bad that many fuel outlets are dry and remain so for many days. United Kingdom transport companies have repeatedly requested assistance from government to help solve this massive shortage of drivers. Sound familiar? The government has offered temporary visas to try and attract foreign workers and they have called in the army to also help. It has been reported that Britain needs up to 100,000 more drivers. The trouble is the army only has a small crew of truck drivers and foreign drivers can work in their own countries usually for better money and working conditions than having to travel to Britain to work. The truck driver shortage is not only a big problem for the UK but is also for most European countries that have a shortfall running into several hundred thousand drivers needed. Britain is so desperate that it has even written to retired drivers asking them to consider coming back to work. Like most countries, Britain does have enough licensed truck drivers but also like most countries drivers are leaving the industry in droves because of poor wages, long working hours, and poor conditions at roadhouses and parking bays and not having a social life. If we in Australia think trucking is a hard job then it appears the problem exists worldwide and generally speaking no one has a solution to the problem. It’s predicted in the UK that by Christmas the shortage of drivers will mean that many shops will be having empty shelves and so a bleak festive season lies ahead. So why am I bringing to your attention problems that are happening in another
country with regards to the shortage of truck drivers? We are having similar difficulties in attracting new drivers to our industry and the reasons are the same worldwide. For many years government have been warned in Australia about a looming shortage of truck drivers. What have they done about it? There have been some small token efforts to train and entice people into the transport industry but like everywhere else around the world nobody is addressing the real issues that are plaguing our industry to the extent that we can get more drivers behind the wheel. This is going to get worse unless someone takes the initiative to address the whole transport industry fiasco. The governments need to become the leaders in the truck driver shortage problem. Truck driving is a professional demanding job and truck drivers need to
be treated with respect, looked after and encouraged to make a career within the transport industry. Instead of trying to be greedy in driving down transport costs big multi-national companies need to step up and help train drivers and encourage them to want to stay in the industry. After all, they are the ones who need truck drivers to operate their business. The days are gone where truck drivers can be exploited with poor pay and work conditions. Facilities, meaning roadhouses, truck bays toilets and showers are all in the firing line for big improvements. Unless these issues are dealt with it becomes a pointless exercise enticing new drivers into the industry to have them leave at a later date because they become disillusioned. Is anyone listening? Keep it safe, Ray Pratt
UK transport companies have repeatedly requested assistance from government to help solve this massive shortage of drivers. Sound familiar?
WATM • November 2021
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