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Politics
Drivers Wanted: The UK’s HGV Crisis By Kate Flood, SS Law and Business
In recent weeks, thousands of petrol stations across the United Kingdom were forced to close after being overwhelmed by widespread panic-buying and stockpiling of fuel. Many attest that the UK is in the midst of an oil crisis, but yet, it seems there is no shortage of fuel. It appears to be a case of oil, oil everywhere and not a drop to be had, as there are ample supplies of fuel in refineries and terminals up and down the country. So what is the issue? Rather than being exclusively an oil-related crisis, this perceived issue in supply is symptomatic of a dilemma with which UK companies have long been grappling, namely a chronic shortage in Heavy Goods Vehicle (‘HGV’) drivers. However, after resisting the calls of retailers to take action, the UK Government is finally stepping in, implementing a temporary visa scheme. This is merely a short-term fix, aimed at ensuring that the Christmas season is impacted as little as possible by the shortage. Even so, what should the Government do after Christmas? What will a long-term solution look like? Before contemplating this, it is imperative that the issues spurring this crisis are carefully considered and understood by the British Government and indeed by other States. Covid-19 and the HGV crisis Perhaps unsurprisingly, many are citing Covid-19 as a factor behind the crisis. Indeed, the UK Government and Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps, has deemed it the “main reason” for the shortage. Certainly, Covid-19 is part of the problem. With the onslaught of the pandemic, large parts of the economy effectively shut down, and travel became increasingly restricted. Consequently, many HGV drivers returned home to the European Union or further afield. Evidence suggests that most of them have not come back. Furthermore, some 40,000 HGV driver tests were cancelled as a result of UK lockdown restrictions. So, not only did Covid-19 lead to a mass exodus from the industry, it also inhibited the provision of new entrants. The possible impact of Brexit It must be acknowledged that this labour shortage is not unique to the UK, indeed countries across the EU are also facing driver shortages. Even so, the problem is far more acute in the UK, leading to assertions that Brexit is a contributing factor. Many drivers who left at the start of the pandemic are now unable to regain entry into the UK due to Brexit. The UK is perhaps a less attractive destination for EU workers by virtue of increased bureaucracy due to their loss of EU worker status in Britain, and the devaluation of the pound relative to the euro since Brexit. Some point to the speed with which Johnson’s ‘hard’ Brexit was enacted, which meant that there was no time to train British drivers to fill the gaps. The UK's HGV industry has long relied on drivers from the EU, so it is perhaps unsurprising that it is struggling in a post-Brexit labour market. The nature of the work itself The UK Government is keen that the impact of Brexit not be overstated, and indeed it would be remiss to present Brexit as the primary driver of the shortage. Similarly, Covid-19 cannot be advanced as the sole culprit. There was an issue with the supply of drivers long before the pandemic. So, is there something else; a more fundamental issue which the Government’s quick-fix scheme fails to address, much less acknowledge? Is the basic issue not just that the job of an HGV driver is unappealing? The job demands gruelling hours spent on the road without adequate time to eat or wash properly, let alone spend time with family and friends. Carrying valuable cargo such as fuel also presents potential security issues for drivers as they put themselves at risk of becoming the target of theft. Many within the industry say that they just need to tap into previously neglected demographics such as women and young people to increase the number of drivers. It is true that the area is
