Drivers Wanted: The UK’s HGV Crisis by Kate Flood [Page

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

male-dominated to an extent that simply would not be tolerated in other spheres of employment - it is likely only tolerated in this instance because of the unattractive nature of the task at hand. Furthermore, it is an industry with an ageing workforce, with the BBC reporting that the average age of a driver is 55.

However, with such appalling working conditions, and with existing drivers eager to exit the industry, why would anyone want to sign up as a recruit?

Emerging from the crisis

The recent hysteria over fuel in the UK is just the latest instalment in the longstanding supply-chain saga with which the UK and others have been wrestling. It is beyond doubt that Covid-19 has contributed to the shortage in no small way. Furthermore, it is true that the issue, as played out in the UK, has been exacerbated by the impacts of Brexit. Both phenomena have led to drivers leaving the industry to return home, with many choosing not to, or being unable to return. If these were the only factors leading to the shortage, the granting of visas would be a clear and workable route out of the crisis, and could potentially see the UK through to Christmas and beyond. However, the largest, and most fundamental issue at play is that the nature of the work makes the job unattractive to the majority. In order to remedy this, governments will need to do a lot more than just hand out visas. Rather, the conditions under which drivers are expected to work will need to be improved in order to make the HGV industry a more appealing occupation. Therefore, as a quick fix solution, the issuing of visas may be a logical step, but going forward, the fundamental underlying issues need to be addressed.