Driver Shortage Could Lead to Missed Christmas Deliveries

A national recruiter with branches in Truro and Exeter says Christmas presents will go undelivered this year because of a major driver shortage.

A growing shortage of drivers

Lee Gamble, managing director of Berry Recruitment, said a mix of long hours, low pay, test delays and poor roads has created a perfect storm. According to Lee, vacancies routinely go unfilled and the situation is set to worsen.

Lee said: “This is the worst I have known it since I began in 1998 and many drivers who are recruited have little or no experience, especially if they are from overseas.

“The problem is not just for the 7.5 tonne, Class 1 and 2 drivers, but for the less experienced car and van drivers who deliver to doors.

“Many older drivers when they need a medical or have to renew their CPC qualification are retiring instead or finding less arduous jobs.

“Younger workers are held back by the length of time it takes to get a driving test, causing some who would previously have taken a driving job to try something else.

“Furthermore, the awful state of the road network makes driving far less attractive. And it’s not just the potholes, but all the road works and congestion that lead to long delays.

“Delivery companies work with tiny margins and high volume and this puts added pressure on drivers.

“The hours are long and are exacerbated by the dreadful roads and with pay being relatively low people can get to the end of the month and not have anything to show for it, so they’re saying ‘why bother?’.

“The work is just not as attractive as it used to be many of the pay models that would boost income have gone in recent years, such as drivers being able to turn themselves into limited companies.

“All these issues have come together this Christmas during which there will be more demand for deliveries than ever before.

“Our app covers the whole of the country including Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man and the situation is the same everywhere.

“It does mean, however, that if people want to earn some more money over Christmas they can find driving work fairly easily.

“I can only see the situation getting worse until perhaps drone deliveries are standard.”

📷Lee Gamble, managing director of Berry Recruitment

Fewer drivers and rising concern

The Road Haulage Association reports that 100,000 HGV drivers have allowed their Driver Qualification Card to lapse in the last year. This represents one in six of all working age lorry drivers in Britain. It also said many leaving the industry are in their 30s and 40s and estimates that 60,000 drivers need to be trained each year for the next five years to meet demand and support growth.

Berry Recruitment is part of Berry Recruitment Group, which operates close to 25 locations across the UK. More information is available at Berry Recruitment.

The group was formed by recruitment industry experts including Tony Berry and Ian Langley, and employs close to 150 people from its headquarters in St Albans.

With parents across the country depending on delivery companies for Christmas presents, the warning raises the prospect of thousands of disappointed children this year.