They are still on this old tape, and just keep saying the magic words: ‘Driver Shortage’ - what a complete ■■■■■■■■!
For the same money as it was 15 years ago no wonder not so many people want to do this job.
See article:
Easy As HGV at Parliament to Discuss HGV Driver Shortage
Easy As HGV have added to the national debate regarding the ongoing HGV driver shortage issue in the logistics industry this week with Operations Director Kat Springle providing evidence to Transcom, the House of Commons Select Committee charged with investigating the problem.
The hearing followed on from a sitting on 18th January where Mr David Wells, Chief Executive of the Freight Transport Association (FTA) made the case for Government approval to include driving in the ‘Trailblazer’ apprenticeship scheme and to help remove perceived barriers that can hinder the recruitment of new drivers into the industry.
Misconceptions On Cost Contributes to HGV Driver Shortage
One of the major barriers for entry into a career as an HGV driver has been the idea that the start-up and training costs are prohibitively high. However, as Springle argued during the hearing, this is a perception from those outside of the industry, based upon a degree of misinformation; with actual costs much less than the generally reported figures.
There is a general idea that the costs associated with acquiring an HGV licence, be that Cat C or higher, range somewhere from £3,000 to £5,000. In fact, the reality is that the costs are often considerably lower.
During the House of Commons session, Springle made clear that a new candidate could in fact qualify as a professional Class 2 Heavy goods driver for less than £2,000.
Bridging the Gap Between Training and Employment
As regularly mentioned on these pages, the HGV driver shortage in the industry is into the tens of thousands, with figures anywhere between 40,0000 and 60,000 quoted. Springle noted in her evidence that there were opportunities for this to be eased through the untapped resource of newly qualified drivers who are unable to work because they lack the vocational experience within the profession.
She pointed out that one of the biggest obstacles faced by new drivers is the need to gain 2 years’ driving experience. It’s the classic chicken and egg situation of needing a job to gain experience but not able to get one because of the experience they lack. Springle made the case that the HGV driver shortage could be at least partially improved if these drivers were able to go into the work immediately.
Through the comprehensive and rigorous nature of the training and examination process, she added that these new but vocationally inexperienced drivers were well equipped and skilled enough to take the work on.
Of the average HGV trainee, typically 25-40 year old males from low paid or under-employed backgrounds (although by no means exclusively so) the abundance of work and the prospect of career stability and progression into other areas of logistics which exists as a pathway from HGV training is a message that seems to be attractive enough to encourage them in, in improving numbers. Indeed, as Springle pointed out to the committee, around 300 newly qualified drivers are graduating from Easy As HGV alone, each month.
If the bridge between qualification and full-time employment could be made, then the shortfall may well be appreciably eased.
A Joined Up Approach
In line with the message across the industry, from the FTA, training organisations and employers alike, Easy As HGV continue to offer assistance and support to the Government in overcoming the misunderstanding around the cost of HGV training, welcoming a more joined up approach between the HGV training industry and the Government. An approach aimed at getting the message out there that a career as an HGV driver is accessible, realistic and ultimately rewarding to the individual and the nation as a whole.
You can watch the Select Committee hearing with Easy As HGV’s Operations Director Kat Springle, here: parliament.uk/business/commi … ev2-15-16/
Source: easyashgv.co.uk/easy-as-hgv- … -shortage/
I thought it was Debbie Dingle at first.