I wonder where the figures for the supposed driver shortage come from. I suspect its from employers trying to enhance their projected success…e.g We are going to win new business so will need more staff. The other side of the coin is that for every job created, theres usually one lost elsewhere. My local papers in W.Yorks are always advertising for drivers. The reality is that the employers are agencies, and all they want is more names in their books in case someone rings requiring a driver. When it says 30 drivers needed it generally means that they’re after one of the supermarket contracts. Those 30 drivers will be replacing 30 employed by a competitor.
I’d agree that there’s not the new blood coming in, but then who can blame them. The job certainly isn’t what it used to be, but then perhaps our work ethic and expectations were not so great when we stated out 20/30/40 years ago. Having said that, I still love the job - its what I always wanted to do.
There is a shortage of GOOD truck drivers.
Need I say more.
I think one reason this myth started or might be assumed by some is due to so many poxy agencies advertising so call (non existent) permanent jobs.
BAN THE LOT 
If there was a shortage of drivers, there would be a shortage of goods in the shops. There isn’t. Think about it.
There is a shortage of drivers who will work for peanuts. But until there is a shortage of operators who will also work for peanuts, the UK business will remain screwed.
darkseeker, from
Lincoln:
In a full time class 1 job (assuming I can get one) I should be on £9-10 p/h […] class 1 after six months (which is £28000 p/a).
In Lincoln? You’re off your rocker, fella. 
Try £6.50 p/h if you’re lucky.
Have C+E will travel comes to mind 
I’m registered with over a dozen agencies and to be honest none keep me busy. There are a lot of foreign drivers in this country who will work for £6 per hour (which is a lot more than an average wage in Poland). I couldn’t afford to work for it. Also there are loads of supermarkets buying goods from abroad which come on lorries driven by foreigners. The supermarkets keep their prices down by paying foreign drivers to deliver it. I was on the M4 the other day and for every ONE british truck I saw there were TEN foreign ones, none of whom pay road tax whcih is probably why the roads are in such a state. I reckon every foreign lorry entering the country should have to pull into a park and swap their full trailer with a uk driver for an empty one and then get back on the ferry. This is ourely in the interests of road safety and fairness. The nearest foreign lorries should get into the country is the docks to swap trailers.
Also, what doesn’t help is that I paid around £3k altogether from medicals to theory to training and tests, yet the government actually pay ex criminals to do it FREE under training for work. Welcome to New Labour!!!
dangerousdave:
Also, what doesn’t help is that I paid around £3k altogether from medicals to theory to training and tests, yet the government actually pay ex criminals to do it FREE under training for work. Welcome to New Labour!!!
Well if it’s all so bad for you then why don’t you get off your arse and do something about it (like changing to a different career where it’s not all doom and gloom for you) instead of moaning to a bunch of randoms on a truck forum who (like me) are probably sick of wittering on about the Poles and foreign trucks in every post you make. 
I am entitled to an opinion. Whether you like it or not is your choice. I am just stating facts that’s all. Additionally why should I leave a job I love just cos you dont agree with what I say? Foreign drivers in the uk are 3 times more likely to have an accident-FACT from a youGov poll.
Secondly the government pay ex criminals to retrain as lorry drivers where as honest people have to pay around £3k to do it and I think that is unfair on honest people who obey the law. F.A.C.T.
Just because you disagree doesn’t mean you are right and I am wrong. But I value your opinion 
dangerousdave:
I am entitled to an opinion. Whether you like it or not is your choice. I am just stating facts that’s all. Additionally why should I leave a job I love just cos you dont agree with what I say? Foreign drivers in the uk are 3 times more likely to have an accident-FACT from a youGov poll.
Secondly the government pay ex criminals to retrain as lorry drivers where as honest people have to pay around £3k to do it and I think that is unfair on honest people who obey the law. F.A.C.T.
Just because you disagree doesn’t mean you are right and I am wrong. But I value your opinion
- YAWN *. Go and petition the goverment then if it means so much to you. No-one else cares as it’s a fact of life and is never gonna change so just deal with it.