Personnel key to economic recovery
November 15th 2010

The freight logistics industry is a massive employer – some 2.3 million men and women make up the work force which constitutes the supply chain, responsible as it is for the movement of the goods and services which serve almost every other industry, and the consumer, and keep the economy on the move.

Skills shortages have long been an issue within the industry. Despite its obvious and fundamental role in the economy the sector has suffered from a shortage of skilled labour at almost every level over many years, and it seems likely that this will be further complicated as the demands of an economy recovering from recession look for fresh recruits. There were signs of such a recovery in the spring when details of current job vacancies were published by the industry sector skills council, Skills for Logistics.

The figures showed the highest number of vacancies since 2008 with increased demand in almost all categories. Vacancies for lorry drivers had risen by a massive 180 per cent on the same period for 2009 and for van drivers the numbers were up by over 70 per cent.

Shortage of hgv drivers has been a significant problem hanging over the industry for more than a decade. A relatively booming economy at the turn of the century, coupled with a shortfall in recruitment and the prospects of the reduction in working hours following the introduction of the Working Time Directive and the 48 hour working week in 2005, threatened to generate a real crisis with the prospect of the sector being short of up to 50,000 drivers. Fortunately it didn’t happen. The combination of improved recruitment from the military and youth, an influx of migrant workers from the accession states, together with advances in scheduling and vehicle utilisation meant that the problem was avoided. But the issue is now firmly back on the supply chain management agenda.

The average age of lorry drivers is now 46 and is rising, a problem by itself and the sector clearly needs to attract and train an increasing number of younger personnel.

Sadly, the image of transport has never served the industry well. Despite the essential nature of the job which they do, neither lorries nor their drivers are well regarded by the general public who would seem to prefer that goods were delivered by magic! At the same time, the way in which lorry drivers are obliged to carry out their work is unhelpful. Multi-drop urban deliveries are subject to problems with parking, loading and unloading, congestion and hostile regulation. Inter-urban trunking drivers are obliged to put up with inadequate roadside services and a lack of facilities. The lorry is not always welcome.

The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) believes that the answer to the problem lies in a range of remedies. Clearly the sector needs to improve its overall image and to impress the public, school leavers and job changers of both the importance of its work and of the exciting prospects for long term careers. Specifically, drivers should be treated with greater regard, as is the case in Europe or the USA.

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