Reports of Army drivers being placed on standby to help with the ongoing HGV driver shortage crisis have really brought home just how serious the problem is.
The shortage of long-haul lorry drivers across Britain has been rumbling on for quite some time, however, it appears to have reached new levels in recent weeks and is attracting a great deal of media attention as it continues to impact various aspects of our daily lives.
Photos of empty supermarket shelves have been circulating on social media and some of the biggest names in food and drink, farming, construction and retail have spoken out about the huge impact the shortage is having on business.
It is estimated the shortage of drivers has now reached over 100,000, and when you consider how many different types of goods are transported this way, it is unsurprising that the deficit is having such a huge effect on supply chains.
There is no one particular reason that the situation has become so grave. Instead, a multitude of factors have created a ‘perfect storm’, resulting in a severe shortage of HGV drivers.
Of course COVID has played a part, but even before the pandemic, it is believed there was a shortage of around 60,000 drivers across the nation. So why are more people now seeing the effects first-hand and how do we begin to resolve the problem?
Because of the pandemic, HGV driver tests have been delayed, so new drivers haven’t been joining the profession in the same numbers they would have been pre-COVID. The so-called ‘pingdemic’ has also resulted in fewer drivers on the roads due to being asked to self-isolate.
Brexit is also partly to blame for the shortage, with some European drivers now choosing to work elsewhere in Europe to avoid the additional time spent dealing with paperwork at the border after the UK left the single market. Delays cost money to lots of HGV drivers who are paid by the distance they cover rather than by the hour.
Another factor is that this is an ageing workforce. The average HGV driver in the UK is 55 years old, and younger workers aren’t joining the profession. Perhaps the long hours and often isolated conditions simply aren’t appealing to the younger generation – and I doubt all the negative press about the shortage of drivers will do much to encourage them into the role.
While drafting in the Army to help with essential deliveries may make a small dent in the problem in the short term, this is not a viable long-term solution. Something needs to change or the situation is going to continue to escalate.
In a bid to help the problem, the Government has temporarily relaxed the rules on how long HGV drivers can travel for, but this has also raised concerns about their safety, and critics say this will do little to rectify the shortage in the long-term.
So what exactly can be done to help? Some haulage companies have spoken out in support of law changes which would make it easier for drivers from abroad to obtain visas allowing them to work here.
Increased pay is always a sure-fire way to attract more bodies, and some retail giants have already announced four-figure sign-on bonuses to lorry drivers who join in the coming months, as well as retention payments to keep them on board in the long-term. I think this is a great move and hope it makes a difference.
I believe encouraging more young people into the job is also crucial in order to balance out the increasing age of the workforce and create a more sustainable future for the industry. Perhaps some kind of campaign showcasing the benefits of the job and making it seem like an attractive career path is needed – though admittedly it isn’t the most glamorous industry to try and promote so this is not an easy ask.
It is clear that urgent action is required. This driver shortage goes much deeper than not being able to find your favourite brand of crisps on the shelves of your local shop and has the potential to make our lives much more difficult for a whole variety of reasons. I sincerely hope the problem is rectified sooner rather than later.
Flamingo Land revives Loch Lomond plans
It was interesting to see that Flamingo Land has resurrected its interest in bringing a waterfront tourist destination to the shores of Loch Lomond.
Having submitted their original proposal back in 2017, only to see more than 55,000 objections to their proposed plans and officials from the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority recommending that the company’s planning application should be refused in 2019 – the business has new plans for the brownfield site adjoining the River Leven at Balloch.
Submitting a revised Proposal of Application (PAN) notice to the National Park Authority last week, Flamingo Land, in a break away from its traditional portfolio of theme parks, has taken a further step in its vision of building the £40m accommodation led resort.
Describing their new plans as having addressed the concerns raised in their previous application, it will be interesting to see how this will go down within the local area, which was fiercely divided the first time round.
Flamingo Land maintain that the site would be sympathetic to the local environment, that the freedom of public access would still be maintained throughout the site and the long-term future of the derelict historic listed Woodbank House, currently on the Buildings at Risk Register, would be secure – the reasons given by many opposed to the plans in 2019.
Developments of this type are always likely to cause controversy, but with the planned site bringing much needed investment and job creation to an area which has been hard hit by the pandemic, perhaps it is time for cool heads and a new way of thinking for those who were previously in the no camp.
It Made Me Laugh
With the country having enjoyed a run of hot weather, it was always going to break. However I doubt anyone was expecting the torrential rain and floods that Scotland has endured since last weekend.
While most people sheltered indoors, hopefully propping up the hospitality industry after such a long hiatus, it seems that the rain caused a more unusual scene to unfold outside in Battlefield.
Taking advantage of the flood water, bemused locals spotted a mythical mermaid enjoying a splash around in the street, complete with a shiny blue tail and a black T-shirt.
Southside local, Gavin Millar, captured the incident on his phone before sharing to a local Facebook group.
At least someone was having a whale of a time with the stereotypical weather.
It Made Me Weep
It was sad to see reports that the Scotch whisky industry is losing £5 million per week as a potential result of Brexit.
A troubling figure when you realise just how much our economy relies on our national drink.
House of Commons research showed exports of whiskies to the EU were £105.7m lower in January to May 2021 than during the same period in 2019.
Much of the blame has been pinned on to Brexit, the current pandemic and US tariffs – which has been seen as a hammer blow to the Scottish whisky sector.
Thankfully US tariffs have now been lifted, but with Scotch whisky accounting for three quarters of all Scottish food and drink exports, it’s not good news for a sector that brings so much to the local economy.
