Logistics

There is currently over 100,000 vacancies for HGV and freight drivers in the UK.

There is no shortage of stock, just no way of getting them from hubs to stores where they are needed. Whether this will cause a total collapse or just adequate supplies getting through, only time will tell.

In order to tackle the shortage, the Government is planning on deploying 2,000 members of the armed services to drive delivery lorries. By my calculation that leaves just 98,000 short.

However, the Armed Services is much smaller now than in the past, and support jobs like drivers, are subcontracted out to leave servicemen for front line tasks, meaning there are fewer, much fewer MT drivers going spare than there ever used to be. It was bad enough even in 2005 when I left the Mob when I was the last serviceman in the ESA at Coltishall who had HGV and an ADR licence, both needed to move armanet loads about.

I suspect it worse now.

Until the real root cause of the shortage is addressed, Brexit, then it will not be solved.

I have driven lorries in Civvy Street; long hours, poor wages, dreadful conditions with few places with facilities to lay up for an hour or overnight. And now with vehicle tracking, pressure is no to do more drops, more pick ups, and get along before the day and your shift is out. Longer hours will not fix the problem, probably will make it worse.

Meanwhile, I hope your week will be adequate, like your food supply.