OVER THE last two years, the twin challenges of Covid and Brexit have brought their fair share of issues for freight transport. From new customs processes at ports to the blockage of the Suez Canal, it has been a testing time for transport businesses and their customers alike. The latest disruption has emerged from a problem which is not new but has in recent weeks reached crisis proportions. A national shortage of HGV drivers is causing skipped deliveries, missing items and empty shelves across the country, with the Road Haulage Association and other trade bodies warning of more disruption ahead, particularly during the autumn run-up to Christmas. The reasons behind the shortage are complex. Like the railways, the road haulage sector has suffered from an ageing workforce, and modern day demands for flexible working do not fit well with hours sat behind the wheel. Until recently, the gap had been covered to a significant extent by EU drivers working in the UK, either on a semipermanent basis or undertaking cabotage work (doing domestic journeys as part of an end-to-end trip from another member state). Brexit, however, has significantly reduced the availability of EU drivers, and Covid restrictions have added further complications, with barriers at borders across the continent making long-distance trips both difficult and unappealing. Other European countries are also experiencing driver shortages too, so those with the necessary licences are in high demand at home, with little need to travel to the UK for work.
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