The current shortage of heavy goods vehicle (HGV) drivers “did not happen overnight” and opportunities to address it have been missed by the government, a Stormont committee has heard.
Seamus Leheny of Logistics UK said the shortage of 76,000 drivers across the UK is a problem that has grown over a number of years.
John Martin of the Road Haulage Association said there is a shortage of between 4,000 and 5,000 HGV drivers in Northern Ireland.
MLAs also heard a plea for recognition of drivers and an academy to keep a flow of young people entering the industry.
Mr Leheny said there was a lack of young drivers, with fewer than 2 per cent of HGV drivers in Northern Ireland aged under 25, due to insurance costs and lack of visibility of the industry. He also cited the lack of facilities and safe secure parking for drivers as contributing factors.
Overwhelmingly male
Addressing the Infrastructure Committee, Mr Leheny also referred to the overwhelmingly male workforce, with fewer than 1 per cent of qualified drivers in Northern Ireland being female.
Mr Martin described contributing factors to the driver shortage as the loss of 2,400 HGV tests due to the coronavirus pandemic, which will take 12-15 months to claw back.
He also described a loss of capacity in the sector due to post-Brexit trading arrangements between Britain and Northern Ireland.
“That has slowed down the logistics chain and the result is that trucks are coming over to Northern Ireland with less product, maybe only 50 per cent to 75 per cent full, so there is a loss of capacity within the sector,” he said.
Mr Martin said delays at many of the major distribution centres meant drivers were having to wait up to six hours to be given a slot to offload.
“There are a number of reasons for that, partly down to a lack of warehouse staff.”
Uncertainty
Chris Slowey, managing director at Manfreight, said his firm had to recruit drivers from England because those from Northern Ireland do not want to go to Britain due to the uncertainty over when they will get home in the current climate. He said his firm has 224 full-time drivers and 72 part-time drivers with an average age of 56.
Mr Slowey said the company and others have established their own academies for training drivers and were putting through three to four people per month.
He said HGV drivers are not recognised as “professional people” despite their unique skillset. He called for drivers’ accreditation system and a progressive path within the industry.
“As a committee, I am asking you bluntly, it’s recognition that this is an industry that you need for the economy, give us an academy, we will contribute to it from a collective of companies towards the running costs,” he said.
“It gives us a skilled set of individuals entering the industry that has the ability to complete the tasks, to go out to the marketplace to deliver the goods and we can manage them and develop from there.” – PA