dreamstime_s_214102993
Photo 214102993 © Kristofbellens | Dreamstime.com

For decades the driver shortage crisis has been hiding in plain sight, and while it is only in the past few months that it has come to the attention to the wider public, the reality is that it has been a slow-burn car crash – ...

To read this article you need to subscribe.

Help us to continue to invest in award-winning independent journalism. For an introductory offer of just £70 a year, or £10 per month, get access to all our daily news stories and opinion. If you are already a registered user, please login below with your current account's email and password to subscribe. If you are not registered and want to subscribe, please register below to subscribe.
Current subscriber
New subscriber

Comment on this article


You must be logged in to post a comment.
  • Tony Russell

    September 11, 2021 at 10:42 pm

    I haven’t driven for years but now happy to do a couple of days a week but not happy to sit in a classroom or in front of a computer screen for 35 hours to obtain a CPC.
    So I’ll stay in the garden.

  • Martin McCormack

    September 12, 2021 at 2:32 pm

    For the last 15 years I’ve lived and work on the roads. During that time I have hauled lots of products. Only during the last 3-4 years I’ve found myself asking what is the point to driving Hgvs?
    Long hours, depending on what company you work for, inadequate pay. Working conditions, down right dangerous at some points. Some rest areas you need up to date tetanus jags just to have a shower, that’s after they fleece you for parking and food.
    The parking is not secure, so you spends nights with one eye open. And even if you catch the people responsible for damaging your curtains or load, you cant do anything without being charged by the police.
    Then you get the idots that can’t drive to save themselves. Brake checking, undertaking, unable to park without making life difficult for everyone else.
    Now the idots in the government are running the risk of killing people by allowing hgv trainee’s to go through a pathetic test, No reversing or coupling and un-coupling tests. Personally the idots in the government should have their heads banged together and made to listen to people that actually drive trucks for a living. Better still allow the people that do the job for a living to decide what should be done to improve testing, pay, working conditions.