New analysis by SNAP, the haulage industry’s digital marketplace, shows that the increased demand for online deliveries and a lack of new drivers joining the industry has created a ‘tipping point’ with not enough qualified drivers to cope with current haulage demands.
Data reveals that over half (55%) of drivers1 are aged between 50-64, and the UKaverage age is 53, meaning that many truckers will be heading towards retirement in the next decade.
Myra McPartlin, Head of Commercial at SNAP, says: “There has long been the challenge of retaining HGV drivers in the UK, and when you combine this with the challenges faced by Brexit and an increase in demand for delivery services since the pandemic, the industry naturally becomes unsustainable. The number of new drivers decreasing and those leaving the industry means that we are at a tipping point.”
The increase in demand is partly due to an influx of online shopping and food deliveries, with data showing that in 2023 so far, there have been 39.2 million meal deliveries2 and 24.2 million grocery deliveries in the UK, with these figures expected to grow to 50.6 million and 31.2 million respectively by 2027.
Despite the need for more drivers, figures from Nomis, provided by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), reveal that there were 6,000 less delivery and courier drivers in the UK from April 2022 to March 2023 versus the same period the year before.
And job openings3 in the ‘transport, logistics, and warehouse’ sector are still not decreasing. Despite being lower than the all-time high of 2021, the number of jobs available is increasing with 150 at the end of May, 166 at the end of June, and 169 at the end of August.
The UK government responded to the increased need for truck drivers during the height of the pandemic by introducing various tactics and schemes to help with driver shortage:
Richard Owen-Hughes, Group Marketing Director at Driver Hire says: “As the UK emerged from the pandemic, a surge in online retailing, complemented by overall economic growth, spurred the demand for HGV drivers. The HGV industry is the unsung hero of the UK economy, with road freight responsible for transporting 98% of food and agricultural products.
“However, the industry faces an impending challenge as the majority of drivers are approaching retirement. The average age of professional HGV drivers in the UK is 55, emphasising the urgency to attract fresh young talent, and diversity too, with female drivers making up just 2% of UK drivers. One good initiative in recent years has been the Government’s Skills Bootcamp programme. It is available to current holders of a Category B (car) license aged 19 or over. This is the kind of initiative we welcome, making a career as a professional HGV driver more accessible than ever.”
Myra McPartlin adds: “We were pleased to hear that the government had launched a review into HGV parking and facilities, but in addition to ensuring there are adequate spaces for parking, the safety of drivers also needs to be considered. This is a big concern for drivers in the UK and is cited as a top reason for hesitance in joining the industry. Keeping drivers safe will not only put their minds at ease, but also help towards employee retention.
SNAP Access and Security (A&S) is committed to ensuring driver safety and well–being. A&S works with our service partners to improve the safety of truck stopsacross the UK by providing drivers, via the Intruck app, with all the security details at each stop to allow them to make their own decisions on where to rest. This ensures they stop safely to take regular breaks and keep their concentration on the road ahead.”
