The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT), the leading professional body for those working in transport and logistics, has responded to the Transport Committee’s Fourth Report of Session 2016-17.
The report, Skills and workforce planning in the road haulage sector, published today, by the Transport Select Committee, says that industry and Government must work together to beat the haulage driver shortage.
Contributing to the report, CILT submitted written evidence and appeared before an inquiry earlier in the year.
Jolyon Drury, Chair, Public Policies Committee, CILT, has been referenced after appearing before the Transport Select Committee in February 2016. He discussed the ‘enormous pressure’ on road haulage operators not to put up their prices.
Jolyon Drury also highlighted, that the reluctance to join the industry can be put down to squalid driver rest conditions, due to the lack of properly equipped and secure truck parking. He emphasised the need for a necklace of truck parks located close to logistics hubs, and states that changes in planning legislation are required to make this happen both inside, and close to, distribution parks.
CILT’s written evidence also reveals how many of its members have lost business as a result of the driver shortage. The report also shows that CILT is calling for a concerted effort by industry and government for better promotion of the sector in schools and colleges.
The report concludes that a combination of factors is conspiring to keep drivers off the road, including the cost of acquiring a licence; lack of investment in drivers’ training; poor working terms; and inadequate driver facilities.
Daniel Parker-Klein, Head of Policy, CILT, said: “We fully support the report, which we are pleased to see supports and cites our proposals. The impact of the driver shortage cannot be ignored and it is of utmost importance that the report’s findings help influence industry and government to focus on recruitment and retention.
“CILT will continue to work with the Transport Select Committee, industry and Government to ensure that the next steps taken will allow us to beat the driver shortage.”
You can read the full report here, and see CILT’s written evidence in more detail here.