According to data supplied by Road Haulage Association (RHA) members during October 2018, wages for HGV drivers in the UK are increasing faster than inflation.

There remains a drastic shortage of HGV drivers throughout Europe and companies are increasingly reporting the struggle to find and keep experienced, professional drivers in all transport sectors.

While the national results indicate a general pay increase of 2.75%, the survey indicates that pay for C&E (artic) drivers increased hourly by 5.4%.

RHA Chief Executive Richard Burnett said in January, “Brexit uncertainty has contributed to the shortage. It is still not clear if EU nationals can continue to work in the UK and the devaluation of Sterling has meant our wages are worth less to European staff.”

The sector has been working with the Trailblazers’ apprenticeship system to develop training for new commercial drivers and the RHA team provided a considerable amount of information to enable the Trailblazers’ group to create an additional three, level two apprenticeships. However, as with many new apprenticeship standards, take-up has been slow.

Richard Burnett continued, “The haulage sector has, to date, paid in over £150 million into the Apprenticeship Levy and so far, has only drawn back in the region of £10 million. Proof, if proof were needed, that the system is not working.”

The RHA has engaged in other initiatives such as the national charity Road to Logistics to try to tackle the HGV driver shortage and has run a national competition to provide 20 new apprentice drivers to 20 small employers.