PRODUCED from data supplied by RHA members in a survey during October 2018, a report confirms that wages for HGV drivers are increasing faster than inflation.
There remains a drastic shortage of HGV drivers in the UK and members are increasingly reporting the struggle to find and keep experienced, professional drivers in all sectors.
While the national results indicate a general pay increase by member companies for staff of 2.75%, the survey indicates that the pay for C&E (artic) drivers increased hourly by 5.4%.
Commenting, RHA chief executive Richard Burnett said: ‘Brexit uncertainty has contributed to the shortage. It is still not clear if EU nationals can continue to work in the UK, anyway the devaluation of Sterling has meant our wages are worth less to European staff.
‘The sector has been working through the Trailblazers apprenticeship system to develop training for new commercial drivers. However as with many new apprenticeship standards, take-up has been slow and it has been a challenge to develop apprenticeships that fit business models of many companies, bureaucracy is a constant barrier to quick progress.
‘The haulage sector has, to date, paid in over £150 million into the Apprenticeship Levy and to date, has only drawn back in the region of £10 million. Proof, if proof were needed that the system is not working.’
The RHA says it 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.
