Haulage bosses could be facing a £1.5bn increase in their staff wage bills within weeks once a nearly 10% rise in the government’s national living wage (NLW) kicks in, according to digital marketplace SNAP.
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced the largest-ever cash increase last year, after accepting the recommendation from the Low Pay Commission. SNAP claimed the haulage industry was now facing a tipping point, with a lack of drivers to keep up with increased demand caused mainly by poor salaries.
Average pay for HGV drivers in the UK is £15.47 per hour. SNAP said if this was increased to £17.28 in line with the NLW, then bosses would have to fork out an extra £1.5bn in wages.
