Hauliers Failing to Plug Driver Shortage Gap

Hauliers are failing to plug the gap for a driver shortage by not taking on new staff, new research has found.

A survey of 1,800 UK employers conducted by recruitment firm Manpower found that although 19% of hauliers said they planned to employ more drivers, 15% said they were planning to lay drivers off. The difference between the two figures is down 8% from last year.

Simon Edwards, head of Manpower Driving, suggested that the fall in demand for drivers could be because hauliers took on new drivers earlier in the year in anticipation of their summer needs. He said: “It is too early to tell if this is a blip or part of a longer term dip.”

The latest Manpower figures were compatible with figures from the Freight Transport Association, which suggested that fewer hauliers were finding it hard to recruit (25%) than last year (27%).

Gareth Vorster ( PersonnelToday) 27 July 2007