The UK LGV Driver shortage - is there a solution?

Is there still a LGV Driver shortage in the UK? The simple answer is yes.
Skills for Logistics (SfL) is urging the logistics industry to plan ahead if it is to avoid a recruitment crisis.

Recent SfL figures show that 14,853 LGV driver jobs were advertised in February 2011. With 1,882,267 vocational licences in the UK (although this includes drivers up to the age of 95) this might not seem much.

However, SfL warns that almost 20% of drivers are leaving the industry each year due to retirement or ill health (16% of drivers are over 55) and that fewer than 10% of vacancies are being filled by drivers new to the industry.

This, it says, could be concealing future problems if an ageing workforce is not bolstered by younger, new recruits. With 80% of LGV driver vacancies advertised last year having been filled by experienced drivers the age gap is really showing its effect.

The survey also showed that the industry is still not doing enough to attract women - they currently represent only 2% of the UK's C + E licence holders

Source Logistics Manager