Quantifying the Driver Crisis
There is currently a driver shortage of approximately 60,000 LGV drivers! New analysis of the official Labour Force Survey data estimates that the current driver shortage figure is 52,720 New analysis of the number of LGVs licensed in GB and the number of Driver Qualification Cards (DQCs) in issue estimates a shortfall of 59,973 drivers
Employment in logistics Source: Skills for Logistics analysis of ONS Annual Population Survey (2012) cited in UKCES Report 2014
Professional driving uptake has not kept pace with rising employment
There is no 'unemployed' pool of drivers Source: Labour Market Statistics February 2015
The age profile stands out … Source: Quarterly Labour Force Survey, July - September, 2014
… and is confirmed in DCPC statistics…
…and by members in FTA surveys
The number of licensed LGVs declined through the downturn and is now 386,000 Source: Department for Transport: VEH0103 Licensed vehicles by tax class, Great Britain, annually
But only 326,000 drivers hold a DQC AgeDQCs issued (LGV Full) 18 – 245, , , , , ,419 Total325,827
Only half of driving tests are passed so only 25,000 new entrants a year Source: DfT 2014 Practical large goods vehicles (LGV) test pass rates (DRT05)
But only about 20,000 new entrants are qualifying for a DQC Source: DVSA February 2015
Quantifying the driver shortage No of licensed LGVs =386,000 No of DQCs in issue =326,000 Driver shortage = 60,000 Annual replenishment= 20,000
DCPC was reported as significant factor FTA Transport Manager Survey 2014
Roadside facilities & driver medicals are the biggest barriers FTA Transport Manager Survey 2014
What could be done now … FTA Transport Manager Survey 2014
… and in the longer term FTA Transport Manager Survey 2014
Quantifying the Driver Crisis We are about 60,000 drivers short We are recruiting about 20,000 drivers a year Half of all driving tests taken are not passed Official statistics seem to underestimate the number of HGV drivers by 100,000 The age profile says the problem will get worse Plenty of ideas on how to solve the driver crisis Let the day begin …