“Driver shortages and supply chain disruptions threaten Christmas deliveries without urgent intervention, say industry leaders.”

UK haulage leaders have issued a stark warning to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, urging decisive measures to prevent a major supply chain crisis during the Christmas period. The Road Haulage Association (RHA), supported by over 1,600 industry leaders, has called for urgent reforms to address the severe shortage of lorry drivers, which has already disrupted deliveries across multiple sectors.

In a letter to the Prime Minister, the RHA outlined the scale of the challenge, estimating a shortfall of approximately 100,000 HGV drivers. The association emphasised that without immediate action, further strain on the UK’s tightly balanced supply chains could lead to widespread disruption during the festive season.

The proposed measures include adding HGV drivers to the shortage occupation list for at least a year, reforming driver certification processes to encourage retired drivers to return, and establishing a dedicated HGV task force. While the Government has introduced a three-month visa scheme for 5,000 non-UK drivers and amended cabotage rules to permit more frequent deliveries by foreign drivers, industry leaders have criticised these steps as insufficient for the scale of the problem.

Rod McKenzie, managing director of the RHA, stated that the Government’s approach lacks urgency, warning that resolving the crisis will require a long-term strategy and could take up to 18 months. “This is the most challenging period the haulage industry has ever faced,” McKenzie said. “The time for action is now, or the consequences will be even more severe.”