Leaders in the industry have issued a warning that the UK may face empty supermarket shelves due to a shortage of HGV engineers
Industry leaders have issued a warning that the UK’s supply chains could be severely impacted, leading to empty supermarket shelves, due to a shortage of Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) engineers. In response to the post-pandemic drain of HGV drivers, significant investments have been made in the logistics industry over the past few years.
To attract new workers, companies have raised driver salaries and offered signing-on bonuses, resulting in many lorry engineers transitioning to driving roles. However, a survey conducted by Logistics UK, an industry organisation, revealed that over 54% of freight transport companies are facing a “severe” challenge in recruiting fitters, mechanics, and technicians. This level of concern has significantly increased compared to the previous year, where only 35% expressed the same level of worry.
Sarah Watkins, a deputy director at Logistics UK, highlighted the potential consequences, stating that if an HGV breaks down and requires servicing with delays, it would result in vehicles being off the road, leading to delayed deliveries and goods not being available on the shelves as expected.
In response to the shortage, TIP Trailer Service’s UK division is considering establishing its own training facility to address the engineer deficit. Previously, it only took a week to fill these positions.
Industry leaders are now focused on preventing a recurrence of the 2021 situation, where supermarkets and shops across the UK experienced shortages and empty shelves. Desperate for HGV drivers, retailers like Tesco and John Lewis even offered £1,000 signing bonuses to attract them.
