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Driver shortage tops 80,000
Page 7
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• The road haulage industry is suffering from an astonishing shortfall of 80,000 drivers, latest figures show.
The extent of the industry's crisis was highlighted this week by a special conference held by the Freight Transport Association in Birmingham.
Experts at the seminar, entitled Skills Shortage in Transport, included Chas Lawrence of Wincanton, John His of the FTA, Ian Hetherington of the Road Haulage and Distribution Training Council and John Elvidge of Driver Hire Group Services.
The conference, which was getting under way as CM went to press, was also expected to include sessions dedicated to identifying actions and initiatives that could be taken by the industry.
Topics on the agenda Included the image of the industry, pay and conditions, recruitment and training, and the impact of legislation such as the Working Time Directive.
The shortfall follows revelations in CM last week that a reduction in the number of military drivers moving into the road haulage industry after leaving the forces was exacerbating the driver shortage.
A full conference report will appear in next week's issue.
• See comment, page eight