HGV driver losses contributing to worsening material shortages

The latest update from industry leaders highlighted growing problems in the haulage industry.

The haulage industry is showing problems, as the onset result of pandemic-driven restrictions on HGV Driver tests, in the UK.

According to a joint statement from Peter Caplehorn, CEO of the Construction Products Association and John Newcomb, CEO of the Builders Merchants Federation:

“The availability of hauliers is a particular issue over the past months, and this is now a critical nationwide problem causing delays and impacting project programmes.

“The UK has lost 15,000 European drivers this year due to Brexit, and 30,000 UK driver tests due to Covid, which has exacerbated the driver shortage.”

“The overall product availability picture has not changed this month. Demand both in the UK and globally continues to dramatically outstrip supply and shows few signs of slowing during the seasonally busy summer months.

But what does this all mean?

“Record sales of building materials coupled with strong pre-orders and full pipelines of work are all putting enormous pressure on the supply chain which, in some sectors, has not fully recovered from the impact of Covid.

“This suggests the unprecedented challenges around a number of key product areas, particularly imported products and materials, will likely persist into the second half of 2021.

They cited; timber, steel, paints, chemicals, plasterboard and electrical, to be of a number of materials that are currently affected by lack of supply.

With the building & construction industry currently showing it is outpacing itself, it is important to ensure that you get the workers that you need, before you find yourself struggling to plug employment gaps on-site, or within your company.

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