How Bad Is The UK’s HGV Driver Shortage Right Now?

The lack of skills in many industries has been a dead weight on the UK economy for several years. A lack of HGV drivers has been one of the most notable examples.

In ports such as Hull, the need for HGV drivers is acute as goods need to be moved back and forth, although the area where the shortage of HGV drivers is causing some of the greatest concern now is down south.

The Daily Echo in Hampshire has been reporting that Southampton’s businesses are desperate for help as HGV driver numbers have plunged to such low numbers that they threaten the prosperity of the region around the Solent, which also includes Portsmouth.

A letter sent by the Maritime and Transport Action Group to Southampton’s MPs has highlighted the crisis, with a lack of DVSA examiners in the area blamed for making the problem worse.

Fortunately, not every part of the country will have the same lack of examiners, while the HGV training courses we offer can go a long way to ensuring that the situation is much better up here in Yorkshire.

What Is The National Picture For HGV Driver Vacancies?

Nonetheless, the shortage is a national one and whatever the particular problems around the Solent, the number of vacancies has been high for years.

The most recent statistics published by the government, which were produced last July, showed that in the final quarter of 2024, 24 per cent of HGV businesses had vacancies.

Although this figure was down from the third quarter figure of 28 per cent and significantly below the Covid-era low of 43 per cent in the final quarter of 2021, it was up on the final quarter of 2023 and first quarter of 2024, when vacancy rates were below 20 per cent.

This shows that while the situation is not as bad as it was a few years ago, there are still lots of opportunities for those who train to become HGV drivers.