RHA wants HGV drivers on worker shortage list

As part of a 12-point plan, the RHA wants the Government to Include HGV drivers on the Government’s Skilled Worker Shortage Occupation List.

If the job is on the list, a foreign worker can be paid 80% of the job’s usual going rate to qualify for a Skilled Worker visa.

RHA chief executive, Richard Burnett said: “The upturn in the economy since Covid-19 is increasing demand across supply chains and the reopening of non-essential retail outlets and parts of the hospitality sector is making the situation even worse.

“The pandemic also resulted in the loss of about 12 months of driver training and testing. The long-term ineffectiveness of apprenticeships for lorry drivers and the general hostility from authorities and Government is also unhelpful for recruiting and retaining drivers.

“All of the above means that freight rates are rising to a level that operators are finding unsustainable, and costs will have to be passed on to consumers.”

The RHA’s full 12-point plan is:

1. Include HGV drivers on Government’s Skilled Worker Shortage Occupation List

2. Coronavirus recovery – a seasonal visa scheme for qualified HGV drivers

3. Continued priority driving tests for HGV drivers

4. Establish a ‘Return to HGV Driving’ scheme

5. Better promotion of the job and the sector as a whole

6. Apprenticeship funding gap for C+E drivers in England and Wales

7. Apprenticeships for Class C drivers

8. An SME-focused HGV driver training scheme

9. An independent HGV independent training loan scheme

10. Other training schemes – DWP pilots/Road to Logistics

11. Increase productivity of the road network

12. Improve site productivity and the treatment of drivers at collection and delivery points