Road freight supply chain

Transport Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 27 Oct 2021 Closed: 16 Nov 2022 Parliament page
The Transport Committee is examining the road freight supply chain. The Committee's objectives are to explore the immediate and systemic challenges to the effective operation of the road freight supply chain and to assess the effectiveness of the Government’s policies to meet them. Read the call for evidence for more … Read more
14 Recommendations
11 Conclusions
1 Report
3 Oral sessions
1 Letter
3 Events
Activity timeline 9 events
30 Sep
2022
Report published
1 Jun
2022
Report published
2 Mar
2022
Correspondence
26 Jan
2022
Oral evidence
26 Jan
2022
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Macmillan Room, Portcullis House
8 Dec
2021
Oral evidence
8 Dec
2021
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 15, Palace of Westminster
24 Nov
2021
Oral evidence
24 Nov
2021
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
Oral evidence sessions 3 sessions
26 Jan 2022
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The Baroness Vere of Norbiton · Department for Transport
8 Dec 2021
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Jenny Tipping Jim French MBE · Road to Logistics Ken McMeikan · Moto Hospitality Limited Kevin Richardson · Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport Matthew Rhind · Tesco PLC Mr Tim Morris · UK Major Ports Group
24 Nov 2021
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Adrian Jones · Unite the Union Duncan Buchanan · Road Haulage Association Elizabeth de Jong · Fuels Industry UK Kieran Smith · Driver Require Shane Brennan · Cold Chain Federation
Title HC No. Published Items Response
First Report - Road freight supply chain HC 162 1 Jun 2022 25 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
9 results
Clear
1 Conclusion Accepted
First Report - Road freight supply…
A lack of HGV drivers has concerned Government and industry for more than a decade.
A lack of HGV drivers has concerned Government and industry for more than a decade. Too few people want to work in the sector, and the retention rate for those who become drivers is low. The covid-19 pandemic exacerbated those … Read more
Government Response
The government recognises the difficulties caused by HGV driver shortages, noting that the recommendation has already been partially addressed as part of the '33 measures' interventions.
Department for Transport
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4 Recommendation Accepted
First Report - Road freight supply…
One step the Government should take straightaway, as part of its review of the Driver...
One step the Government should take straightaway, as part of its review of the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence, is to ensure the logistics sector funds its own driver training, as is common practice in the bus and coach sector. … Read more
Government Response
The government notes this recommendation has already been partially addressed as part of the '33 measures' interventions. A review into the mandatory Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (DCPC) training is underway to ensure it does not act as a barrier for drivers.
Department for Transport
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7 Conclusion Accepted
First Report - Road freight supply…
Overnight parking facilities for HGV drivers are insufficient, especially on key road freight routes.
Overnight parking facilities for HGV drivers are insufficient, especially on key road freight routes. This lack of capacity is not new; the Department’s previous lorry parking survey identified it five years ago. (Paragraph 35) 32 Road freight supply chain Read more
Government Response
The government is gathering evidence through a 'National Lorry Parking Survey' to understand needed improvements, which will be published in early 2023. A £32.5M matched-funding grant will fund improvements to HGV driver facilities, and National Highways will invest £20m in improving roadside facilities on the strategic road network.
Department for Transport
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15 Conclusion Accepted
First Report - Road freight supply…
HGV drivers should not park overnight in laybys or other unsuitable locations.
HGV drivers should not park overnight in laybys or other unsuitable locations. It leaves drivers vulnerable to crime and is not conducive to rest and recuperation. Yet some drivers are forced to do this as managed facilities are full, while … Read more
Government Response
The government will launch a £32.5M matched-funding grant scheme for operators to improve HGV driver facilities and National Highways will invest £20m in roadside facility improvements. They are also gathering evidence via a 'National Lorry Parking Survey' to understand needed improvements.
Department for Transport
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16 Conclusion Accepted
First Report - Road freight supply…
The fragmented nature of the road haulage sector makes it difficult for logistics operators to...
The fragmented nature of the road haulage sector makes it difficult for logistics operators to act in a concerted fashion to improve the conditions for HGV drivers. The actions of a few large companies, such as the major supermarket chains, … Read more
Government Response
The Government notes the need for improved standards and safety for HGV drivers and supports improvements to working practices and facilities, but industry must lead the implementation of changes. Government is supporting a campaign to increase the number of people considering logistics as a career, with DfT providing £345,000 of funding.
Department for Transport
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18 Recommendation Accepted
First Report - Road freight supply…
The Government should give the logistics sector two years to deliver sufficient drivers and high-quality...
The Government should give the logistics sector two years to deliver sufficient drivers and high-quality parking facilities. If industry does not deliver, the Government should implement the levy charging mechanism and cause the industry to pay sufficient sums for the … Read more
Government Response
The Government has already put in place 33 interventions including skills bootcamps, using Brexit freedoms to allow regular drivers to tow a trailer, and investing more than £52 million to improve lorry parking and welfare facilities for drivers.
Department for Transport
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21 Conclusion Accepted
First Report - Road freight supply…
There are various routes to becoming an HGV driver.
There are various routes to becoming an HGV driver. The sector does not find it difficult to recruit new entrants. It has struggled to make apprenticeships work as an entry point, because the role does not fit within the parameters … Read more
Government Response
The government states they have developed training routes including apprenticeships, with 2,599 lorry driver apprentices in training.
Department for Transport
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22 Recommendation Accepted
First Report - Road freight supply…
We welcome the introduction of skills bootcamps as a faster, more flexible route to becoming...
We welcome the introduction of skills bootcamps as a faster, more flexible route to becoming an HGV driver. The Government should make the provision of skills bootcamps for HGV drivers permanent, with part of the scheme targeted at underrepresented groups … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees that bootcamps and apprenticeships have started to make an impact and will continue to monitor their progress and effectiveness, and has developed a wide range of other training routes to become an HGV driver and make financial support for training available.
Department for Transport
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24 Recommendation Accepted
First Report - Road freight supply…
The Government, alongside the sector, must work together to set targets and deadlines to switch...
The Government, alongside the sector, must work together to set targets and deadlines to switch more freight from road to rail and water. This must happen alongside steps to decarbonise road freight itself.
Government Response
The government supports modal shift of freight from road to rail and water, committing to a rail freight growth target, creating a Strategic Freight Unit, and providing £20m per year through mode shift freight grant schemes.
Department for Transport
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Government Response AI assessment · 24 of 14 classified
Accepted 9
Accepted in Part 1
Acknowledged 11
Deferred 2
Not Addressed 1
Total 14 recs + 11 conclusions
Correspondence 1 letter
2 Mar 2022 Correspondence from Baroness Vere of Norbiton, Minister for Roads, Buses and Places, Department for Transport, relating to the road freight supply chain, dated 23 February 2022
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