First Report - Road freight supply chain
Select Committee
Transport Committee
HC 162
1 June 2022
Recommendations
4 results
4
Accepted
One step the Government should take straightaway, as part of its review of the Driver...
Recommendation
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. …
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Government Response Summary
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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18
Accepted
Para 58
The Government should give the logistics sector two years to deliver sufficient drivers and high-quality...
Recommendation
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 …
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Government Response Summary
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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22
Accepted
We welcome the introduction of skills bootcamps as a faster, more flexible route to becoming...
Recommendation
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 …
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Government Response Summary
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
Accepted
Para 79
The Government, alongside the sector, must work together to set targets and deadlines to switch...
Recommendation
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 Summary
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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Conclusions (5) Observations and findings — click to expand
1
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 9
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 trends, turning a chronic problem into an acute one. The …
Government Response Summary
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.
7
Conclusion
Accepted
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
Government Response Summary
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.
15
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 51
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 others choose to, either to save money or because the …
Government Response Summary
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.
16
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 56
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, exacerbates this. These companies use their market power to drive …
Government Response Summary
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.
21
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 69
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 set by the Department for Education’s various arm’s-length bodies such …
Government Response Summary
The government states they have developed training routes including apprenticeships, with 2,599 lorry driver apprentices in training.