Run by the Road Haulage Association (RHA), the tenth National Lorry Week is celebrating the army of men and women out there who do such a vital job of driving (literally) our road haulage industry.
The UK economy depends on having an efficient road haulage sector. After all, almost everything we consume, use and wear is transported by a lorry. Without them, our supermarket shelves would be barren!
Some key stats about the industry provided by the RHA.
- 89% of all freight in the UK is moved by road.
- 1.86 million people work in transport and storage.
- The industry contributes £13.5 billion to the UK economy each year.
- The transport and logistics industry accounts for 5.6% of UK’s GDP.
- Three-quarters of local authorities host at least 1,000 logistics jobs.
- There are 58,262 road freight enterprises in the UK.
- The number of HGVs is around 437,000 in Great Britain.
- The number of HGV Drivers in the UK is around 300,000.
As you may know, our roots are in the driving sector – we first opened our doors as 24-7 Drivers, with our MD Julian Thompson having an extensive transport background. We’ve had the privilege of working with many clients and people from all walks of life over the years and have welcomed back many drivers with open arms. Just look at one of our previous blogs. The relationships and culture we’ve cultivated is something we’re very proud of!
Speaking from experience
One of our candidates, Karl, a long-time driver with more than 20 years under his belt, shared his perspective on the industry.
Firstly, we spoke to Karl about his beginnings in the industry.
“I’ve been in the driving industry for over 20 years now.”
“I was made redundant at my previous role working in a warehouse. One of the guys that worked there as an HGV driver suggested I undertake a course to get my lorry licence – he said I’d never be out of work again.”
Karl decided to invest his redundancy pay and complete his training, and the rest is history!
Karl says he loves what he does – he’s travelled all over and met many different people.
“I love what you get to see every day, I’ve been all over the country and every day is a change of scenery.”
“It’s not like being stuck in the warehouse where you’re just seeing the same thing all the time. I have met so many people over the years.”
For Karl, it’s been a career for life, and he doesn’t see himself doing anything else. We asked him what misconceptions there are about working in the industry.
“From the outside looking in, some people might think that it’s all just long hours and being away from home all the time.”
“This can be true in some instances, but it really depends on who you’re working for.”
Karl has fortunately found a position with us that has afforded him more time at home with his family.
“I love the flexibility where I’m working now, I get more time at home with my family, and I only have to do the occasional night out.”
Challenges in the industry
Karl also pointed out that although he loves what he does, he recognises the current challenges that lorry drivers face.
“I believe the general attitude towards drivers has shifted and we’ve become less accommodated for.”
Karl says that there has been a noticeable decline in welfare facilities for drivers over the years.
“It’s hard to stop in a lot of places that you used to be able to. There are less laybys that we can stop at, and they’ve put double yellow lines everywhere.”
There also seems to be fewer people coming into the industry.
“When I’ve been retaking my CPC training, I’ve noticed a lot of older drivers and not many young ones. I think it’s not something a lot of young people aspire to do.”
Karl harkened back to when he used to take his boys out in the lorry with him.
“I used to take my young boys out with me and “do what Daddy does”, it’s not something you’re able to do anymore and I think it’s had a big impact. It’s not exactly an aspirational career path for young people anymore.”
Karl thinks that there should be more help with getting lorry drivers trained.
“It can be a huge turn-off to sink thousands of pounds to get yourself trained as a lorry driver.”
“Just like companies choose to train people up on a forklift in a warehouse, I think the government should doing more to train new drivers who are keen to get into the industry – something like sponsored training”
Although the industry has changed in many ways, one thing has remained a constant all these years: our nation’s lorry drivers give so much and ask for little in return. This week, we are giving a big shoutout to all the truckers out there that keep our country running and our shelves stocked!
Now is the perfect time to embark on a rewarding career as a lorry driver. With ample opportunities and a growing demand, we’ll find work that suits your skills and experience. New or experienced, join our team!
