HGV Driver Shortage
The number of HGV vacancies has dropped slightly from 28% of businesses reporting vacancies in quarter 3 of 2024 to 24% in quarter 4 of the same year. You can see all of the figures published by the Department for Transport here. This is a positive move, as the country needs to have enough HGV drivers to keep shelves full and infrastructure working. Levels of pay have been slowly increasing for HGV drivers, but the main reasons for the vacancies are still better pay or benefits elsewhere, existing driver leaving the industry and driver retirement. If older drivers retiring is one of the main reasons for new vacancies, we need young drivers to fill these vacancies. Sadly we’re not seeing a large increase in the amount of school leavers that want to drive for a living.
Why don’t young people want to drive HGVs?
So why doesn’t being a lorry driver appeal to 18 year olds? It’s possible that the idea of working for long hours or working unsocial hours could be putting younger people off, but some industry workers are trying to change that perception. You can read a BBC article about a drive to get younger and more female drivers into the industry here. It’s possible the younger people just aren’t considering the up side of driving for a living. You can earn over £40,000 within a few years of qualifying, and with no student debt to pay off HGV drivers can be paid more than a lot of graduates.
The hours that you drive depend on the job that you take, some don’t involve unsociable hours. You also have the job satisfaction knowing the country wouldn’t function without HGV drivers. I think if more young people considered driving as a career they could see the great opportunities that are out there.
Change for the Better!
We’d love to help change perceptions and get more young people driving for a living! If you’re interested in driving a HGV or LGV and you’re over 18 and have a full car driver’s licence you should think about driving for a living. It could be a rewarding career without the average debt of £53,000 that most graduates in England have. As there are HGV vacancies you will be able to find work once you qualify. If you’re young and fit the medical you need to qualify won’t be a barrier to you. Think this sounds good? Why not get in touch today and we’ll help you to take the first step towards a rewarding future!