2. Severe lack of secure parking.
Pretty self explanatory. Motorway services charge £30+ for overnight parking but you can still wake up curtains slashed, load stolen. HGV theft is at rife currently. There needs to be much more secure parking areas, eg Rothwell, Truckhaven.

3. Limited food options.
Want to know why big bellies are synonymous with drivers? Because only junk is available in most services. Most who are out all week have no choice but to go takeaway. Get the healthy food accessible and affordable. The drivers will happily eat it

4. Disrespect from other workers.
'You're just a driver.' Heard that one before?
Many staff at RDCs and other loading points treat drivers like scum. Long wait times, poor facilities, and when you raise concerns you basically get told to deal with it. Much worse now since COVID.

5. Unsociable hours.
Some drivers end up divorced due to being away for so much. Missing the kids growing up, seeing family and more. Many roles offer good money but want you away 5 nights/60+ hours a week. 4 on 4 off shifts are the way forward.

6. Apathy from management.
Many firms are simply too big to care about their drivers.
Who has heard 'just try your best' when raising a concern about tight access? This mindset makes drivers feel not cared about, which leads nicely to....

7. The BLAME GAME.
When things go wrong, no matter what, it's ALWAYS the drivers fault. Freight damaged on a trailer you picked up from the Port, drivers fault. Incorrect paperwork, drivers fault. Immigrants breaking into the trailer, drivers fault (somehow)

I could go on, and on, and on. My point is, drivers have so much to deal with on a daily basis. It is a tough job made even harder by so many unnecessary things. The way things are, it is not enticing to people. A big reason why theres so few drivers about now.

The old guard have put up with these issues, but the new generations won't. They'll simply find better wlrk for themselves. Until conditions drastically change, this shortage will get worse & worse.

I decided to become an HGV driver because I fell in love with it at a young age going along with my Dad. But if I didn't have that, no way in hell I'd have been one. Why would you? Simply, the money isn't worth it. It's deeper than just 'driver shortage.' The industry is broken.

Would love your thoughts on this @RHARodMcKenzie and any others, think we can all agree something needs to change why don't you consult the people on the frontlines doing the job rather than the suits upstairs who have no idea why things are the way they are

Truck & Driver MAN Truck & Bus UK Cumbria charity truck fair DAF Trucks UK 🇬🇧 Martin Tomlinson Volvo Trucks UK @RHARichardB @RHATomCotton