Industry to lose ‘a quarter of drivers’

7th December 2012

Skills for Logistics has launched a new scheme to recruit armed forces personnel into the road transport sector – as a new report indicates that the industry could lose over a quarter of its driver workforce in the next ten years.

The Military Work Placement Scheme, which is supported by government funding, is a pilot scheme for up to 1000 people leaving the armed forces.  As part of the scheme, military leavers will get two weeks’ work experience in civilian logistics and a guaranteed job interview.

At the launch of the scheme, Mick Jackson, the CEO of Skills for Logistics, highlighted the fact that the logistics industry needs to recruit around 500,000 people by 2017 to replace those retiring as well as to meet industry growth.

Approximately 20,000 people leave the armed services every year and SfL believes a significant proportion of them could move into careers in civilian logistics.

“In addition to driving and warehousing jobs, we will be looking for jobs in freight management and supply chain management so we want candidates from all ranks including officers and senior NCOs,” he said.

Meanwhile, a report from recruitment agency Milestone indicates that the industry could lose over a quarter of its driver workforce in the next ten years as a result of Driver CPC-related drop outs and retirements.

Some 18% of drivers have finished CPC training, two years ahead of the September 2014 deadline, and 44% are currently engaged in the CPC process;  8% do not plan on taking Driver CPC training at all.

Milestone MD Chris Bryant said the potential shortfall was bigger than he had anticipated. “These drivers will not all be replaced at current rates of LGV licence acquisition, and any economic recovery will magnify the shortage issue,” he said.

The findings show progress is being made since Skills for Logistics recorded an 8% completion rate in April 2012, however, said Chris, “SfL’s worries about a last minute rush leading to temporary shortages in 2014 are still valid because of the number of drivers who haven’t started training yet.”