LOW morale, poor conditions and poor services were among the reasons given by HGV drivers at Gledrid roundabout’s service station this week for the current shortage of lorry drivers in the UK.

The country’s haulage industry is currently facing a crisis due to a shortage of HGV drivers, which has resulted in a delay to fuel deliveries.

Reasons for the shortage have been linked to Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic – however some drivers believe it has been caused by several issues which have been present for many years.

At Chirk Truck Stop, off the Gledrid roundabout, the Advertizer spoke to HGV driver Idris, who was about to go back on the road.

He feels that drivers are treated like second-class citizens and said a lack of respect for those in the job is among many reasons for the shortage.

“It’s not one problem – it’s many,” he said.

“Firstly, it’s the issues with low pay, low morale and very poor services for drivers.

“Drivers aren’t wanted anywhere. It’s virtually impossible to park – you’re just wanted to get your goods in and get out.

“Over the last 20 years this has been the case, it’s not happened overnight.

“A lot of the people in the industry are coming up to retirement age, so people are leaving and new blood isn’t coming through, because drivers are treated like second-class citizens.

“People aren’t coming to drive because of the way we are treated. Who’s going to come and work in an industry where we get treated the way we do?”

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Idris has spent more than 40 years in the industry, and says morale among drivers is currently as low as he has seen in a long time.

He said: “I have seen in the press recently that lorry drivers can earn £75,000 per year – I’ve not come across a job yet where drivers can earn that sort of money.

“It’s stupid headlines like that which will turn the public against drivers. Drivers can earn good money – but they work more than 60 hours a week sometimes.

“Morale is lower now than I’ve known it for a long time.”

Fellow HGV driver, Mark, was also heading back to his lorry after a stop. He agreed that working conditions are deterring new drivers from joining the industry.

“I think the long hours are a problem for people,” he said. “You can work 15 hours in a day and have nine hours of rest before you’re back to work again.

“I think these things are definitely a put-off for people who may have been thinking about joining the industry.

“You can start at 1am and not finish until 4pm in the afternoon – they’re long days.”

He added: “The current situation is not affecting my job personally, but I think the problem is being caused by the conditions and the way drivers are treated.

“During Covid, it was often the case we weren’t allowed to use services. You try going all day without going to a toilet.

“Even now it’s hard, everybody’s driving around trying to find diesel during the shortage.

“We’re lucky, we fill up in the yard every night, but for some drivers and firms it’s causing an issue.”

Other factors suggested as reasons for the shortage included IR35 tax changes and drivers retiring while newer potential employees decide against joining the industry.

Idris also said that costs of training for drivers looking to gain further qualifications often have to fund training themselves.

He said: “You pay for your tests and driver CPC, and anything else you often foot that bill yourself.

“A new driver starting wanting the qualifications to do most jobs can end up paying up to £5,000 – who can afford that?”