Drivers hourly rates

Below is the REC Driving Forum update from early 2015 and my thoughts 12 months on .....

The supply of drivers, hasn't matched the increase in demand, and there is now a serious driver deficit of at least 45,000.8 The economic downturn masked an underlying structural shortage of drivers. This was compounded by a number of older drivers who choose to retire early, in September 2014, rather than complete the new Driver CPC requirements.

Furthermore, the Drivers  Sector Group undertook a survey of members in early 2015 enquiring about their experience of driver shortages since Christmas 2014. Of those who responded:

 91% informed us that they experienced shortages and of these 71% said it was the worst that they had ever experienced.

 94% said that drivers were unable to fulfil orders from clients, 59% had to pay drivers more, and 41% reported a loss in business.

 87% predicted that recruitment will become increasingly difficult especially amongst young drivers.

 73% thought that driver pay rates would grow significantly.

 Most concerning of all, 47% informed us that they thought licensing and working standards will slip due to increased pressure on workers.

A year on and has any of this really been addressed ?

Here at Drivers Ltd we have seen an increase in demand but we have also seen a shift in power towards the driver with more and more good drivers willing to turn work down as they are aware that they no longer need to grab every assignment regardless of the rate.

But has this really increased the driver rate ?

We have seen forward thinking organisations willing to pay above the going rate to secure the best drivers a head of the peak periods but the average hourly rate remains relatively unchanged .

To be honest as an agency we have probably helped fund seasonal and one off rates from our margin to make sure we are attracting the best drivers available. I am not expecting any sympathy but at some point companies who continually refuse to increase drivers hourly rates will find nobody is willing to help them.

I have turned down several roles over recent months as the hourly rate being offered would offend our current driver pool and I have no doubt it would only be attractive to drivers who are not at our expected experience or Calibre or as is the latest trend a whole host of CV's from people who are not qualified to actually do the job......

1 TUK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES), Understanding Skills and Performance Challenges in the Logistics Sector, Evidence Report 86, October 2014 2 Ibid 3 Ibid 4 Ibid 5 Van Marie, Gavin. HGV driver shortage is a€?a ticking time bomba€? for UK logistics sector, say MPs. The Load Star. 13th January, 2015. 6 Ryan, Dr Sharon. "GDP a€“ good and bad news!", Freight Magazine. June, 2015 p. 22. 7 UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES), Understanding Skills and Performance Challenges in the Logistics Sector, Evidence Report 86, October 2014. 8 HC Deb, 8 June 2015, cW.