Shortage of lorry drivers means Government extends working hours

As businesses and union officials warn that a shortage of lorry drivers threatens deliveries to supermarkets and other sectors of the economy, the Government has announced a temporary extension to lorry drivers’ hours.

Unusually the decision was announced in a tweet by a minister in the Department for Transport.

Baroness Charlotte Vere, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the DfT, tweeted: “We’re temporarily extending drivers’ hours rules from Mon 12 July to allow HGV drivers to make slightly longer journeys where necessary, as we’re aware of a current shortage of drivers.

“Driver safety must not be compromised & operators must notify DfT if this relaxation is used.”

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps later tweeted: “We’re aware of a shortage of HGV drivers, so I’m announcing a temp extension of drivers’ hours rules from Mon 12 July, giving flexibility to drivers & operators to make slightly longer journeys.

“We’ve ramped up the number of driving tests available & will consider other measures.”

Unite union national officer for road transport Adrian Jones said the announcement will do nothing to resolve the problem of driver shortages, adding: “Asking an already exhausted workforce to work even longer is likely to make an already difficult situation worse.

“Driving regulations are highly complex and to announce a relaxation on Twitter without any proper detail has simply created more confusion and uncertainty across the sector.

“We have also announced a temporary relaxation of drivers’ hours rules. This will allow HGV drivers to make slightly longer journeys, but must only be used where necessary and must not compromise driver safety, with further measures to be announced shortly.

“Most of the solutions, however, are likely to be driven by industry, with progress already being made in testing and hiring, and a big push towards improving pay, working conditions and diversity.