DEWSBURY haulage firm Brocklehurst Transport has joined other leading logistics businesses in highlighting the crisis the industry faces as a result of crippling HGV driver shortages.

As the average age of HGV drivers in the UK continues to increase, currently standing at 56, and fewer young people enter the industry, Pall-Ex Group shareholder member businesses, including the Dewsbury firm, are struggling to find drivers to carry out collections and deliveries in a time when demand for such services has increased significantly.

When surveyed, 74 per cent of Pall-Ex Group members said that they were affected by driver shortages every single day, and 100 per cent said that the situation was causing their business to suffer.

Dave Webster, Managing Director of Brocklehurst Transport Ltd, said: “If nothing changes, we will have to park our trucks up. We will not be able to operate as a business.

“To improve the situation, I’d like to see a relaxation of the CPC regulations allowing drivers, whose certification has lapsed, to come back into the business and have 12 months grace to complete refresher training.

“The Government needs to encourage insurance companies to lower the minimum age from 25 to 21, as this means so many more talented young drivers can enter the industry. This would be a massive help.”

For more information about driving opportunities within Pall-Ex Group, visit pallex.co.uk/vacancies.