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Do we have a driver shortage? The answer to this important question is complicated as it also involves trying to estimate how many drivers from continental Europe are now working in the UK. There is some evidence that there is still a shortage. According to the latest IDS report the average pay rate of a driver of an articulated large goods vehicle is £8.23 an hour or £470 a week including bonus, shift and overtime payments. This is 9.4% higher on average than last year and suggests that there  are still problems recruiting and retaining drivers.

However, according to the survey, there are signs that recruitment problems are easing slightly. In fact while 37% of companies are having problems recruiting, that is down from half of all companies last year. So there is still a shortage of drivers but less than in previous years, partly due to Eastern European drivers. There is no evidence that they are reducing pay rates, although rates might have been higher if they were not here. As Bulgaria and Rumania joined the EU last week, we can expect more overseas drivers once the new entrants are allowed to work here.