News

Fewer hauliers are hiring new drivers despite the driver shortage, according to a survey by recruitment specialist Manpower. In a survey of 1,800 UK employers Manpower found that although 19% of hauliers are planning to take on more drivers, 15% are planning lay-offs. The difference between these two figures, 4%, is 8% down on both the last quarter and the same time last  year. Even so, the 19% of hauliers planning to recruit drivers is still higher than the 15% figure for all businesses, although lower than finance (27%) and utilities (26%).

Simon Edwards, head of Manpower Driving, says one reason for the dip in demand for drivers may be that hauliers hired drivers earlier in the year to anticipate their needs this summer. He adds: "While the results suggest that the anticipated hiring trend is lower than in the last couple of years, it is too early to tell if this is a blip or part of a longer-term dip."

Regionally, employers in the South West of England and Northern Ireland are the most bullish on hiring drivers in the next quarter, with 28% and 25% more companies respectively taking on staff than laying them off. Hauliers in Yorkshire, Humberside, the South East and Scotland all predict hiring intentions below the national average. The least optimistic of all hauliers were in London, where the difference between those intending to hire  and those intending to make cutbacks was just 1% in favour of those recruiting.

The Manpower figures are compatible with the latest Freight Transport Association figures on the driver shortage, which suggest that slightly fewer hauliers are finding it hard to recruit (25%) than last year (27%).