The number of HGV drivers working in the UK estimated in the quarter JAN-MAR of 2017 = 299,000

The number of HGV drivers working in the UK estimated in the quarter JAN-MAR of 2021 = 236,000

A deficit of 63.000 to JAN-MAR 2021

See below the estimated number of HGV drivers put into age categories working during April 2020 and March 2021

Ages 16 to 24 Number 5,000

Ages 25 to 34 Number 44,000

Ages 35 to 49 Number 91,000

Ages 50 to 64 Number 122,000

Ages 65 and over Number 14,000

An estimated  total of 276,000 drivers working for an estimated 122,000 employers

As you can see the majority of HGV drivers fall into the 50 to 64 group

Some 45% of HGV drivers in the UK will retire in the next five to ten years.

Due to the Brexit referendum, several 10,000 drivers from the European Union left Britain

Also at present, the RHA has estimated a shortfall of 100.000 HGV drivers in the UK

One effect of this was the fuel shortage at the pumps leaving motorists queuing outside fuel stations during the summer which led to a spike in the fuel price

So going forward you may agree it is a cause for concern. hopefully, the UK government will put some kind of training regime in place to encourage a plethora of younger drivers to take up the challenge before we run out of time.