UK plcis speeding towards a lorry driver shortage. The number of people training and passing their Cat C driving test has been falling sharply. The number of people taking a Cat C pass onto getting their C+E falling as well. 2005/06 it was 27,612 & 11,608 respectively; 2009/10 15.029 & 6,720.

The introduction of Driver Certificate of Professional Competence – a requirement to ensure driving skills are kept high – appears to have further eroded the number of older lorry drivers .

We know that only 20% of people gaining licences went onto DCPC. Either the other 80% have decided to not drive lorries or are driving about illegally.

Last time a shortage occurred the EU succession countries exported lots of lorry drivers to the UK which got us through the worst of the shortage. But they’re going home in droves to expanding economies.

Does UK plc have a plan to fix this looming shortage? No, and without sufficient lorry drivers any economic recovery will be constricted.