The HGV sector will not survive without drivers from the European Union, according to the Road Haulage Association (RHA).
The organisation said that there is “strong public support” for the relaxation of immigration rules to relieve the burden on the supply chain sector, as a result the association has asked the UK government to put truck drivers on the Shortage Occupation List to assist the industry while a supply of UK drivers is trained to fill the gap.
RHA managing director Rod McKenzie told Channel 4 News that the driver crisis will continue to worsen unless the government takes action.
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According to the RHA, 47 per cent of respondents from a survey of 2000 people support the relaxation of restrictions for professional drivers from the EU working in the UK and 21 per cent oppose it.
A further 56 per cent of respondents report that they support adding HGV drivers to the shortage occupation list while 11 per cent are against it.
The news comes as supermarkets across the UK report empty shelves and undelivered supplies.
Co-op chief executive Steve Murrells said that the current food shortages are at a “worse level” than he has ever been and blamed it on factors including Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic, which have exacerbated driver shortages.
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