How Many Delivery Drivers are in the UK and Is There a Shortage?

The UK’s delivery sector is huge, with more than 320,000 drivers keeping our parcels and goods moving every day. But there’s still a big gap to fill – we need about 30,000 more drivers right now. It’s a tricky situation that started with Brexit pushing many EU drivers to leave, then COVID-19 came along and made things even tougher.

What’s really interesting is that most of our HGV drivers (55% to be exact) are between 50 and 64 years old, which means many will retire soon. The government knows this is serious and they’re trying to help – they’ve started 33 different programs to fix things. You’ll find new driver boot camps popping up across the country, and they’re making sure drivers have better places to rest during their routes.

Even with all these changes, deliveries are still taking longer than they should, and supply chains aren’t running as smoothly as we’d like. While the quick fixes are important, we really need to think about long-term solutions to keep our deliveries running on time. The industry needs fresh talent and better working conditions to get back on track.

Current UK Delivery Driver Numbers

Britain’s delivery sector is struggling with a massive workforce gap – we’re short roughly 24,000 drivers right now.

The numbers tell quite a story: 11,000 HGV positions sit empty, while delivery driver vacancies have hit in excess of 13,000 drivers. England seems to bear the brunt of this shortage but it has been creeping into Scotland for the past 3 years. There are particular issues now with shortages in Aberdeenshire and Invernesshire, or the Highlands.

In England, it seems to be particularly tough in the South West, where Bristol stands out as a trouble spot for actual delivery driver recruitment.

The city needs drivers badly, with an estimated 98 open positions for every 100,000 people who live there.

The shortage really hits home when you consider how vital these drivers are for keeping goods moving across the country.

From supermarket deliveries to online shopping, these unfilled roles affect everyday life in ways many mightn’t realize.

The rising demand for same-day deliveries has only intensified the pressure on the existing driver workforce.

With 55% of drivers aged between 50 and 64, the shortage could worsen as many approach retirement.

Food delivery platforms like Just Eat, Deliveroo, and Uber Eats dominate the market and are constantly seeking new drivers to meet demand.

Though the problem spans the whole UK, it’s the regional differences that paint the clearest picture.

While some areas manage to get by, others are really feeling the pinch, showing just how uneven this driver shortage can be.

Fleet operators typically plan their peak season staffing requirements 12 months ahead, making the current shortage even more concerning.

Delivery Driver Shortage Analysis

The UK’s delivery sector is struggling with a massive number of issues. Parcel delivery problems have become a significant concern for the UK population, especially with the rise of online shopping.

Late deliveries and missing parcels can frustrate customers and harm the reputation of businesses. According to a Citizen Advice Bureau survey, they found that 34% of shoppers in the UK experience delivery problems, which include parcels left in insecure locations and boxes arriving late. The shortage of around 35,000 HGV drivers continues to impact delivery efficiency nationwide. The industry faces additional pressure as aging drivers retire, with 55% of current HGV drivers between 50 and 65 years old.  It bears pointing out that often HGV drivers are needed to deliver packages to depots from where they are then distributed to the couriers for customer delivery. So, this shows the ripple effect the shortages can have on package deliveries.

Staff shortages can lead to delayed deliveries and increased costs. England currently faces the highest demand with 43.7 delivery vacancies per 100,000 residents. Companies are investing in automation and streamlined operations to mitigate these problems.

Supply chain disruptions further exacerbate delivery challenges. Events like factory closures, shipping delays, and high shipping costs contribute to inefficiencies. Companies must diversify their suppliers and improve their inventory management to handle these disruptions.

Regular monitoring of shipping carriers and clear communication with customers are essential to improve customer experience and avoid these common issues. Real-time tracking systems can keep customers informed about their parcel’s journey, reducing stress and uncertainty.

Causes Behind Driver Shortages

When Brexit happened, many drivers from EU countries packed up and left, leaving a big gap in the workforce.

Getting qualified as a driver isn’t straightforward either – there’s a mountain of paperwork and tests to pass, plus long waiting times for licenses.

The IR35 tax rules also pushed many agency drivers to leave the industry altogether.

Another tricky bit is that most of our current drivers are getting closer to retirement age.

Covid-19 made things even worse when 40,000 tests were cancelled for new HGV drivers.

More than half are between 50 and 64 years old, and we’re struggling to get younger people interested in driving as a career.

Young folks aren’t as keen on joining the industry as previous generations. This could also be due to other, better, jobs that are out there.

The industry needs to fill nearly one million positions over the next decade to replace retiring drivers and meet growing demands.

The boom in just-in-time delivery services and online shopping has put even more pressure on the existing driver workforce.

Think about it – when you combine these challenges, it’s created a perfect storm in the delivery world.

The problem isn’t just about having fewer drivers; it’s about trying to keep essential deliveries moving while dealing with all these hurdles at once.