United Kingdom: worrying shortage of truck drivers

Truck driving through the Channel Port at Dover, south-east England, on January 15, 2021 (illustrative image).

REUTERS - JOHN SIBLEY

Text by: RFI Follow

2 min

The UK is concerned about a shortage of truck drivers.

First, a consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic, which has prompted some foreign drivers to return to their country.

But also Brexit, which complicates the arrival of non-British workers across the Channel.

As a result, certain food products are particularly lacking in fast food chains.

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With our correspondent in London,

Claire Digiacomi

McDonald's running out of

milkshakes

,

Nando's chain

fast food

restaurants

forced to close because they have run out of chicken.

These are the concrete consequences in the United Kingdom of the shortage of lorry drivers.

An unattractive profession

The profession of truck driver was already aging and considered unattractive to young people.

Then the pandemic passed that way.

Due to Covid-19, driver's license exams for trucks have been put on hold.

Result: it is estimated at 25,000 the number of candidates deprived of this sesame who could have started working.

Many European drivers have also returned to their country because of the health crisis.

It would take 90,000 new drivers ... 

And Brexit greatly complicates recruitments.

Because, since January 1, non-British applicants must have a visa, which is difficult to obtain.

The government refused to exceptionally relax its immigration rules, which transport officials demanded.

Rather, he calls for prioritizing the British.

But according to a logistics company, it would take 90,000 additional truck drivers to fill this labor shortage.

A figure that worries the entire British production chain, a few months before Christmas.

►Also read

: The United Kingdom is experiencing an early shortage of chicken

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