The last few years saw major HGV driver shortages in the UK, leading to empty shelves in many stores around the country and tonnes of food wasted every week, since there is no way to transport it before going bad. Without dedicated drivers who strive to do their best in spite of all the issues caused by Brexit and Covid however, we’d be in much deeper problems.
If you doubt whether HGV drivers deserve our respect and appreciation or not, consider these 5 reasons why we depend on them so much these days.
1. HGV Drivers keep businesses running
Almost everything that we use and consume was at one point or another transported by a Heavy Good Vehicle. HGV and LGV drivers move around countless essentials, from food and household goods to raw materials necessary for many industries to function. Most product-driven businesses around the world rely on regular transports to deliver goods – without these deliveries, these companies would quickly go bankrupt. Without new drivers taking courses at an HGV Training Centre each day, our economy would not last long.
2. Many lives depend on timely deliveries
Lorry drivers don’t only transport consumer goods and raw materials – they also transport pharmaceuticals and medical equipment necessary for hospitals and other medical facilities to function. Just a single day without drivers to deliver medical supplies could cost the nation countless lives. From oxygen to insulin and antibiotics, there are people whose lives rely on these deliveries arriving on time, every day.
3. They prevent food shortages
If you think the food shortages were bad the last couple of years, imagine what would happen if we didn’t have HGV drivers at all. Food supply chains rely on timely transportation, as food can spoil in a matter of days if not properly stored. Drivers make sure this food gets delivered to stockpiles, stores, restaurants, and soup kitchens around the UK. They also deliver agricultural supplies and machinery to farmers, without which they would be unable to cultivate crops and keep livestock.
4. HGV Drivers work longer hours so the economy doesn’t collapse
The regulations in the UK dictate that lorry drivers can work 9 hours a day – but this can be further increased to 10 hours twice a week. What’s more, they often don’t have the luxury to return to their homes and families after a day’s work like most of us can. Instead, they have to find a suitable place to rest, only to continue their route the next day. These sacrifices are what keeps the economy going, puts food on our tables, and allows the entire nation to prosper.
5. They deliver crucial essentials to charities
HGV drivers aren’t only responsible for deliveries to private businesses – charity institutions like the British Red Cross rely on lorry drivers to deliver donations, including clothes, food, medicine, and other essentials. Without HGV drivers, charities could only function locally, with no national and international coordination that helps deliver necessities to people in need all over the nation.
