Impact of UK Lorry Driver's Shortage on Supply Chains and Consumers

This study analyzes the impact of UK lorry driver's shortage on supply chains and general public consumers during the last 2 quarters of 2021 and beginning of 2022. It covers the business problem, literature review, dataset identification, quantitative analysis, and visualizations.

Research Methods in
Business Practice

Table of Contents
Topic: The impact of UK lorry driver’s shortage to supply chains and general public consumers during
the last 2 quarters of 2021 and beginning of 2022.......................................................................................3
Introduction.................................................................................................................................................3
Define the business problem....................................................................................................................3
Literature Review covering the concepts, models or theories..................................................................4
Identification of a dataset sourced from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) website that will enable
you to address your chosen business research problem...........................................................................5
Quantitative analysis of the dataset using tools and techniques from the unit with the submission of the
spreadsheet along with your individual written Report............................................................................6
Visualisations of data drawn from your quantitative analysis (e.g. tables, charts, graphs)......................7
Findings.......................................................................................................................................................9
Conclusion...................................................................................................................................................9
References.................................................................................................................................................11

Topic: The impact of UK lorry driver’s shortage to supply chains and general public
consumers during the last 2 quarters of 2021 and beginning of 2022.
Introduction
Lorries are a crucial vehicle of transportation which is used for the purpose of
transporting the good from one place to other. Here, lorry drivers play an imperative role in order
to maintain consistency in supply chain. They used to transport necessary raw material from one
place to the other so that the customers can receive the goods in timely manner. However, the
customers are facing issues in terms of shortage of supply due to lack of lorry drivers. This is
creating issue for general public (Shen and Sun, 2021). Due to this, consumers are facing
shortage of food & beverage items. During the last quarters of 2021 and beginning of 2022, the
COVID-19 was on the peak which affected the number of lorry drivers within the country. The
study will cover impact of shortage of lorry drivers on the supply chain and general public
within the nation.
Research Question: To analyze the impact of UK lorry driver’s shortage to supply chains and
general public consumers during the last 2 quarters of 2021 and beginning of 2022.
Define the business problem
Lorry drivers play an integral role during transportation. They are likely to perform the
duties of transporting raw material and finish goods from one place to other. Due to the COVID-
19, the country is facing shortage of lorry drivers that will affect the supply of food & beverage.
The UK is facing shortage of 100,000 lorry drivers which is directly affecting the supply chain of
the industry. This issue will affect the business in profound manner. For this purpose, driver
retention scheme is being implemented by several container hauliers so that they can attract new
lorry drivers (Soleimani, 2021). The COVID-19 has been created significant issue in terms of
shortage. Haulage drivers are key workers during pandemic but the crisis affected them
significantly. It is found that the logistic sector was facing the issue related to transportation
before the COVID-19. They were facing the issue in terms of keeping the traditional staff with
the company for longer duration. In addition to this, the limited number of young drivers were
likely to enter within the industry. The respective business problem affected the food and

beverage industry in a profound manner. This affected the supply of food & beverage within the
country (How will the shortage of UK Truck drivers impact businesses, 2022). The general
public was not able to get the timely supply of necessary raw material and finished goods in an
efficient manner. This has become the major business issue in the current period of time.
Literature Review covering the concepts, models or theories
According to Bhattacharyya, Maitra and Deb, 2021, it is analyzed that the current
uncertainty have been enhanced as the drivers are not able to provide the necessary services to
the customers. The professional drivers are older hence they are unable to bear the excessive
work load. Professional drivers are recognized as older and less healthy, workforce. During the
pandemic time, people were facing serious health related issues in terms lack of exercise,
exposure, stress, disturbance and more. In addition to this, the older individuals are likely to get
exposed with different health related issues that affect their working potential significantly.
Apart from this, lack of drivers will cause lack of availability of raw material and finish good
(COVID-19 and the effect on haulage drivers, 2022). Further, it enhances the delivery cost in
significant manner. This will profoundly affect the small retailers as they are not able to offer
timely supply of good to the end users.
Fast model of supply chain
The fast chain model is used by such business entities that are likely to produce finish
products a and offers trendy products to the customers. It is basically a suitable model for such
entities which make changes in their offerings frequently and launch such products in the market.
Basically, they introduce products in the market before trends. In this context, customers are
likely to consider the updation introduce by the company in their products and services(Sheel,
Singh and Nath, 2020). In addition to this, it is about meeting with the fast fashion trends so that
the company can address the need & requirements of buyers in significant manner. The main aim
of implementing such idea is to shorten the launch of idea to launch the product in market.

In supply chain, the major stakeholders are manufactures, retailers, suppliers, customers
and more. It is analyzed that raw material is get by the suppliers and further processed within the
factory. After the production of goods, the item is provided to the distributor. Here, the
distributor provide the ready goods to the retail which further offer to the end customers
(Ravigné and Da Costa, 2021). This is a typical supply chain that is followed by the maximum
companies so that they can offer the finished products to the end users in timely manner.
Identification of a dataset sourced from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) website that will
enable you to address your chosen business research problem
Shortage of hauliers leads the business entities towards enhancing the issue related to
imports and exports that will increase the customer issues of not getting the required items within
certain shops. It is monitored that there is significant decline in the number of heavy vehicles
drivers working within the UK profoundly. Here, the most of the decline has been recorded
during the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is monitored that 268,000
individuals were likely to employed as HGV drivers in between 2020 to 2021. The number of
HGV drivers are basically declining since 2016. It is monitored that the number of heavy
vehicles lorry driver is reducing since july 2016. The largest decline was witnessed among year
46 to 55 years.
During the ending of September 2021, there were nearly 52,000 vacancies for posts in
case of transport and logistics. It is analyzed that lack of lorry drivers affects the availability of
food & beverage items. Due to this, the customers are not able to get the timely supply of finish
products in an efficient manner. As per the analysis of ONS website, the decrease was greatest
during the pandemic with 10% decrease in UK nationals at the end of june 2021. Apart from this,
28,000 EU nationals working as heavy vehicles drivers at the end of june 2017 which is

generally 12,000 lower than 2017 (Fall in HGV drivers largest among middle-aged workers,
2021).
Quantitative analysis of the dataset using tools and techniques from the unit with the submission
of the spreadsheet along with your individual written Report
Quantitative analysis is basically a technique which is used for the purpose to understand
behaviour measurement, statistical modelling and mathematical. It basically represent the
numerical value. In context to research problem, there are various tools and techniques used in
order to understand the data. Due to critical warning shortage, the situation become really for the
consumers and more challenging. The government urged to carry out various steps for the
purpose to continue to maintain the UK’s integrated and finely balanced supply chains. In
addition to that, the lack of LGV drivers resulted in significant supply issues that involves some
petrol stations being forced to shut down.
Source: Office for National Statistics
Interpretation: From the above chart, it can be analysed that in the month of September, there
has been a significant problem in the supply chain that also involved the problem of shutting
down of petrol stations and resulted in military putting their steps into the gap. From the above

data, it basically indicates that larger number of large goods vehicle has reduced over the last
years and which resulted in leading to an estimation of 2,36,000 drivers as compare to 333,000
exceeded various times since the start of 2016.
The shortage of drivers resulted in cost of the DRS varies in between carriers and hauliers
and usually comes around $60 and $100 per delivery. With the increased delivery costs, longer
delivery times and lack of availability it resulted in destabilising the supply chain. With the
combination of COVID-19 and Brexit , it resulted in creating a long term problem with the
recruitment. Even before the pandemic situation, the estimated shortage was calculated around
60,000 drivers. As compare to young people, they do not prefer to become lorry drivers even
after getting more as compared to other jobs (Tsai, 2019).
Visualisations of data drawn from your quantitative analysis (e.g. tables, charts, graphs)
In context to the research problem, the government has taken numerous steps for the
purpose to address and solve the issue of HGV drivers, fuel and various concern in relation to the
delivery of the food. The government has issues temporary visas for around 5,000 lorry drivers
in the UK and it has been analysed that the main reason behind shortage of HGV drivers is
Brexit, pandemic situation and various other factors.
Source: Road Haulage Association Survey
From the above survey, it can be analysed that in the year ending around March 2021,
there were around 16,000 fewer EU nationals working as HGV drivers. Due to covid, being one

of the main causes and with increase in restrictions for travel from the last year and resulted in
economy being shut down. The pandemic resulted in creating a large backlog in HGV driver
tests. In addition, to that it resulted in more tax changes and making it more expensive for the
drivers from any of the country to get a job in the UK (Nolan and Rowley, 2020).
Source: Road Haulage Association Survey
From the above data, it can be analysed that as per the Haulage companies, the average age
of HGV drivers in UK is approximately 55 and are focusing much more in order to attract young
drivers. It also indicates, better facilities and terms and conditions and playing a important part in
the economy. As per the data collected, it indicates that Poland was short of more than 120,000
drivers last year and when it comes to countries like Germany, it is basically around 45000 and
60,000. In context to the UK Government, the Ministry of Defence examiners are working upon
the aim to increase the HGV driving test and carrying out various measures such as Boot camps
for the purpose to train 5000 people in order to become HGV drivers and additionally providing
training courses which are funded by the adult education budget. In addition to that they are
working on temporary weakening the rules on cabotage.
It basically refers to a foreign HGV driver arriving in the UK is allowed for the purpose to
make deliveries and collection in the country before returning to their own countries. In context
to Northern Ireland, there is a short of HGV drivers but are less dependent on drivers from the

EU. As per the viewpoint of various industry sources, it basically indicates that tanker diving
tends to have better working hours and pay as compared to that of local drivers. From all the
above charts, graphs and diagrams, it could be analysed that the UK is currently having 60,000
HGV drivers short which is basically predicted and might result in shortfall as bad as 150,000
drivers (The UK Lorry Driver Shortage, 2021).
Findings
Through the above-mentioned information, it is analyzed that UK is facing several issues
in terms of shortage of lorry drivers. Shortage of hauliers leads the business entities towards
enhancing the issue related to imports and exports that will increase the customer issues of not
getting the required items within certain shops. Through the above-study, it is found that the lack
of lorry drivers affect the availability of products to the customers. Due to this, they are not able
to get timely supply of finish products. In addition to this, lack of lorry drivers is directly
affecting the small business units in significant manner. The major impact of shortage of labor
has been faced during the past two years. During the pandemic time, the demand of food &
beverage items were high. But, the companies were unable to fulfill the needs of customers as
they were not getting the proper supply. To address such issue, there is requirement to use
technology in order to provide the timely supply of goods to the customers.
Conclusion
From the above-information, it is found that Lorries are a crucial vehicle of transportation
which is used for the purpose of transporting the good from one place to other. Here, lorry
drivers play an imperative role in order to maintain consistency in supply chain. It is found that
the logistic sector was facing the issue related to transportation before the COVID-19. They were
facing the issue in terms of keeping the traditional staff with the company for longer duration.
From the data of ONS website, it is monitored that the number of heavy vehicles lorry driver is
reducing since july 2016. The largest decline was witnessed among year 46 to 55 years.

References
Books and journals
Shen, Z.M. and Sun, Y., 2021. Strengthening supply chain resilience during COVID‐19: A case
study of JD. com. Journal of Operations Management.
Soleimani, H., 2021. A new sustainable closed-loop supply chain model for mining industry
considering fixed-charged transportation: A case study in a travertine quarry. Resources
Policy, 74, p.101230.
Bhattacharyya, S.S., Maitra, D. and Deb, S., 2021. Study of adoption and absorption of emerging
technologies for smart supply chain management: a dynamic capabilities
perspective. International Journal of Applied Logistics (IJAL), 11(2), pp.14-54.
Sheel, A., Singh, Y.P. and Nath, V., 2020. Managing agility in the downstream petroleum supply
chain. International Journal of Business Excellence, 20(2), pp.269-294.
Ravigné, E. and Da Costa, P., 2021. Economic and environmental performances of natural gas
for heavy trucks: A case study on the French automotive industry supply chain. Energy
Policy, 149, p.112019.
Junior and et. al., 2021. COVID-19, public agglomerations and economic effects: Assessing the
recovery time of passenger transport services in Brazil. Transport Policy, 110, pp.254-
272.
Tsai, S.C., 2019. Implementing interactive courseware into EFL business writing: computational
assessment and learning satisfaction. Interactive Learning Environments, 27(1), pp.46-61.
Nolan, J. and Rowley, C., 2020. Whither guanxi and social networks in China? A review of
theory and practice. Asia Pacific business review, 26(2), pp.113-123.
Online

COVID-19 and the effect on haulage drivers, 2022. [Online]. Available through :<
https://www.manchester.ac.uk/discover/news/covid-19-and-the-effect-on-haulage-drivers//>
How will the shortage of UK Truck drivers impact businesses, 2022. [Online]. Available through
:< https://tps-global.com/how-will-the-shortage-of-uk-truck-drivers-impact-supply-chains//>
Fall in HGV drivers largest among middle-aged workers, 2021. [Online]. Available through :<
https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/employmentandemployeety
pes/articles/fallinhgvdriverslargestamongmiddleagedworkers/2021-10-19/>
The UK Lorry Driver Shortage, 2021 [Online] Available Through
<https://www.statista.com/chart/25846/uk-lgv-hgv-lorry-truck-drivers/>