A £16.5 million funding initiative has been put into practice to improve roadside facilities for HGV drivers in the UK. The Department for Transport (DfT) and the industry will upgrade 38 truck stops, including features like new showers, restaurants, better lighting, secure parking and electric charging points. The funding is part of the HGV parking and driver welfare grant scheme and aims to provide better welfare for drivers.
This significant investment is a direct response to long-standing industry calls for improved conditions and is seen as a crucial step in attracting new drivers, as there has recently been a shortage. Find out more about how the backbone of the UK’s supply chain is currently being supported by the UK Government.
What is a HGV?
HGV stands for a Heavy Goods Vehicle, which is the official UK term for any large truck or lorry with a gross vehicle weight of over 3,500 kg (3.5 tonnes). In Europe, this type of vehicle is also known as a Large Goods Vehicle (LGV), and while the terms are often used interchangeably, HGV is still the most common and widely recognised term in the UK.
These vehicles form the backbone of the country’s supply chain, transporting everything from consumer goods and food to building materials needed for projects like water damage restoration. Driving a HGV requires a specific professional license, known as an HGV licence, with different categories based on the size and weight of the vehicle. Driving this vehicle can give you a good career opportunity that can be long-lasting and offer you wages that can reach £40,000 to £47,000 for experienced drivers.
Key Improvements for HGV Drivers
Welfare facilities have been poor for HGV drivers in the last few years, with run-down amenities that don’t offer much. The extra funding being granted by the government will address some of these issues, as there are plans to include new showers and restaurants in these new welfare facilities to give HGV drivers a proper place to recover during their travels.
Improving security is also at the forefront of the government’s plans, as they want to make these rest areas more accessible and safe. This goal is to install better lighting, secure fencing around the truck stops and create a safer environment for drivers where they can feel safe to rest if their HGV deliveries are over a long distance.
The creation of approximately 430 new HGV parking spaces will help alleviate the issue of drivers having to park in unsafe locations overnight. This initiative also has a forward-looking focus on sustainability with plans to install new chargepoints for electric HGVs and solar panels on facilities.
Will Extra Funding Fix The Shortage of HGV Drivers?
Extra funding will only address one part of the problem when it comes to the shortage of HGV drivers. Other significant factors include an ageing workforce, with a large proportion of drivers nearing retirement and a lack of new drivers entering the industry. This is often attributed to thoughts that it’s difficult to obtain a licence through HGV training courses. However, these courses, like those offered by Lifft Group, can help you get a licence within 24 hours.
The Government wants to reduce the downsides of becoming a driver, such as funding for training and tests. The industry also needs to offer competitive salaries to their workforce to attract new drivers. Companies are increasingly focusing on strategies to improve driver retention, such as offering better pay, flexible shifts and career development pathways. Without addressing these broader systemic issues, the shortage will likely persist despite the improved facilities.
Plans to Exceed £100 million
Investments could reach up to £100 million, as the Government wants to make the logistics industry more popular. This initiative began in late 2022 and is designed to boost recruitment and retention by making HGV driving a more attractive career. The funding is a matched-funding scheme, meaning the government provides a portion of the investment while the industry is expected to match it.
This investment is not a standalone action but is part of the government’s comprehensive “33 actions” to support the sector. These actions include other key initiatives such as providing funding for HGV driver training through Skills Bootcamps, increasing the number of HGV driver tests and launching a Future of Freight plan to encourage more people to consider a career in logistics. This is something that Lifft Group has focused on.
Declan Pang, Director of Policy and Public Affairs at the Road Haulage Association (RHA), said:
“We are delighted to see the government’s match-funded grant scheme being awarded to projects which will make a tangible difference to the experiences of lorry drivers and provide much-needed additional parking capacity to address the well-known shortage of spaces.”
“We are pleased to see facilities operators contribute funding and commit to improving security and conditions at the sites they operate. We look forward to seeing the positive impact the funding will have across the range of projects.”
Pang’s words serve as an endorsement of the project’s potential to create a positive impact on the UK’s logistics sector, addressing a long-standing challenge and making driving a HGV an attractive career path for new drivers.
What Other Initiatives are in the Works for HGV Drivers?
The UK has set ambitious targets to phase out the sale of non-zero-emission HGVs by 2035 or 2040, depending on the size of the vehicle. To support this transition, the government has announced significant funding, such as the £200 million Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator (ZEHID) program. This program is backing projects to roll out hundreds of zero-emission HGVs and install crucial charging and refuelling infrastructure.
With all of this new investment into the industry, we should eventually see more young drivers looking for a HGV career. It can be a long-term financial solution, with it being one of the most important jobs in logistics.
Conclusion
Funding upgrades to showers, restaurants, security and parking, the initiative directly addresses key issues that have contributed to the HGV driver shortage. While this matched-funding scheme is a crucial part of the solution, it is not a solution that fixes all the problems for HGV driving. For the UK to truly solve its driver shortage, these improvements must be part of a sustained effort that includes competitive pay, career development opportunities and continued support for training and licensing.
This investment sends a clear signal of support for the logistics industry, but the long-term success of these efforts will depend on ongoing collaboration between the government and industry to make HGV driving an appealing career for the next generation.
