Shoppers in the U.K. could face empty shelves without urgent action to recruit an army of lorry drivers, it was warned today, according to The Daily Mail in London.
Chancellor George Osborne is under pressure to announce support for training in the haulage industry in the budget this week, amid warnings of shortage of 45,000 drivers.
The crisis in in the industry could mean food shortages at peak times, including this Easter and the summer months.
New training rules mean the logistics industry is thousands of drivers short, according to the U.K. Commission for Employment and Skills.
The Freight Transport Association claims more than 20,000 drivers have quit since September.
It comes after a new driver certificate of professional competence was introduced across the European Union, which meant drivers had to complete an extra 35 hours training, costing some £500.
Haulers say the rules mean there are not enough people to drive lorries across the country, raising the prospect of empty shelves.
Osborne is being urged to find £150million to increase training for thousands of drivers before the shortages hit vital supplies.
To read more, click HERE.
