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The UK is facing a severe transport crisis that could lead to a shortage of goods. The country urgently needs about 100 thousand drivers. One of the reasons for the shortage of workers is the departure of guest workers after Brexit. In addition, the crisis was exacerbated by a pandemic that disrupted the training of new drivers.
Stocks in many stores are melting and the shelves are empty for several weeks. informs Euronews. Some pubs are running out of beer and McDonald’s is forced to suspend production of milkshakes.
“One of the biggest challenges is the shortage of truck drivers,” says store manager Matt Hargreaves. – And besides – bureaucracy and paperwork. It is necessary rather to adapt the laws and everything connected with them. All these problems together led to the fact that the shelves were empty. “
About 20 thousand Europeans who worked in the UK as truckers left the country after Brexit, and it is very difficult to attract new foreigners due to the tightening of requirements for migrants. However, the economy of the European Union also faced the same problems. For example, in Germany there is a shortage of up to 60 thousand truck drivers, transfers Reuters.
Due to a shortage of drivers, employers are forced to raise their wages, sometimes by hundreds of pounds a day. From February to July, hiring drivers’ wages rose 5.7%, although on average wages across all sectors of the economy grew by only 0.8% over the same period.
“Customers certainly don’t like the price hikes,” says Logistics Center Director Gary Knight. – But otherwise we simply will not be able to transport the goods from point “A” to point “B”. If the trucks stop, there will be no groceries in the stores. ”
High shipping costs can ruin small firms.
The authorities have promised to involve military drivers in the civilian transport. But logisticians believe that this is not enough: it is necessary to significantly simplify the issuance of work permits to foreigners, as well as accelerate the training of young British drivers. Tens of thousands of driving license exams have had to be canceled over the past year and a half due to the pandemic.
Lawrence Bolton, owner of a driving school for truck drivers, says there are all kinds of people who have lost their jobs amid the pandemic. Among his students were two pilots and a bankrupt financier.
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