ONE of the leading national recruiters has warned that a ‘perfect storm’ of issues means there will be fewer ‘Santa’s Little Helpers’ than the country needs.
A combination of older drivers retiring, a shocking road network, long hours, poor pay and driving test delays mean deliveries will be missed.
Lee Gamble, managing director of Berry Recruitment, which has branches in Harlow and Hendon and works across the UK, said vacancies routinely go unfilled and the situation is only likely to get worse.
With parents relying on delivery companies to receive presents they have ordered, the situation could lead to thousands of upset children.
Lee said: “This is the worst I have known it since I began in 1998 – and many drivers who are recruited have little or no experience, especially if they are from overseas.
“The problem is not just for the 7.5 tonne, Class 1 and 2 drivers, but for the less-experienced car and van drivers who deliver to doors.
“Many older drivers when they need a medical or have to renew their CPC qualification are retiring instead or finding less arduous jobs.
“Younger workers are held back by the length of time it takes to get a driving test, causing some who would previously have taken a driving job to try something else.
“Furthermore, the awful state of the road network makes driving far less attractive. And it’s not just the potholes, but all the road works and congestion that lead to long delays.
“Delivery companies work with tiny margins and high volume and this puts added pressure on drivers.
“The hours are long and are exacerbated by the dreadful roads and with pay being relatively low people can get to the end of the month and not have anything to show for it, so they’re saying ‘why bother?’.
“The work is just not as attractive as it used to be – many of the pay models that would boost income have gone in recent years, such as drivers being able to turn themselves into limited companies.
“All these issues have come together this Christmas during which there will be more demand for deliveries than ever before.
It added that a significant proportion of those leaving the industry are in their 30s and 40s and it now estimates that 60,000 drivers need to be trained each year for the next five years to meet demand and support growth.
Berry Recruitment is part of Berry Recruitment Group and has branches across the country.
