Recommendation 2

In the past, the Department for Transport argued that the haulage sector itself was primarily responsible for addressing driver recruitment and retention. The unprecedented nature of the recent crisis led the Government to take a different tack. That change was welcome. However, the Government’s piecemeal approach has involved a range of limited and/or temporary measures. Government intervention also gives the impression that the issue of driver shortages is for the Government alone to fix. Whilst the Government has a role to play, this is a private sector industry, and we believe the private sector needs to put its own house in order.