Britain’s road-haulage sector is facing a widening gap between demand for drivers and the cost of recruiting them. Forecasts indicate that the economy may require 400,000 new HGV drivers annually, yet fewer than 2% of current drivers are under 24. More than 55% are aged between 50 and 65.
The figures point to a difficult replacement cycle as older drivers approach retirement. Training costs have doubled over the past decade, according to Dojo’s UK Inflation Index, increasing the investment required to put a new driver on the road.
Insurance costs for UK haulage have risen by 57% over the same period. Because inexperienced drivers often attract higher premiums, efforts to bring younger people into the industry may carry an additional financial penalty. Staffing costs rose by 44% in the last year, with higher National Insurance contributions in 2025 and competition for drivers contributing to the increase.
Operators are therefore looking for efficiencies elsewhere in the business. Telematics can provide live vehicle-location data for route planning and fuel management, while driver-behaviour monitoring can identify idling, harsh braking and excessive acceleration.
Such systems will not resolve the underlying recruitment problem, but they can help hauliers reduce avoidable operating costs and make better use of the vehicles and drivers already available.
A multilingual professional experienced in Europe, Canada, and China, Herbert has developed invaluable networks in the automotive and energy industries. He has led high-profile projects involving ENBW, Mercedes-Benz Group, Siemens Group, and the Fraunhofer Institute.