Moreton Cullimore’s comments come at the start of the Royal Haulage Associations’s (RHA) annual National Lorry Week, which runs from 25th to 31st October and aims to champion the issues faced by a sector responsible for 89% of all goods transported by land.
According to the RHA, haulage is the UK’s fifth-largest sector, yet the country is currently facing a shortage of around 100 000 lorry drivers.
“The past couple of years have revealed just how much we rely on the truck – breakfast cereals, household supplies, all the way up to the laptops we use when working from home, have all been transported by road at some stage in their lifespans," said Cullimore. "While Covid-19 has opened our eyes, the country has been vulnerable to the driver shortage for a long time. As an industry, we rely on the dedicated work of drivers and office staff, and as a haulage business owner myself, I see first-hand just how much they need to be recognised.
“National Lorry Week is our chance to raise awareness of our industry and put it on the agenda at schools to inspire the next generation of drivers. Without new talent coming through the ranks and making it a valued part of our economy, we simply cannot sustain our supply chains.”
In the build-up to National Lorry Week, a dedicated campaign lorry visited Cullimore’s head office site in Frampton before an event at nearby Whitminster Church of England Endowed Primary School, where pupils learnt about all aspects of road safety and what it is like to be a truck driver. The event was also attended by Stroud MP Siobhan Baillie, who has championed haulage in the House of Commons.
Further information about National Lorry Week is available at https://www.nationallorryweek.co.uk/.
