Thread by @Telegraph

🛑Thousands of army veterans are ready to help tackle the HGV crisis but are being ignored by the Government, a logistic expert has said.

Service leavers and veterans are being hampered as they try to move into the road haulage sector

Thread ~⬇️
telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/10/0…

📝It has emerged that the haulage industry was warned as far back as 2016 that it faced a shortage of as many as 100,000 drivers as it struggled to attract new truckers to replace those retiring or leaving the industry

telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/09/2…

Former soldier Darren Wright, of Veterans into Logistics, says with government support it would take only four weeks to train new truck drivers.

🚛The Government says 200 military personnel are due to start helping ease the fuel crisis on Monday

Wright said the UK needs a drivers’ “bootcamp” to fast-track people. “To get out of this mess and speed things up we all need to work together,” he said.

🚫“We’ve been lobbying hard. Companies are screaming out for drivers, but the idea fell on deaf ears"
telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/10/0…

The Defence Secretary said in an interview with @Telegraph that the military drivers will remain on fuel delivery duties “for as long as it's needed”.

⛽️@Telegraph understands each military driver will be able to deliver around 38,000litres of fuel over a working day

📇Wright said there are thousands of veterans with HGV licenses, but without the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence - a civilian qualification not awarded by the military and which “takes months” - they are unable to drive equivalent vehicles
telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/10/0…

“HGV practical driver training takes five days, it’s everything else that takes forever.”

If the Government was to allow Veterans into Logistics to use two military examiners, Wright said he could be passing eight HGV drivers a day.

✅“With the right support this won’t be hard”

❌“We shouldn’t be in this position as a country, we shouldn’t have a shortage of truck drivers. It’s been coming for a long time”
telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/10/0…

Sean Thorley, a former soldier in the Royal Artillery, said: “In less than a month I’ve got a new career as a HGV driver with secure employment, enabling me to provide for myself and my family”

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telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/10/0…