The Road Haulage Association (RHA) has urged ministers to restore key training schemes and overhaul the skills funding system after new figures exposed the scale of the UK’s driver shortage. According to the organisation, around 100,000 HGV drivers let their Driver Qualification Card lapse in the past year alone — roughly one in six of Britain’s working-age lorry drivers. Worryingly, many of those stepping away from the job are in their 30s and 40s, raising fresh concerns about long-term workforce sustainability.

The RHA now estimates that to keep pace with demand and maintain economic growth, the UK must train about 60,000 new drivers every year for the next five years. With almost 80 percent of goods travelling by road, the organisation says that bolstering the supply of qualified HGV drivers is essential to protecting supply chains and preventing future disruption.

Managing Director Richard Smith stressed that recruitment and training need immediate government attention. He criticised the closure of national HGV bootcamp programmes, warning that many haulage firms cannot afford rising training costs without support. Smith said that reinstating these schemes should be a priority until a reformed Growth and Skills Levy can guarantee long-term training options.

Concerns over long working hours, poor roadside facilities and a lack of safe parking are also pushing people out of the profession. The RHA is calling on industry leaders, training providers and policymakers to collaborate on lasting solutions that secure the workforce for the decade ahead.