IEA Submission: Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) Driver Shortage

Addressing the shortage of Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) drivers is a critical issue. We welcome Minister Naughton’s and the Department of Transport’s continued efforts to tackle the issue. We value our membership of the Department’s National Logistics and Supply Chain Skills Group and the work of the group that is extremely important for our members, of which the logistics and transport sectors accounted for circa 30% of all IEA members in 2020.

The pandemic, and indeed Brexit, has highlighted how critical supply chains are to the functioning of economies, businesses and indeed our lives. The critical role of those that service the supply chains is particularly evident from the widespread distribution of personal protective equipment (PPE) and the delivery of Covid-19 vaccines. HGV drivers play a fundamental role in the movement of goods and their role must be acknowledged as that of critical to the future of trade and the Irish economy as a whole.

Read our feedback to the Department of Transport here