In the run up to the UK’s busiest Christmas in six years, Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin has advised everyone in the UK to do their Christmas shopping now. The warning comes after 20,000 drivers left the logistics industry, according to the Freight Transport Association. Further to the dilemma, agencies supplying additional drivers before the Christmas peak have completely run out.

Kate Gibbs of the Road Haulage Association warns that “There is a possibility that shelves will empty and be slower to fill this Christmas. Realistically, the most affected are likely to be perishable goods which some retailers may not have the space to store. High street shopping may then be affected, followed by online shopping which reached record sales last Christmas” (BBC News, 2014).

Given that 2014 is predicted by experts to be the busiest festive period for spending since the banking crisis, there is a real risk that shop shelves could empty.

The leave and early retirement of 20,000 drivers is thought to be because of the Driver’s Certificate of Professional Competence (DCPC) qualification becoming mandatory in September 2014. This new requirement was set by the European Union, requiring drivers to cover 35 hours of training and £500 in cost. Following this amendment, the logistics industry is currently estimated to be 60,000 drivers short.

Hopefully this will not affect Christmas of many families, but perhaps be wary and listen to the Transport Secretary’s advice and do your Christmas Shopping now!

Sources

• BBC News. 2014. Record online sales over Christmas, says BRC. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-25671561. [Accessed 20 November 14].
• Gloucestershire Echo. 2014. Families urged to get Christmas shopping done now to allay lorry driver shortage. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.gloucestershireecho.co.uk/Families-urged-Christmas-shopping-allay-lorry/story-24533177-detail/story.html?. [Accessed 20 November 14].
• London Evening Standard. 2014. Buy Christmas gifts now, we’re short on lorry drivers, shoppers told. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/buy-christmas-gifts-now-were-short-on-lorry-drivers-shoppers-told-9858998.html. [Accessed 20 November 14].
• Mail Online. 2014. Start Christmas shopping now, warns minister: Lorry driver shortage ‘could mean empty shelves’. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2833404/Do-Christmas-shopping-beat-shortage-lorry-drivers-deliver-gifts-Transport-Secretary-warns.html. [Accessed 20 November 14].
• The Telegraph. 2014. Do your Christmas shopping now, Transport Secretary warns. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/topics/christmas/11230070/Do-your-Christmas-shopping-now-Transport-Secretary-warns.html. [Accessed 20 November 14].