The Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) warns Ireland is facing a serious shortage of HGV drivers just ahead of the Christmas rush. Supply chains are under pressure as delivery demand rises and driver numbers fall.
Key facts:
Training and licensing delays for new drivers can stretch up to two years.
The cost for new drivers tops €1,000 in some cases.
Recruiting qualified drivers from abroad is hampered by bureaucracy, visa issues and licence-exchange delays.
Young people and women remain under-represented in the haulage industry.
What this means for you (if you operate in logistics or retail):
Expect potential delivery delays around peak season.
Review your driver rosters now and plan for contingencies.
Look at training subsidies or faster recruitment routes to fill your driver vacancies.
What the IRHA is pushing for:
Faster licence testing and lower training costs.
Streamlined process for hiring drivers from abroad.
More recruitment of local young people and women into HGV driving.
If you act early you can reduce your risk of disruption. Make your driver-strategy part of your Christmas supply-chain plan.