A recent report by Transport Intelligence highlighted the fact that Britain is not alone in Europe when it comes to HGV driver shortages. Data from 2020 shows Germany short of 45,00-65,000  drivers, while in Poland, whose population is just over 50% of the UK's, the number is almost 124,000 - noticeably higher than the 100,000 UK figure referred to by the RHA.

Despite this, shelves in Poland's supermarkets are fully stocked. Moreover, there are next-to-no reports of pubs or restaurants experiencing supply chain issues. Naturally, this begs the question, how can this disparity exist despite the driver shortage arguably being worse in Poland?

In order to find out why, we spoke to Michael Clover, Transport Intelligence's Head Of Commercial Development.

There’s a Europe-wide HGV driver shortage. So why do UK supply chains seem more disrupted?

The <a href="https://britishmeatindustry.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">British Meat Processors Association</a> Chief Executive fears that a high-import economy could be on the way, negatively impacting the UK's food security and lengthening its food supply chains.

BMPA CEO Nick Allen explains how a ‘high-skill' UK economy may impact food security and supply chains

Jochum Reuter explains why FourKites' predictive ETA is key to bridging visibility gaps

What does project44's desire to cooperate with more carriers have in common with Visa and Mastercard? In this Trans.INFO exclusive, Kristian Kaas Mortensen, Senior Director of Global Partnerships & Alliances at project44, explains

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New winter tyre regulations in force in France from this November

The Culina Group, <a href="https://trans.info/en/culina-group-acquires-eddie-stobart-to-create-2-2-billion-fmcg-logistics-business-244200" target="_blank" rel="noopener">which acquired Eddie Stobart in July</a>, has revealed that the classic Eddie Stobart green, red and white livery is set to become a thing of the past as part of the company's new brand identity.

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New look for Stobart trucks and trailers following Culina acquisition

The number of Lithuanian transport companies opening branches abroad is growing. Almost 500 carriers from the Baltic nation already operate in Poland alone; as recently as the beginning this year, the number was less than a hundred.

Almost 500 Lithuanian hauliers have already moved to Poland, and their fleets are set to expand

The UK Government is set to unveil a significant change to the country's HGV testing system in order to get new drivers into work faster. The BBC reports that the changes could be announced as soon as tomorrow.

Report: UK HGV driver testing set to be significantly shortened

The autonomous community of Catalonia in Spain is introducing truck bans on Sundays on the AP7 motorway - the most important route from Spain to the French border. Spanish hauliers are fuming, saying the measure will have “catastrophic consequences for Spanish exports".

Sunday truck ban to be introduced on the AP7 motorway in Catalonia

The Road Haulage Association (RHA) has announced that the Urban Driver Standard apprenticeship scheme has been given the green light, and so there are two apprenticeships for HGV drivers in England. The association hopes the two schemes will help to ease driver shortage in the UK.

Urban Driver Standard apprenticeship launched to ease driver shortage in the UK

Ireland's Minister of State for Skills and Further Education has formally launched a new Eco Driving course for the haulage sector. The programme is intended to train existing drivers how to drive in a more fuel efficient and safe manner. 

Ireland launches new Eco Driving course for the haulage sector

Danish international shipping and logistics company DFDS has announced the acquisition of ICT Logistics, a Danish freight forwarder founded in 1997.

DFDS announces acquisition of ICT Logistics

The European Road Haulers Association (UETR) has stressed there is an urgent need to construct secure lorry parking areas in Europe. The organisation also wants to see a defined EU standard for Safe and Secure Truck Parking Areas (SSTPAs) so as to ensure the quality of parking facilities is levelled across the EU.

UETR: urgent need for secure lorry parks and harmonised EU lorry park standard

Urgent roadworks need to be carried out on the Luegbrücke, the longest bridge on the Austrian A 13 Brenner motorway. Between 20-25 September, severe congestion is expected due to single-lane traffic management, as well as additional block checks on lorries from Tuesday to Thursday, the operator of the motorway warns.

Brenner Roadworks: 4 days of congestion expected next week

Transport Minister Grant Shapps says he is open to discussing the matter with MP Ben Lake; Whites Transport Services post about RDC delivery delays is shared over 4,000 times.

Transport Minister open to discussing Distribution Centre issues as hauliers fume over delivery delays

From the beginning of 2022, trucks with a maximum authorized weight of up to 50 tonnes will be allowed to drive on the roads of Flanders. The regional government approved the new rules last Monday.

Belgian region to increase lorry weight limits to 50 tonnes

As the risk of theft of cargo is ever-present whenever goods travel on the road, shippers and carriers have sought ways to either alleviate or completely eliminate the risk of goods, especially high-value ones, going missing. As e-commerce volumes continue to rise, and more high-end brand items are carried on the road, and the risk for shippers is continuously growing.

Carrying high-value goods on the road: challenges and requirements

The UK Government's plan to <a href="https://trans.info/en/report-uk-hgv-driver-testing-set-to-be-significantly-shortened-253742" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shorten the HGV driver test</a> to help fill the current driver shortage “is not a solution, it is a risk," says Harinder Singh, Managing Director of BJS Distribution Storage and Couriers. The manager adds that temporary visas for drivers would be a more practical solution.

Easier driver test is “a risk, not a solution,” says BJS director Harinder Singh

The French A9 motorway was flooded yesterday morning in the Gard area due to heavy rains. Cars and HGVs were under water, the motorway had to be closed, and twenty-three people had to be rescued from their vehicles by firefighters.

Cars and lorries under water on southern French motorway after heavy rain

Payroll management in the trucking business differs from that of most other industries. Because drivers are sometimes paid by the mile or by the load rather than by a weekly or monthly payment, having the correct payroll software and <a href="https://easylogisticsmanagement.com/2021/04/13/freight-tracking-how-it-works-and-how-fms-software-make-it-easy/" rel="dofollow">automating trucking business</a> can save HR time and problems.

How to do payroll in a trucking business

Electric lorry manufacturer Volta Trucks has confirmed an investment of €37 million via Series B funding. The company also says Volta Zero pre-orders have passed 2,500.

Volta Zero pre-orders pass 2,500; company secures €37 million of Series B funding

Not 33, but 37 pallets can be transported by an 18-meter-long vehicle set in Italy. The Italian government, which passed a law to allow such long lorries on the roads last week, together with haulier organisations, hopes that such transportation can “rationalize logistic flows".

Italy introduces 18-metre-long vehicle sets on the roads

On Friday, a day later than expected, the UK Government unveiled its plan to fast-track HGV driver testing. However, the proposals were more wide-ranging than anticipated, and a number of elements in the plan have drawn criticism from lorry drivers and road transport specialists.

UK Government’s HGV driver testing changes spark heavy debate