John Lewis and Waitrose increase lorry driver salaries by £5,000

UK department store John Lewis, together with premium supermarket chain Waitrose, have become the latest big names to offer lorry drivers a 4-figure bonus or annual salary increase. The two retailers, both part of the John Lewis Partnership, say they are now offering truck drivers £5,000 more per year amid competition for labour during the current shortage.

As STV News reports, LGV drivers employed by John Lewis and Waitrose will receive a pay rise of around £2 an hour in their base pay across all its regional and national distribution sites. The aim of the high wages is to guarantee the John Lewis Partnership can continue to hire truckers at “market competitive rates”.

Together, the two retailers have around 900 drivers on their books who will see their wages raised.

Commenting on the new pay rates, Mark Robinson, director of supply chain at the partnership, said:

“There’s never been a better time to get behind the wheel for Waitrose and John Lewis. We’re responding quickly to the national driver shortage by ensuring our drivers are paid competitively and by investing in training for the future. These changes will mean that we can continue to serve our customers well and get them the products they need.”

In addition to the above, new drivers with C+E licences recruited before November will also receive a signing-on bonus of £1000.