Speaking at a roundtable on HGV driver facilities at the Scottish Parliament on 10 September, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Transport Sue Webber MSP said that while drivers were recognised for keeping supply chains moving during the Covid-19 pandemic, “four years later they have been forgotten.”
The discussion, organised by business group Logistics UK, brought together representatives from the organisation, the National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (NaVCIS), and Scottish logistics businesses.
Ms Webber told participants that “failing to support our HGV drivers impacts economically on our entire economy and impacts the price of goods we buy.”
She stressed the need for more safe and secure rest areas to help tackle the rising levels of freight crime, adding:
“Our drivers deserve better.”
According to Logistics UK, Scotland is facing a shortage of safe and high-quality truck stops, particularly in the Highlands and other rural regions that play a crucial role in supply chains. The organisation has called on the Scottish government to carry out a national review to identify geographic gaps, priority transport corridors, and minimum facility standards.
Logistics UK Senior Policy Manager Alexandra Herdman emphasised the importance of the logistics workforce, noting that more than 200,000 people are employed in logistics roles across Scotland, representing 7.8% of the workforce.
“Scottish trade is enabled by the logistics sector and HGV drivers but their health, safety and wellbeing is not prioritised by officials or planners. This has to change,” said Ms Herdman.
She added that alongside a national review of facilities, Logistics UK is calling for truck stops to be integrated into planning frameworks and for a dedicated crime code for freight crime to improve data collection and sentencing.
“Those driving freight around the country, and further afield, must have access to the same hygiene and rest facilities afforded to those who work in offices, shops and factories,” Ms Herdman said. “To expect them to be unable to access safe, clean and secure places to rest and eat during and at the end of a working day is unacceptable.”
