Susie Jones
Nieuws en updates • 3 min lezen

Vrachtwagenchauffeurs vechten de term "chauffeurstekort" aan

Gemaakt: 15-08-2024

Bijgewerkt: 18-12-2024

Op 11 april 2024 opende de [DfT] (https://www.fleetpoint.org/fleet-management-2/driver-shortage/consultation-opened-of-how-to-address-the-driver-shortage-for-hgv-and-coach/) een raadpleging over maatregelen om het chauffeurstekort op te lossen. Ze willen voorstellen om iemand de kans te geven zijn theorie- en terreinmanoeuvre-examen af te leggen voordat hij een voorlopig rijbewijs voor vrachtwagens krijgt.

Sinds Covid-19 en Brexit heeft de sector een daling van het aantal vrachtwagenchauffeurs gezien. De pandemie heeft 30.000 tests voor nieuwe chauffeurs uitgesteld en Brexit heeft vlootbedrijven hard getroffen - veel Europese vrachtwagenchauffeurs hebben het VK verlaten.

Een rapport van SNAP uit 2023 suggereert dat de sector in de komende 10-15 jaar een '[omslagpunt] (https://snapacc.com/tipping-point/)' zou kunnen bereiken. In combinatie met een vergrijzende beroepsbevolking zullen de behoeften van de sector het tekort aan gekwalificeerde chauffeurs overtreffen.

Wat vinden vrachtwagenchauffeurs?

Op sociale media vroeg SNAP chauffeurs om hun mening te geven over het voorstel van het DfT. Veel chauffeurs gaven geen commentaar op de regeling, maar 72,5% betwistte de term 'chauffeurstekort' en noemde het bangmakerij.

In plaats daarvan verklaarden ze dat de volgende zaken ervoor zorgden dat ervaren chauffeurs de sector verlieten en, in combinatie daarmee, nieuwe sollicitanten afschrikten:

Lonen

Van de 72,5% gaf 28% aan dat het lage loon een afschrikmiddel was. Bestuurders op de sociale mediapagina's van SNAP suggereerden dat ze meer konden verdienen in andere beroepen:

"Ik heb een vrachtwagenrijbewijs, maar geen zin om het te gebruiken. Ik verdien momenteel meer per uur als rijinstructeur. Het is helemaal geen chauffeurstekort."

*"Betaal de chauffeurs meer geld en geef ze betere faciliteiten.

Er bestaan misvattingen over de lonen van vrachtwagenchauffeurs in het Verenigd Koninkrijk - de opvatting is dat vrachtwagenchauffeurs meer verdienen dan de gemiddelde werknemer. Volgens [National Careers] (https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/job-profiles/large-goods-vehicle-driver) bedraagt het gemiddelde salaris voor een vrachtwagenchauffeur in het Verenigd Koninkrijk £22.000 tot £40.000 - met ervaren chauffeurs die het hoogste salaris verdienen.

Faciliteiten

Ook de faciliteiten werden door velen onder de loep genomen - 20% gaf slechte normen de schuld voor het wegduwen van gekwalificeerde chauffeurs. De standaard van de faciliteiten bij truckstops in het Verenigd Koninkrijk is door mensen uit de branche kritisch onder de loep genomen en velen zeggen dat ze het geld niet waard zijn.

De DfT heeft belangrijke actie ondernomen met hun subsidieregeling van £6 miljoen [HGV Parking and Driver Welfare grant scheme] (https://www.smmt.co.uk/2024/05/first-class-facilities-truckstops-to-be-upgraded-with-16-5m-funding/#:~:text=Under%20the%20plans%2C%2038%20truckstops,significantly%20upgrade%20facilities%20for%20drivers.) - gesteund door nog eens 10,5 miljoen pond van de industrie. Het programma zal investeren in 38 truckstops in heel Engeland om de faciliteiten voor chauffeurs te verbeteren, waaronder nieuwe douches en restaurants en betere beveiliging.

Naast de verbeterde faciliteiten zal het project hopelijk ongeveer 430 nieuwe parkeerplaatsen voor vrachtwagens creëren, waardoor er minder parkeerplekken zullen zijn en de locaties aan het begin van de avond vol zullen zijn.

Gebrek aan werk

Ook verklaarde 20% van de chauffeurs dat ze wel een rijbewijs hadden, maar geen werk konden vinden. Volgens het Office for National Statistics (ONS) zijn er meer dan 183.000 banen voor vrachtwagenchauffeurs in het Verenigd Koninkrijk. Desondanks heeft elke regio andere kansen op werk, wat resulteert in een ongelijke vraag in het Verenigd Koninkrijk. Meerdere chauffeurs deelden hun ervaringen met het vinden van werk:

"Ik ben al zeven maanden in de klas en kan geen baan krijgen. Ik zou graag willen weten waar het tekort is."

"Welk tekort? Er ligt niet veel werk voor het grijpen."

Vakbekwaamheidscertificaat bestuurder

10% van de respondenten die het noch eens noch oneens waren met de term 'chauffeurstekort', verklaarden dat het [getuigschrift van vakbekwaamheid bestuurder (CPC)] (https://www.gov.uk/driver-cpc-training/getting-your-driver-cpc-card) een cruciale rol had gespeeld in het teruglopende aantal vrachtwagenchauffeurs.

Het in 2009 geïntroduceerde CPC heeft als doel de verkeersveiligheid, professionaliteit en het milieubewustzijn te verbeteren - het zorgt er ook voor dat chauffeurs op de hoogte zijn van alle gezondheids-, veiligheids- en wettelijke vereisten. Uit de resultaten van een raadpleging over een beleidsherziening van het getuigschrift bleek dat [47%] (https://www.hgvtraining.co.uk/hgv-training/what-is-cpc/#:~:text=It%20was%20brought%20in%20to,1000%20for%20driving%20without%20it) van de vrachtwagenchauffeurs het getuigschrift ineffectief of zeer ineffectief vond. Op de sociale media van SNAP gaf een chauffeur het volgende commentaar:

*"Schaf de CPC af en ik ga diensten draaien. Ik ga niet betalen om 35 uur te werken, om te leren wat ik al jaren elke dag doe.

De regering heeft een reeks wijzigingen aan het getuigschrift van vakbekwaamheid geschetst om de flexibiliteit bij het verlengen en opnieuw behalen van de kwalificatie te vergroten. Naast veranderingen in de lengte van de cursus zal de regering samen met het Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency meer kerninhoud voor de cursus ontwikkelen.

Externe factoren, zoals Brexit en COVID-19, in combinatie met industriegerelateerde kwesties, hebben de werkgelegenheidscijfers in de transportsector aanzienlijk beïnvloed. In een steeds veranderende omgeving moet de sector waar nodig veranderingen blijven doorvoeren om meer chauffeurs aan te trekken en te behouden.

Over SNAP

SNAP is de digitale marktplaats - die vlootreizen van depot tot bestemming in heel Europa met elkaar verbindt via technologie, beveiliging en een uitgebreid Europees netwerk.

De service wordt elke 13 seconden gebruikt door een van de meer dan 190.000 vrachtwagenchauffeurs die het betaalsysteem van SNAP gebruiken. Transacties vinden plaats via een netwerk van meer dan 600 servicepartners voor vrachtwagens in heel Europa. Gratis aanmelden

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