join me now is leslie o brien, the founder of the haulage firm that has over 30 vehicles in operation. thank ou for over 30 vehicles in operation. thank you forjoining over 30 vehicles in operation. thank you forjoining us over 30 vehicles in operation. thank you forjoining us here over 30 vehicles in operation. thank you forjoining us here on over 30 vehicles in operation. thank you forjoining us here on bbc- over 30 vehicles in operation. thank you forjoining us here on bbc news. can ijust first you forjoining us here on bbc news. can i just first start off by asking, what are your thoughts on the difference in figures? is it 5000 or 100,000 drivers that are actually needed? what is closer to the truth? ~ , i: i: i: i: i: the truth? well, it is 100,000 drivers that the truth? well, it is 100,000 drivers that are the truth? well, it is 100,000 drivers that are short. - the truth? well, it is 100,000 drivers that are short. so, - the truth? well, it is 100,000 drivers tha
this haulage firm in northampton has never found recruitment so hard. in the past few months, we ve increased salaries twice, by a significant amount, which we then need to pass on to our customers, where we can. so, this is all driving up costs, basically? absolutely, it is. next door, there is a business which trains up new drivers. steering quickly, driving as slow as you can. it s getting plenty of interest from locals. the testing system is set to change soon to make it simpler, but the manager here says that s not a quick fix for the shortage. the idea is that they remove the middle test, so that you can go from your fiat 500 straight into an articulated vehicle class one, cat ce. in actuality, you re probably going to find that the pass rate will drop. the course length will have to be longer. you re going to be delivering fewer tests. the government has so far resisted calls for temporary visas to plug the gap. it is now working on plans to introduce them. i would do what ever
until we get, in about two days time, the current rates, we ll want another. whether we ll get it or not, we just don t know at the moment. the firm that delivers for bp sought to reassure motorists. our trucks keep rolling, we have seen a small amount of panic buying, and i think i ll be clear, if people adhere to their normal buying patterns there is more than enough resilience in the station service network to deal with that. there is no need for people to rush out and fill up, the country is not running out of fuel. there isn t a shortage of fuel. where we are seeing issues, it s because of another problem the lack of available lorry drivers. it s thought there s currently a shortfall of tens of thousands in the uk. the problem has been building for years, but has been made worse by factors including the pandemic and brexit. this haulage firm in northampton has never found recruitment so hard. in the past few months, we ve increased salaries twice, by a significant amount, which
of thousands in the uk. the problem has been building for years, but has been made worse by factors including the pandemic and brexit. this haulage firm in northampton has never found recruitment so hard. in the past few months, we ve increased salaries twice, by a significant amount, which we then need to pass on to our customers, where we can. so, this is all driving up costs, basically? absolutely, it is. next door, there s a business which trains up new drivers. steering quickly, driving as slow as you can. it s getting plenty of interest from locals. the testing system is set to change soon to make it simpler, but the manager here says that s not a quick fix for the shortage. the idea is that they remove the middle test, so that- you can go from your fiat 500 straight into an articulated - vehicle class one, cat ce. in actuality, you re i probably going to find that the pass rate will drop. the course length -
where we are seeing issues, it s because of another problem the lack of available lorry drivers. it s thought this currently a shortfall of tens of thousands in the uk. the problem has been building for years but has been made worse by factors including the pandemic and brexit. this haulage firm in northampton has never found recruitment so hard. in the past few months, we ve increased salaries twice, by a significant amount, which we then need to pass on to our customers, where we can. so, this is all driving up costs, basically? absolutely, it is. next door, there is a business which trains up new drivers. steering quickly, driving as slow as you can. it s getting plenty of interest from locals. the testing system is set to change soon to make it simpler, but the manager here says that s not a quick fix for the shortage. the idea is that they remove the middle test, so that you can go from your fiat 500 straight into an articulated vehicle class one, cat ce. in actuality, you re pr