How The Bread Factory Meets HGV Driver Shortages with Experienced Drivers

No company's immune to the UK's ongoing shortage of professional truck drivers.

The Bread Factory, headquartered in London, is an artisanal bakery supplying the UK's top chefs with award-winning bread and pastries noted for their craftsmanship and flavour. They ship bread from London and Manchester bakeries across the kingdom, and each loaf needs to arrive fresh, appetizing, and in plenty of time for the daily dining rush.

When a driver calls in sick or a new order upends their schedule, they need reliable drivers straight away. That's why they work with Driver Require.

The UK's driver shortage is ongoing

The UK's driver shortage is well known, with industry insiders flagging the problem (and its potentially dire consequences) for many years. There’s now evidence that the UK is closing the gap on driver shortages, but there's still a deficit in the number of drivers required. The Road Haulage Association estimates that the industry needs 200,000 new drivers to complete professional competence in the next five years.

One of the root causes of the driver shortage is low uptake of driving as a profession. Currently, the average age of HGV drivers is between 50 and 59 years old, which means that many experienced drivers will be retiring within the next decade. And the UK’s 2021 census found that only 1.6% of HGV drivers were aged 24 or under, meaning these retiring drivers have no replacements.

A significant portion of drivers also retire early or switch careers due to poor working conditions and low pay. But the future promises an increased demand for materials and goods deliveries, compounding the effects of the truck driver shortage.

The UK isn't alone. On the continent, EU drivers are facing the same struggle: an ageing workforce and not enough young people to take their place in Europe’s logistics industry. The UK, EU, and Norway are missing 233,000 truck drivers combined.

Unexpected absences threaten to derail delivery

When there are fewer hands on deck to cover unexpected absences or drive special, one-off routes, companies feel the crunch. A sick day turns into a scramble to rearrange scheduling and cover the absence. An opportunity to serve a new (but promising) customer with a custom delivery stalls without flexibility in the roster.

It's hard to grow without reliable lorry drivers

Half of European haulage businesses can't expand because they lack drivers, and B2C companies that depend on professional truck drivers to deliver goods face limited growth. Without drivers, supply chains dismantle and economies suffer, and so do the individual consumers who rely on receiving their products.

The Bread Factory keeps experienced HGV drivers on hand with Driver Require

The Bread Factory has been "baking better" for over 30 years, but in those decades, they've witnessed the driver shortage becoming decidedly worse.

It can be hard to find dependable drivers to hire on a permanent basis, and it's harder again to plug holes in the roster when illness or an unexpected delivery request stretches their driver resources. But, thanks to a decades-long partnership with Driver Require, logistics professionals at The Bread Factory know exactly who to call when they're short on drivers.

Experienced drivers at a moment's notice

When a driver misses work due to injury, illness, or emergency, The Bread Factory rings Driver Require. They know they'll receive a fully-licensed professional with a wealth of driving experience. Accountability, reliability, and exceptional customer service are always part of the package.

What's more, they know they'll get the replacement driver they need regardless of short notice. We've helped them out of many tight spots through the years, and as Transport Manager Mo Chaima puts it, "They have pretty much been our safety net to help us out of any sort of trouble that we've come into."

Mo goes on, "When that comes down to unexpected illnesses, unexpected absences, extra jobs that have come through that we need covering, they've always been there to support us and get us through the hard times."

Ongoing education for drivers new to The Bread Factory's routes

The Bread Factory uses Driver Require to cover planned absences as well as unexpected ones, whether they need to cover short-term routes or staff holidays.

They know that even our new HGV drivers have every heavy goods vehicle training and licensing that they require, and the drivers we supply will be briefed on routes, customer preferences, and The Bread Factory's delivery standards.

In short, Driver Require drivers stand in seamlessly at The Bread Factory, filling an essential role at one of the country's premiere artisanal baked goods leaders.

A long-standing relationship that never lets them down

Driver shortages are a long-standing issue, but thanks to their relationship with Driver Require, The Bread Factory has a winning solution. Now retired, Transport Manager Marc Baily described our crucial role as more than a B2B contact; it's like family.

"Driver Require has been a reliable company 24/7. Any time of the day or night, they are on hand to give us support, always. Driver Require has been like a family team. They phone up to have a conversation, we get visited by Driver Require. They're just a good team to work with"

Marc's enthusiasm for Driver Require is born of a 25-year partnership based on respect and professionalism. For more than two decades, we've supplied The Bread Factory with drivers they can count on to learn on the job and represent their company to clients, all at a moment's notice.

You can't wait for industry stakeholders to solve the driver shortage

Government and industry collaboration are actively seeking to address the factors contributing to the UK's driver shortage with key measures like better working conditions and higher pay for new entrants to the field.

But while the UK government and private companies incentivise new drivers to join the industry and educational institutions ramp up their HGV license training programs, your company needs reliable HGV and coach drivers today. Talk to our team to solve your driver shortage problems as they arise.