Sue Webber stressed the wider economic consequences of neglecting the sector
The critical role played by HGV drivers during the Covid pandemic has been overlooked in the years since, according to Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Transport Sue Webber MSP.
Speaking at the Scottish Parliament on 10 September, where business group Logistics UK hosted a roundtable on HGV driver facilities, Ms Webber said the contribution of drivers was “recognised and understood, but four years later they have been forgotten.”
The Shadow Cabinet Secretary was joined by representatives from Logistics UK, the National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (NaVCIS), and member businesses from across Scotland to discuss the challenges facing the industry.
In her remarks, Ms Webber stressed the wider economic consequences of neglecting the sector: “failing to support our HGV drivers impacts economically on our entire economy and impacts the price of goods we buy.” She highlighted the urgent need for “safe and secure locations for trucks to stop” in order “to address the escalating levels of freight crime.” Concluding her comments, she declared: “our drivers deserve better.”
According to Logistics UK, Scotland faces a chronic shortage of high-quality, safe truck stops, particularly in the Highlands and rural areas. These regions, while remote, are crucial to the nation’s logistics and supply chain. The business group is urging the Scottish Government to carry out an evidence-based national review to identify geographic gaps, priority corridors and establish minimum standards.
Speaking after the event, Logistics UK’s Senior Policy Manager Alexandra Herdman underlined the scale of the sector’s importance: “More than 200,000 people are employed in logistics roles in Scotland which represents 7.8% of the nation’s workforce but their contribution to the country’s growth and the economy as a whole is not always recognised. 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.”
Ms Herdman also called for truck stops to be built into planning frameworks and for a specific crime code for freight crime to be introduced, enabling better data collection and sentencing. She added: “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 – 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.”