There is currently no shortage of HGV drivers in the island, according to a haulage company.

In the UK, a shortage of heavy goods vehicle (HGV) drivers has hit supply chains and concerns have arisen about how this will affect the Isle of Man.

John Quaye, chairman of Manx Independent Carriers, explained he had seen no issues with lack of HGV drivers in the company despite the company having a distribution centre based in Skelmersdale in the UK.

He said: ’We currently have no problems locally with our HGV drivers, we have a good reliable crew and very low staff turnover - most of our HGV drivers have been with us long term.’

Mr Quaye also didn’t expect there to be any issues in the Isle of Man in the near future.

He continued: ’I don’t foresee any problems with drivers employed locally but obviously there are problems in the UK and indeed in various European countries that will undoubtedly continue at least in the short term.’

It has been estimated by the Road Haulage Association (RHA), there is a gap of 100,000 lorry drivers in the UK.

This is apparently due to the Covid-19 pandemic and partly Brexit.

The shortage of HGV drivers for fuel specifically is also in part due to the need for a separate qualification to deliver hazardous substances.

About 25,000 HGV drivers from the EU left during 2020 and didn’t come back to the UK, and there is a backlog of 40,000 waiting to take their HGV tests.

Peter Howe, director of Motivation Driving School which teaches HGV drivers, told the Manx Independent there had not been a significant uptake in residents wanting to learn to drive HGVs.

He said: ’We haven’t had people wanting to do heavy goods because of the problems in the UK.

’We’re very busy with training. I don’t there’s such a thing as an uptake, there’s been quite a backlog from the Covid lockdown.’

They are booked up until late January for learners.

backlog

’The backlog has been caused by the test centre not being able to get all [the tests] done, there’s been so many people waiting.’

However, Mr Howe explained if a Manx person did learn to drive a HGV in the island, they could do it over a three-day intensive course and the licence would be applicable in the UK.

Meanwhile, the UK government is urging the public not to panic buy fuel and ’carry on as normal’, while also putting the army on standby to deliver supplies if needed.

In spite of this, long queues have been building in many UK petrol stations in the last week.

The same has been happening in the island, as Ellan Vannin Fuels (EVF) put out a post on social media this week reminding people not to store fuel without a licence.

EVF explained that storing over 10 litres of fuel is a criminal offence unless you have a licence.

The company also advised people who are travelling to the UK to fill up before they leave to avoid the ’current issues reported in the UK press’.

Manx Petroleum has refused to comment on the effect the fuel crisis could have on the island.