UK lorry drivers feel undervalued, have a low level of job satisfaction and feel disengaged, according to a recent survey by Talent in Logistics.

The survey into HGV driver engagement, carried out in collaboration with Pertemps Driving Division ahead of the Covid-19 lockdown, revealed that just 30% of UK HGV drivers in the UK feel valued.

The survey also revealed that just 9% of drivers surveyed blamed the driver shortage on facilities, with poor pay (34%), poor working hours (19%) and a lack of respect for the role (12%) cited as key factors.

The research which surveyed more than 1,300 respondents during February and March this year, found that less than half of the drivers surveyed feel motivated to work hard for their employers, indicating a high level of disengagement.

Results also showed that less than 50% of drivers believe that their company is diverse and inclusive in their recruitment – a view borne out by the demographics of the survey respondents, which revealed that more than seven out of 10 drivers surveyed (72.5%) were aged 41 or over, and 95% were male.

The research also found that fewer than half of the drivers surveyed said that they felt proud (47%) or motivated (49%) to work for their company, with overall employee engagement for HGV drivers standing at around 48%. This comes in significantly lower than the national average in which two-thirds of UK workers are satisfied with their jobs, according to research by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.

Ruth Edwards, Talent in Logistics business development director said: “During the coronavirus pandemic, drivers have been working extra hours to keep the country moving as ‘key workers’ – it’s never been more apparent that they are vital to the supply chain.

“However, our survey shows that employers have a long way to go to make drivers feel engaged, valued and important.”

Samantha Leleu, general manager at Pertemps Driving Division said: “The industry has faced real challenges for several years and these challenges became even greater during the recent pandemic. However, if Covid-19 has taught us anything, it is to value the key workers we have in this country.”

The results of the driver engagement survey are contained in a new white paper published by Talent in Logistics.

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