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Successful attempts to plug the HGV technician skills gap are not yet translating through to those qualified to work on electric lorries, with the shortfall predicted to hit 43,000 by 2035 according to industry figures.
Despite HGV technician starts increasing by 47% since the pandemic, the number trained on electric variants is falling behind demand – and could present another barrier to hauliers considering transitioning to cleaner vehicles.
The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) said almost 75,000 technicians now have an EV qualification, but this is still only one in three of the technician workforce.
Total HGV pathway starts reached 1,507 in 2024/25, an increase of 1.8% year-on-year and starts have risen by 47% from a pandemic low in 2020/21.
The IMI said ASA levy funding and older learners over 25 were helping to boost the figures.
However, Logistics UK warned that there remained a significant shortfall in technicians qualified to work on eHGVs.
“The sale of new internal combustion engine vehicles is set to end in less than 10 years for the lightest road freight vehicles, and under 15 for the heaviest,” said Chris Lipscomb, director of operations at Logistics UK.
“Logistics operators need to prioritise investment in EV technicians now, to ensure electric and hybrid vehicles can be integrated into fleets as smoothly as possible.
“Businesses also have a responsibility under the Health and Safety at Work Act to provide awareness and practical training for staff who operate or come into contact with EVs.
“With increasing numbers of electric vehicles being used across all vehicle types, from company cars and grey fleet to vans and HGVs, there will be more staff now that need training so they can continue to work safely while ensuring business operations are not disrupted.”
The IMI said the reliance on older workers showed that there were career change and development opportunities for those with existing experience, although it risked removing the focus on attracting new entrants.
“The current reliance on older than average trainees, together with the high proportion of ASA levy funding, means the security of adult learners and therefore the HGV workforce supply is sensitive to policy or funding changes,” said IMI CEO Nick Connor.
“This highlights the need to support flexible training routes and protect adult learner funding to sustaining growth and meet future HGV workforce needs.”
The warning from Logistics UK came as it launched its autumn programme of EV courses, created to address the skills gap.
