A freight firm in Dartford has taken steps to ease the emerging supply chain crisis by opening an academy to train up a new intake of lorry drivers.

Europa Road hopes it will alleviate a growing pressures on supply chains - sparked by an exodus of staff due to Brexit and last year's pandemic-caused absence of new drivers being able to qualify.

Industry body the Road Haulage Association estimates there is a shortfall of 100,000 HGV drivers now, against its pre-Covid estimate of 60,000.

Furthermore, lobby groups for the retail and transport industries have jointly written to Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng warning the impact on supply chains is getting worse.

They want a review of plans not to grant temporary work visas to drivers from the EU as well as better training.

Formed by logistics giant the Europa Worldwide Group, the training academy, known as the Europa School of Wheels, has already attracted its first wave of recruits - with more than 300 applying for the roles.

Dan Cook, operations director at Europa Worldwide Group, said: “The Covid pandemic, Brexit and the IR35 rules have accelerated an existing problem.

"My own view is we have a major timebomb ticking here, and if we are not careful there will be a serious problem for UK distribution in the coming months, let alone years. So far, many companies have been forced to simply increase wages. It is what we have done because we cannot afford to be without drivers. It is also correct because this is a skilled and responsible job and should be identified as such. But I recognise we are contributing to the industry problem, not fixing it. The fix is to ‘create’ new drivers.

“So, we are investing in in-house training based in Dartford with a target to take 10 ‘non drivers’ through a programme hopefully over the next six-to-nine months. An expensive but necessary investment, and one that participates in resolving the problem.

“Our new training initiative will be developed with a leading provider to train and create additional HGV Class 2 drivers from scratch, with an intention to further upskill to Class 1."

Europa Road employs around 45 drivers based in Dartford.

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