ILL-HEALTH has become a major factor in the growing shortage of HGV drivers, the Unite union reveals today.

The number of lorry and bus drivers who have had a licence refused or revoked has more than doubled in little more than a decade, according to figures obtained by the union through a freedom of information request.

The Driving and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) disclosed that in 2018, some 12,242 bus or HGV licences were refused or revoked for medical reasons — nearly three times the 4,583 withheld in 2005.

Last year, the number dipped to 7,209 — but for most of the year, pandemic rules meant that drivers were not required to be medically assessed to continue driving but merely to declare that they were in good health.

Some drivers reclaim their licences if they return to health, but Unite says that the rising average age of drivers in the industry, which stood at 49.6 years in 2020, combined with long hours, poor conditions and low pay, has seen thousands forced out of the industry permanently.

Describing the DVLA figures as “alarming but unsurprising,” Unite national officer Adrian Jones said: “This is a problem of the employers’ making — forcing their workforces to work long hours in unhealthy environments is going to have major health implications.

“It is essential not only that pay improved but that conditions for drivers are made more palatable, so that they can access more nutritious food and that the long-hours culture, which also leads to a chronic lack of sleep, is tackled.

“What is certain is that the relaxation in the driving hours that is resulting in already exhausted workers operating for longer is making a bad situation worse and will have long-term health implications.”

Bosses’ union the Confederation of British Industry is demanding that ministers act to address staff shortages, warning today that it could take two years for “labour supply problems” to be resolved.

However, its demand that the government use “immigration levers” to alleviate short-term pressure was dismissed by Mr Jones, who said: “The solution for industry is not to raid other countries of their workers but to sit down with Unite and make HGV driving a more attractive proposition. 

“Unite is ready to sit down with employers to set good standards across the sector and we call on the government to establish an industry body to do just that.”

The Department for Transport was invited to comment.