Preseli Pembrokeshire MP, Stephen Crabb, has marked the start of National Lorry Week with a visit to Crymych-based Frenni Transport to highlight some of the key issues facing British road haulage firms. National Lorry Week is run by the Road Haulage Association (RHA) and runs from Monday 19th September.
Stephen works closely with the haulage sector in Pembrokeshire which includes some of the County's largest private employers like Mansel Davies & Son. Nationally the road transport industry, together with its associated warehousing operations, employs over 1.7m people, contributing £75 billion to the economy. This makes it the 5th largest industry in the UK.
At a reception in Parliament last week Stephen was able to discuss with the RHA some of the concerns of Pembrokeshire hauliers like road infrastructure in Wales and the challenges of operating in rural locations.
A major concern facing the industry is the shortfall of approximately 45,000 HGV drivers across the UK. These recruitment and training issues have recently been taken up by comedian Jim Davidson, through his work with the charity, Care After Combat, which he hopes will encourage more veterans to consider driving as a new career after leaving the armed forces. Stephen spoke at length with Jim Davidson about the project which he sees as a key opportunity to take away the reliance on foreign drivers on UK roads.
Commenting on National Lorry Week, Stephen Crabb MP said: “I was delighted to attend the reception in Parliament on Wednesday to show my support for National Lorry Week following my visit to Frenni Transport. The industry is vitally important to the county and in the UK. 85% of everything consumed in the UK is carried by a truck at some stage in the supply chain. These trucks contribute £5.7 billion in fuel duty alone to HM Treasury each year.
“We clearly have an over reliance on foreign lorry drivers here in the UK and I am pleased that Jim Davidson and the RHA are working actively to look at ways to promote the industry to encourage more Brits to move into this important industry.”