Back in 2019 in the pre-Covid and pre-Brexit era, the easy movement and availability of goods was taken for granted. Two years on, the situation is very different with everything affected from a can of beans on a supermarket shelf to a part needed to repair a car. 

The pandemic is of course partly to blame, as is the additional red tape and cost added by Brexit. But while most Irish companies across all sectors have done as much as possible to source direct from other EU counties, the proximity and strong commerce links means that the UK remains a key trading partner. This is especially true in the automotive sector where similarities in the car parc mean many aftermarket components have to be UK sourced. 

The situation has new been compounded by a growing driver shortage in the UK logistics industry. This has restricted distribution across all sectors and for instance means a part that a motor factor in Ireland requires that used to arrive next day, can now take weeks. 

Trade bodies Logistics UK and the British Retail Consortium describe the situation in UK transportation as being at crisis point. But while gaps appearing on UK supermarket shelves and McDonalds unable to make milk shakes because they can’t get fresh milk may make the headlines, the lack of transportation is also causing industry to grind to a halt. According to the trade bodies the situation is also set to worsen as demand increases as Covid restrictions ease. 

Logistics UK chief executive, David Wells, says his members are doing all they can to address driver shortages by increasing pay, offering bonuses and implementing internal training schemes, but he believes Government must act. In a letter to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, he says, “The current shortfall of around 90,000 HGV drivers is placing unsustainable pressure on supply chains. While there was a shortage of HGV drivers prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and Brexit, these two events have exacerbated the situation; the pandemic halted driver training and testing for more than 12 months, while an estimated 25,000 EU drivers returned home during the pandemic and following the end of the transition period.” 

He added, “Logistics UK and BRC are urging the government to adopt three policies immediately. First, to increase DVSA’s (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency) testing capacity permanently so the agency is able to process the backlog of driver tests placed on hold during the pandemic. Secondly to review its decision not to grant temporary work visas to HGV drivers from the EU and thirdly to ensure its skills and training schemes support the recruitment of HGV drivers.” 

Reports across the Irish aftermarket continue to point to extreme difficulty and delays in getting products from the UK and the driver crisis is only making this worse. While EU sourcing has solved many problems, it cannot solve all. Rest assured that Irish distribution companies are doing everything they can to get parts and products into the market, but with many global logistical problems, and especially difficulties in the UK, outside of their control, patience and understanding are required.