The skills problems faced by the logistics industry in Scotland are reported to be almost entirely related to the shortage of drivers. It is hard to find people with the right outlook for the job, and the cost of training has escalated. Other issues affecting Scottish hauliers are the economics of transfer haulage (i.e. longdistance runs from Scotland to other parts of the UK).
This kind of work often involves long waits while unloading takes place. Waiting time counts as ‘availability’ under the regulations, although it is usually unproductive; customers however are unwilling to raise rates of payment to offset the costs incurred. Transfer hauliers often expect drivers to load as well as drive, and this is unpopular especially with older drivers or the tiny minority of women.
Among specific skill needs identified in Scotland are a few connected with the particular nature of traffic carried. For example, drivers conveying livestock should have training in animal welfare.
60% of logistics organisations, when surveyed, stated that no off-the-job training was needed in their businesses. This compares with an average of 36% for organisations in other sectors, while12% stated that training in general was not a priority (see Future Skills Scotland: Scottish Sector Profile 2004 (produced by SfL).
The training provision situation in Scotland is similar to the rest of the UK, although the number of FE institutions catering for logistics seems proportionately higher. This may be due to the apparent dearth of private provision and that public sector provision seems more fragmented.
