Scotland faces economic '˜timebomb' over HGV driver shortage

Scotland is facing a 'ticking economic timebomb' over a shortage of up to 11,000 drivers in the key HGV (heavy goods vehicle) sector, MSPs were warned last night.

Road haulage is worth £5 billion to the Scottish economy.

There are now fears the situation could undermine the country’s vital international exports and hit shops and manufacturing.

Nationalist MSP Chic Brodie last night warned road haulage is worth about £5 billion to the Scottish economy.

The shortage is compounded by the prospect of 16 per cent of the current 30,000-strong workforce retiring in the in the coming years.

“Approximately 15000 drivers have to be recruited each year in Scotland to address the shortfall and this ticking economic timebomb,” Mr Brodie told MSPs in a Scottish Parliament debate last night.