A BELFAST-based waste management firm has added its voice to the growing calls for government intervention to address the shortage of HGV drivers on the road.
Commercial waste company RiverRidge, which operates four sites across the north, said a combination of Covid-19, Brexit and the growth of the digital economy had exacerbated the shortfall.
The Road Haulage Association recently claimed as many as 5,000 extra HGV drivers could be needed in Northern Ireland alone.
RiverRidge chief executive Brett Ross said the situation is more acute for the company, with a reliance on its drivers for both waste transport and collection.
The firm reported the shortage had resulted in what it called “unprecedented wage inflation” for its drivers, which it said will inevitably lead to higher costs for customers.
“To say that we have reached a crisis point regarding the availability of drivers is no exaggeration,” said Mr Ross.
“If this situation persists, it will severely impact the enormous gains we have worked hard to achieve at RiverRidge with regard to environmental performance, customer service and pricing, never mind the unimaginable repercussions if waste cannot be collected.
“That is why we are calling on Government to act swiftly and decisively.”
The company has called for an acceleration in the process to test drivers, along with temporary work visas for EU HGV drivers and a scheme targeting younger people.
In a statement issued to the BBC, the UK Government said: "The British people repeatedly voted to end free movement and take back control of our immigration system and employers should invest in our domestic workforce instead of relying on labour from abroad.”
The spokesperson said plans were being developed to streamline and increase testing, with rules around drivers’ hours also relaxed.
