Drivers bussed to work
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• An acute shortage of drivers in the West Midlands is forcing many hauliers to "bus" drivers into the region from as far away as Manchester, Leeds and Newcastle upon Tyne.
According to the United Road Transport Union, the freight transport sector is particularly hard hit in the region as new staff prove difficult to find.
Demand for drivers has always been high in the West Midlands, popular among distribution companies for its centrality, but URTU says too few drivers are being attracted into the industry to replace those retiring.
A survey published last week by the Warwick & Wolverhampton Business School claims more than a quarter of all West Midlands companies are finding it difficult to recruit labour.
Yet the driver shortages to have raised don't seem wage levels because many hauliers are locked into contracts with customers who won't pay any more, says URTU regional officer Tony Southam.