We can't let our haulage industry grind to a halt

'VE been around long enough to see the collapse of many once proud British industries and, right now, I'm watching the painful decline of UK haulage. It’s a far cry from the glory days of the 1990s, when the likes of Eddie Stobart and James Irlam were household names. Their trucks were motorway icons, flying the Union Jack across the UK and Europe. But the balance of power has shifted.

- Peter Waddell

Poland is now the continent’s powerhouse with 20% of the overall road haulage market, and its neighbours aren’t far behind. Eastern European trucks dominate our motorways and fill our laybys inbetween deliveries and pickups we should be doing ourselves.

But as the owner of a new venture, Big Transport, I’m not giving up without a fight. I’ve always believed that you either go big or go home. It began with the acquisition of a struggling haulier in Kent last year. I've since added another in Liverpool, and we’re planning a big new headquarters in Kent along with further acquisitions.

Of course, I know the challenges. The UK driver shortage is critical — 200,000 more HGV drivers are needed by 2029, and we've already got 20,000 unfilled vacancies. Moreover, more than half of lorry drivers on British roads are aged 50 or older, with many heading towards retirement, according to a study by job search site Adzuna. It suggested low pay is putting off the next generation from getting behind the wheel.