Are lorry drivers (or lack of) having an effect on any of your regular supplies?

[Dan]

HGV driver shortage: UK firms embark on the long road to plug the gap

Logistics sector ups its recruitment and training effort but big obstacles lie ahead

www.theguardian.com

Food, beer, toys, medical kit. Why is Britain running out of everything?

Poor pay and conditions for HGV drivers and the loss of many thousands of EU workers are plunging the UKs supply chain into crisis

www.theguardian.com

Minister urges firms to invest in UK-based workers in HGV driver shortage

Business secretary reported as saying foreign labour only offers ‘temporary solution’ as companies face supply chain crisis

www.theguardian.com

I keep reading news, hearing on radio and seeing on telly that the lack of lorry drivers is having more and more of an impact on our daily lives and wont stop any time soon. I was wondering if any of you guys and gals have felt this with suppliers running out of anything you use regularly?

Heard anything through the grapevine?

Started to stock up on basic things you use often to help get around this over Christmas etc?

 

[nicebutdim]

View attachment 91018

Ireland is now looking towards Europe and less towards the UK for trade

Today a new terminal between Dunkirk and Ireland was opened

It makes sense that Ireland are expanding sea links with other EU member states, but the downside is delays during inclement weather and additional costs.

I reckon if Enda Kenny hadn't been nudged out of the way, there'd have been an agreement that was much more beneficial for both the UK and Ireland.

 

[GBDamo]

Much of the problem is down to the "Just in time" ethos which has some great advantages in reducing costs to manufacturers and is undeniably more efficient.

So, rather than Mega Manufacturing Corp having warehouses full of components they rely on suppliers delivering components direct to point and time of use; you often see lorries being unloaded directly onto a manufacturing line.

...and it cascades down, MMCs supplier will operate on a similar principle and so on and so forth...

However it is susceptible to to even very minor disruption, it is a house of cards on an unstable foundation and there is little or no buffer.

Brexit was manageable, and was being managed. What little buffer there was was enough to maintain the supply chains. Throw in Covid and it all goes ---- up.

This is not over, not even sure its fully begun in that the supply chains are still collapsing.

When that has finished there'll be some big decisions to make...

Have you heard the phrase "Build back better" 'They' know what is about to happen, the shortages that will ensue, the unrest it will generate and are taking steps to control this.

Power shortages.
Food shortages.
Fuel shortages.
Civil disorder.

I'm going long on flares and Choppers, it's going to be the 70s all over again.

Whilst the plebs are worrying about getting the latest Chinese plastic gonk in time for Christmas stock up on dried goods, candles and camping gas.

Don't have nightmares.

 

[littlespark]

Shortages.

I’ve spent a good portion of this morning looking for Adblue, or whatever the non brand name for it is…. Diesel engine additive. Usually get it from Screwfix with any materials order, but they had nowt. Manager behind the counter said ALL of Screwfix was short… just what’s in branch stock. He said there was over a thousand 10 litre bottles due in, but not been delivered yet.
Tried the supermarkets and their garages… still none.
I ended up going into a car dealership and got some there.

I should have got it last week when the van first started shouting at me…. No… I’ll just wait until I’m down to a couple hundred miles on the countdown.

Me, living on the edge!

Also, while in Tesco’s, I perused their alcoholic beverage aisle and was surprised, nay, shocked to see the Baileys was on offer. £12 if you’ve got a club card, £20 without.
Guess what….. shelves were empty!

What am I going to get the wife now for Christmas?? ?

 

[nicebutdim]

What am I going to get the wife now for Christmas?? ?

2 or 3 bottles of Lidl's Deluxe Irish Cream Liquer - about £7 a bottle and far superior to Bailey's. In fact, their regular Irish Cream Liquer is far superior to Bailey's and cheaper again.