For a second time, Tory MP John Redwood appears to have missed the point entirely when it comes to the HGV driver shortage - and people have been duly roasted for the ridiculous solution he’s offering.
As the country is experiencing the effects of the HGV driver shortage, the MP for Wokingham decided to give his two cents as to how the problem and be solved, and according to Redwood it sounds pretty simple - understand how online companies were able to get extra delivery drivers and apply this to the HGV crisis.
But there’s one pretty big flaw to Redwood’s idea... the solution isn’t exactly a “one size fits all” because HGV drivers are required to pass a specific testing to get a HGV license due to the sheer size and volume of the lorries they have to drive - carrying tonnes of supplies.
Whereas, your standard local delivery driver just needs a basic driving license to be able to operate a delivery van - not exactly the same thing.
Redwood tweeted: “Online companies have attracted lots of extra drivers to do parcel van deliveries. HGV employers need to learn from them how they did it.”
On line companies have attracted lots of extra drivers to do parcel van deliveries. HGV employers need to learn from them how they did it.
— John Redwood (@johnredwood) September 27, 2021
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One of the reasons there is a shortage in the first place is because HGV testing centres were closed during the Covid lockdowns and so no HGV drivers-in-training were able to pass and get their license during this time.
So basically, Redwood is missing the entire point.
But rest assured, people on Twitter were quick enough to highlight this to him.
One former HGV driver decided to school Redwood on the different between a HGV lorry and your bog-standard delivery van.
I used to be a HGV driver. It's completely different from a small van.
— Mike #FBPA #FBPRR (@Pastypower_mk2) September 27, 2021
Let's be honest look at the mess SOME (not all) caravan drivers get into.
One mistake with an artic can cause carnage.
Please John, tweet about things you know about....ie nothing
Former footballer and pundit, Gary Lineker shared his sarcastic response to the Tory MP’s suggestion and joked that people could learn how to drive a HGV lorry on YouTube.
Well said. They could go on You tube to learn how to drive an HGV. 🤦🏻♂️ https://t.co/wB6s6phUTI
— Gary Lineker 💙 (@GaryLineker) September 27, 2021
Redwood’s tweet led Karl Turner, Labour MP for Kingston upon Hull East to jokingly question how blue ticks are given out to “parody accounts.”
How do parody accounts manage to fake the blue tick thing? https://t.co/5Gq3BLH4UD
— Karl Turner MP (@KarlTurnerMP) September 27, 2021
LBC presenter James O’Brien also couldn’t believe what he was reading.
Good grief. https://t.co/XtC0fY1CX7
— James O'Brien (@mrjamesob) September 27, 2021
Here some more of the best reactions to Redwood’s tweet.
"We're sorry you weren't in. We've left your 36,000 litres of fuel in a mystery place you won't recognise." pic.twitter.com/iVa3lUcqzG
— Jon Newton (@MrJonNewton) September 27, 2021
LOLs Johnny-lad I'm up for it but can I leave the unleaded on the doorstep like my AMAZON driver and put a card through the letter box? YOU'RE SO FUNNY YOU'RE AMAZING https://t.co/GzpTFhSvhU
— David Eldridge 💙 (@deldridgewriter) September 27, 2021
Yes because driving an Ford transit is just like driving an HGV. https://t.co/usEmLofYe6
— Anthony Dent (@_toosb) September 27, 2021
Emphatically refuse to believe this isn’t a parody account https://t.co/6ZJrAlZIma
— Jonathan Lis (@jonlis1) September 27, 2021
They should just get Hermes to do it yeah. Looking forward to them mixing orders up and volleying 1000 kilos of Ammonium Nitrate behind our bins while an agricultural plant in Telford gets my socks from Uniqlo. https://t.co/c8bSHElZmz
— Jon Birchall (@jonbir90) September 27, 2021
My 3 year old has a big toy lorry he loads up with his other toys and delivers them to places around the house, perhaps he could be of assistance https://t.co/tgsT8oNFY7
— John Bradley (@jbradleymedia) September 27, 2021
I won my HGV license from a box of cereal. No training, no experience straight out onto the roads working, anybody can do it 🤡 https://t.co/8WGZYxQ7Gw
— Lew (@LewGwill) September 27, 2021
https://t.co/VymwcvFU7F pic.twitter.com/9nwrAChlHn
— katie york (@katieyork1) September 27, 2021
Because hermes/amazon/dpd drivers are EXACTLY the same as HGV drivers.
— Mike (@mikey_bt) September 27, 2021
Some chappie will be along shortly to deliver 36000L of fuel to number 12, as you were out. At the petrol station. https://t.co/3NaHekx7Pp pic.twitter.com/idc2QLrMfE
Aye driving your own fiesta to deliver to households in the local area is exactly the same as driving 44 tonnes long distance https://t.co/LXuDs8ImLV
— Hazel (@avellana_b_) September 27, 2021
This 🤡 is comparing an Amazon van with a petrol tanker. It’s beyond belief https://t.co/tFLZcjj3n0
— Mark Hirst (@MarkAHirst) September 27, 2021
What Britain needs is an army of exhausted HGV drivers (with no licence?), speeding round residential areas as fast as possible because they get charged for late deliveries. https://t.co/DLx70SDGNc
— Rob Davies (@ByRobDavies) September 27, 2021
It’s not the first time Redwood has been duly roasted for his suggestion regarding the lorry shortage.
Last month, he tweeted how the driver shortage can be solved by “raising wages and improving working” and to “just recruit and train some more.”
Business can solve the driver shortage by raising wages and improving working conditions. Just recruit and train some more.
— John Redwood (@johnredwood) August 26, 2021
Not exactly the easiest thing to do in the middle of supply-chain problems.
After these two suggestions missing the mark, who knows what other ideas Redwood has up his sleeve.
