Richard Burnett: Last News

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Covid pandemic could leave supermarket shelves in Britain empty this summer. The Road Haulage Association has joined forces with others from the industry in a desperate attempt to avoid 'critical supply chains failing' at an 'unimaginable level'.Problems are being caused by a chronic lorry driver shortage - with more than 100,000 fewer than usual.In a letter sent to Boris Johnson last week, the industry has called for his intervention to allow access to European labour, asking the Prime Minister to introduce temporary worker visas for HGV drivers.

Michael Gove to call for assistance.Chief executive Richard Burnett told The Observer the RHA had also found 65%-75% of vehicles arriving from the EU were returning to the bloc empty due to a lack of goods, hold-ups in the UK and because British companies had halted exports to the Continent.A Cabinet Office spokeswoman said they “do not recognise the figure provided on exports”.“Thanks to the hard work of hauliers and traders to prepare for change, disruption at the border has so far been minimal and freight movements are now close to normal levels, despite the Covid-19 pandemic,” she added.Burnett said he found it “deeply frustrating and annoying that ministers have chosen not to listen to the industry and experts”, who have consistently

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