The haulage sector has reached a crisis point. A lack of lorry drivers has led to fuel supply issues and empty shelves have been common this summer, as retailers have struggled to restock certain products. New charts reveal the staggering fall in UK lorry drivers in recent years.

       A shortage of lorry drivers is starting to heavily impact the UK.

       Many Brits have been faced with empty shelves and a shortage of products this summer.

       The latest consequence of the shortage has been a lack of petrol and diesel across the UK, leaving many motorists frustrated.

       BP and Tesco have struggled to resupply their petrol stations due to a lack of hauliers being available to transport fuel to their forecourts.

       READ MORE: Boris urged to 'designate fuel stations' for key workers

       The UK’s Road Haulage Association warned of the crippling lack of lorry drivers as far back as June.

       In a letter to the Prime Minister, they estimated the UK had a shortfall of over 100,000 drivers.

       They wrote: "It is our collective view that there has never been a more challenging time for this industry and we urge you to take decisive steps to ensure that we can continue to maintain the UK’s integrated and finely balanced supply chains."

       Their warnings have been proved right as retailers have struggled with product shortages this summer.

       Now the lack of hauliers has led to significant supply chain problems, the army may even need to step in to plug the shortfall.

       The latest statistics from the Office for National Statistics are staggering, revealing the number of large goods vehicle (LGV) drivers has plummeted over the last couple of years.

       An estimated 236,000 drivers were recorded in the UK this year, compared to more than 330,000 in 2016 and in the years leading up to it.

       There are several factors behind the lorry driver shortages.

       Brexit has been a major reason as it has made it harder to recruit extra lorry drivers from Europe.

       The pandemic forced large parts of the UK’s economy to shut down.

       As a result, many European drivers went home during the lockdowns and haven’t returned.

       The lockdowns further exacerbated the shortage as it has created a backlog in HGV driving tests, meaning fewer new drivers have been able to enter the industry.

       It seems young people aren’t keen to enter the industry - the average age for HGV drivers is 55 in the UK.

       The job’s lack of appeal has been largely blamed on poor pay, the long hours it demands and the difficulty to get a licence.