The UK is in the grip of a haulage crisis which, according to Secretary of State for Transport, Grant Shapps MP, is also affecting most of Europe.
At present, the country is short of around 100,000 drivers, who would normally be relied upon to deliver fuel and goods across the country to petrol stations, supermarkets, hospitals and many more vital organisations and services.
One industry currently affected by the shortage of drivers is the removals sector. Simon Hood, director of leading international relocation specialist, John Mason International, says the current lack of resources is adding to shipping issues, and may cause some delays for those wishing to put down roots abroad.
“Helping people move their lives to another corner of the globe is a huge responsibility, and it takes many aspects to fall in line in order to pull off such a feat,” he says. “Our expert team has many years’ experience overcoming the challenges involved in international relocations – from handling our customers’ treasured belongings, and making sure they arrive in their new location safe and sound, to dealing with visas and work permits that meet the requirements of any given destination country.
“We are currently facing one of our most challenging situations for many years. It is now more difficult than ever to secure containers with shipping lines, because costs have risen dramatically, and there are delays worldwide – due to the effects of Brexit, the pandemic, and the recent Suez Canal incident.
“Add to that the current shortfall in qualified haulage drivers, to pick up our clients’ personal items, and it takes a colossal effort from all involved to complete a successful relocation abroad.
“Now, it is more important than ever for those seeking a move to choose a removals company with recognised credentials and a team of experienced professionals well-versed in dealing with the many challenges of transporting customers’ lives from one country to another.
“John Mason International is a long-serving member of the British Association of Removers (BAR), and the global alliance of quality-certified international moving and relocation companies (FIDI). That means we are well-placed and ahead of the game when it comes to overcoming these current issues.
‘These are unprecedented times, but we are continuing to ensure those wishing to move their lives abroad can do just that, and we are doing everything we can to keep extra costs and delays to an absolute minimum.”
