Southampton, UK – The Maritime and Transport Action Group (MTAG), co-chaired by Gary Whittle, Operations Director at Meachers Global Logistics, has issued a formal letter to local MPs on behalf of Southampton’s business community. The letter raises urgent concerns regarding the severe shortage of DVSA examiners and the resulting decline in HGV testing capacity across the region. MTAG warns that this shortage is now hindering the supply of newly qualified HGV drivers into the labour market, creating risks for the Solent region’s resilience and for the wider national economy.
As one of the United Kingdom’s most important international gateways, the Port of Southampton handles billions of pounds of freight every year. The city plays a vital role in the movement of automotive imports and exports, containerised goods, cruise services, retail distribution and energy supply. MTAG argues that if the flow of new HGV drivers continues to slow due to a lack of testing capacity, the effects will be felt far beyond Southampton and across key national supply chains.
“Southampton is not simply a regional port, it is a central driver of the UK economy,” said Gary Whittle, Co‑Chair of MTAG and Operations Director at Meachers Global Logistics. “When the flow of new drivers slows, the ability to move goods in and out of the port is compromised. That affects retailers, manufacturers, exporters and the wider public.”
In previous years, local training providers could rely on DVSA examiners visiting twice each week, allowing up to ten HGV tests to be conducted. However, following significant examiner turnover, the number of available tests has declined sharply. There is currently no dedicated DVSA HGV examiner allocated to Southampton or Portsmouth. Test numbers have fallen from ten per week to four, and in some weeks no HGV tests are available at all. This situation has left training providers unable to meet demand and has slowed the introduction of new drivers into the sector at a time when businesses continue to experience pressure on staffing levels.
Local HGV training providers, including By Pass Driver Training and 2 Start Training, have maintained operations despite ongoing constraints. Businesses across Southampton have expressed strong support for their efforts and concern over the challenges they face.
Reflecting wider industry sentiment, Pete Andrews, Director at By Pass Training, commented:
“The shortage of DVSA examiners is becoming a supply chain threat. Without sufficient HGV testing capacity in Southampton, the region cannot move freight at the speed required to support the UK economy.”
In its letter to MPs, MTAG requests immediate government intervention to restore HGV testing capacity and protect regional and national supply chain resilience. The group recommends increased DVSA staffing and enhanced recruitment processes for examiners. It also calls for clear contingency plans to ensure continuity when examiners are absent. MTAG also encourages the government to consider widening the scope of delegated testing and reviewing legislation so that accredited training providers may be granted authority to conduct HGV testing where appropriate. According to the group, these measures would increase testing capacity quickly while maintaining safety and quality standards.
Gary Whittle emphasised that the situation has reached a critical point. If the Solent region cannot train and test the drivers it requires, the impact will spread to every sector that depends on the reliable movement of goods. This includes retail, manufacturing, maritime operations and construction. He urged the government to recognise the urgency of the issue and take swift action.
