Why don't young people want to be HGV drivers?

Alex Jeavons has always wanted to be a lorry driver.

Last month the 18-year-old from from Bilston, near Wolverhampton, became one of the youngest people in the country to pass his class one HGV Test.

One logistics firm warned it is struggling to recruit and retain young people. Less than 2% of HGV drivers are under 25 according to data from the Office of National Statistics (ONS).

The stigma of long-distance driving and unsocial hours could be putting young people off, but some industry workers, such as social media influencer The HGV Girl are working to turn that image around.

For Alex, who has ADHD and struggled at school, it's "one of the best jobs anyone could have".

He is a fourth generation lorry driver, his great-grandfather was the first to do it for a living.

"I've travelled all over the UK and Europe with my dad and grandad, so it's always been that goal to reach in life," he said.

Within a week of passing his test he had been offered a job driving HGVs at Turners Distribution.

BJS Haulage in Wednesbury, one of the West Midlands largest distribution firms, said it found young people did not even look at the industry.

"They're not interested at all," said sales director David McWilliams.

The 62-year-old, who has driven HGVs for the majority of his career, said it should be marketed to children at school.

'"No one realises how important we are, without logistics the UK stops," he added.

The Road Haulage Association said 200,000 drivers were needed in the next five years to avoid a repeat of the shortage in 2021 which saw empty shop shelves.

At the HGV School in Willenhall where Alex passed his test they are trying to attract more women into lorry driving.

"If the same amount of females did their HGV tests as there is males, there would be no shortage," said sales and operations coordinator Shannan Paterson.

She said they were also trying to break down barriers so the industry was open to everyone.

"Whether it be a disability or whether it be they don't speak English as a first language we're really trying to help people".

The 30-year-old who is known as 'The HGV Girl' on social media agrees that the industry is not always profiled as an attractive one to young people.

The Lifft Group which owns the school has recently invested in new vehicles to appeal to that demographic.

"They're like that new shiny penny that they actually get excited to come and look at and learn," she said.

She also adds that although HGV drivers are due a wage increase, not many people could "get a job for £40-50K, that's classed as unskilled".

People should not be put off by the unsociable hours and long distance driving, she said.

"My partner's a lorry driver and is able to do school pick-up everyday."

She also echoed the importance of the industry.

"It's a vital job, we would be nowhere without them."