Driver Hire, the leading transport & logistics specialist recruitment company is a key partner in this year’s National Lorry Week (15-21 September). Now into its 4^th year, National Lorry Week celebrates the often overlooked role that lorries – and the road transport industry in general – play in our everyday lives.

“Without the lorry, supermarket shelves would be empty, we’d soon be running short of petrol and UK industry would quickly grind to a halt,” says Simon Johnston, Network Development Director, Driver Hire. “According to the Road Haulage Association (RHA), 89% of the UK’s food and agricultural products and 98% of all consumer products and machinery are transported by road. That makes the industry the UK’s fifth largest employer with around 600,000 goods vehicle licence holders. There are 493,600 commercial vehicles over 3.5 tonnes registered in the UK. Annually road transport generates £124bn of value to the UK economy.”

Organised by the RHA, National Lorry Week launches at Truckfest North West in Cheshire this weekend. Along with Driver Hire, other partners are Goodyear (the tyre manufacturer) and Snap Account (a national payment system for heavy goods vehicles).Throughout the week another National Lorry Week partner, Vision Express, will be offering free eye tests from their mobile unit at locations around the UK. Driver Hire will be flying the flag at each stop.

“The lorry is such a familiar sight for all of us, whenever we’re out and about, it’s easy to overlook the massive contribution goods vehicles and their drivers make to UK plc. We’re proud to be an essential supplier of drivers and other workers to this essential industry. That’s why we decided to be a key National Lorry Week partner,” Simon concludes.