The government is to cut down the HGV driver testing process in a bid to tackle the driver shortage.

According to a report from the BBC, it plans to announce the plans as early as today.

The news comes as the retail industry battles a 100,000-strong driver shortage across the UK haulage industry.

The news broadcaster is aware of meetings between government officials, hauliers, and suppliers, where the “penny finally dropped” that the shortage and subsequent supply issues are getting worse, not better.

The government reportedly said that meetings with impacted parties are ongoing and that any changes to existing policy will be revealed in due course.

"The government seem to finally understand the scale of the problem. For the first time they looked rattled", industry sources told the BBC.

The move comes after a report revealed that over half of Brits have noticed food shortages in their local shop or supermarket in the past few weeks.

Last month, co-op boss Steve Murrells said that Brexit and Covid-19 have caused the most serious supermarket shortages “ever.”

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