Grayling met FTA chief David Wells (image right) at The Skills Show in Birmingham last week and toured the organisation’s stand at the event.
He explained how impressed he was by the work FTA has been doing to foster cooperation between employers to address the skills shortage. The sector urgently needs 52,000 truck drivers, along with engineers and specialist HGV technicians.
Grayling said: “The way in which the FTA is involved in this operation today, bringing the industry together to work on skills, is something that's really valuable.
“There are times when haulage firms compete vigorously, but there are times when the industry needs to come together to find the next generation of skilled workers. That’s what's happening here.”
Over the three days of The Skills Show at the Birmingham NEC, the FTA team met hundreds of young people to tell them about the varied career opportunities in the logistics and freight sectors.