The Commercial Vehicle Show will turn the spotlight on the battle for talent when it takes place at the NEC from 29 April to 1 May.
A lack of skills is a major challenge in the sector, particularly in engineering, fleet management, and professional driving.
The CV Show, which celebrates its 25th anniversary and will feature hundreds of exhibitors, industry leaders, and key decision-makers, will address the issue and discuss practical solutions.
The Institute of Road Transport Engineers (IRTE) will take a central role, unveiling its new Maintenance Provision Rating Scheme (MPRS), which is a national benchmarking framework designed to raise standards and improve workforce capabilities across the transport engineering sector.
The scheme, which launches on the first day of the show, will assess the quality of vehicle maintenance provision and provide recognition for high-performing operators.
Emma Thompson, executive director of the Society of Operations Engineers, said:
“The launch of the MPRS marks a significant step in tackling the engineering skills shortage. It sets a clear standard and gives both businesses and individuals a roadmap for growth.”
Meanwhile, Jennifer Swain from Road to Logistics will lead a main stage session exploring what drives workforce decisions, and what businesses can do now to build a sustainable talent pipeline for the future.
This comes after the Road Haulage Association (RHA) warned that the UK must recruit 40,000 new HGV drivers annually over the next five years to meet demand.
Sally Gilson, skills policy Lead at the RHA, said:
“To future-proof the industry, we need to recruit, train, and retain tens of thousands of drivers. That means flexible, funded training, stronger partnerships with schools and colleges, and better use of the Growth and Skills Levy.”
This year’s CV Show will also place a powerful spotlight on diversity and inclusion as essential drivers of progress in the commercial vehicle and logistics industries.
This will reinforce an industry consensus that a sustainable future for commercial transport depends not only on attracting new talent, but on building workplaces that are inclusive, adaptable, and representative
