HGV drivers’ shortage leads to firm’s collapse and loss of 35 jobs

The well-documented ongoing shortage of HGV drivers has led to the collapse of a North West haulage company, and the loss of 35 jobs.

Neil Morley and Howard Smith from Interpath Advisory, formerly KPMG, were appointed joint administrators to Sprintdeliver Limited on September 6, 2021.

Sprintdeliver was a haulage business based in Glossop, Derbyshire.

In recent months, the company had encountered significant financial challenges due both to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on trading and difficulties in attracting and retaining Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) drivers.

The business ceased to trade prior to the appointment of the joint administrators.

Regrettably, with no prospect of trade resuming, the company’s 35-strong workforce were made redundant following the administrators’ appointment.

Neil Morley, director at Interpath Advisory and joint administrator, said: “Haulage companies up and down the country are currently facing significant challenges, not least an acute shortage of HGV drivers, which, in turn, is resulting in increased wage costs and higher staff turnover.

“Unfortunately, these challenges proved to be insurmountable for Sprintdeliver, prompting the director to take the difficult decision to place the company into administration.

“Our priority in the coming days is to assist the employees in making claims to the Redundancy Payments Office, while we also seek buyers for the company’s business and assets.”