On-Demand Retail Shipping Will Mean More Van Driving Jobs

The announcement of a brand-new shipping hub to be built by UPS at London’s Gateway container terminal garnered not more than a yawn among those not directly related to the logistics industry. However, the news should be exciting to companies like ours that train commercial drivers. What UPS plans to do in London is just the start of what could be potentially big business in the UK. And if that big business comes to fruition, it will mean a lot more van driving jobs to be had.

As the largest private shipper in the US, UPS has a reputation for being the go-to delivery service when you do not want to use the post. But the power of the UPS brand reaches far beyond North America. They are major players in Europe as well, handling both international and domestic shipments of all sizes. They need their new distribution hub in London for one very important reason: to be able to compete in the on-demand retail shipping market.

According to a report from The Loadstar, the point of building the London Gateway complex was to “create the award-winning Local Development Order, enabling companies like UPS to have a speedy resolution to their planning proposals.” That is industry speak for enabling tenants such as UPS to fulfil local shipping orders as quickly as possible.

UPS has no intention of replicating what companies like Amazon do in terms of stocking products and delivering them directly to retail customers. But they are positioning themselves to be the leading shipper for those retail suppliers. They want to be the company retailers go to first and foremost for on-demand local deliveries.

Transit Vans Need Drivers

Upon completion of the new UPS distribution centre, the company will need lots of workers to handle every aspect of its operation. That includes new transit van drivers as well as a smaller number of HGV drivers who can handle the company’s bigger equipment. Anyone looking for a driving job would do well to consider UPS as an employer.

UPS has a reputation around the world for being one of the best logistics suppliers in the industry. They have an enormous international workforce that includes high-quality drivers loyal to their company and the work they do. We expect no different from the staff that will be brought in to man the London hub.

The HGV Training Centre cannot promise you a job with UPS if you train with us, but we can guarantee there are plenty of van driving jobs out there right now. That will not change in the foreseeable future. The logistics industry continues to be woefully short of qualified drivers, and they are desperately looking for anyone with a licence willing to take the work.

We encourage you to consider a career in van driving. Professional driving offers good pay and a host of other benefits you will appreciate. If you are interested, we can train you in a matter of weeks.

Sources:

The Loadstar – http://theloadstar.co.uk/ups-to-build-120m-world-class-parcel-hub-at-london-gateway-logistics-park/