Attract Talent in the Builders’ Merchants Sector: HIAB & Moffett Drivers
The Recruitment Challenge
The UK logistics sector requires approximately 40,000 new HGV drivers each year for the next five years, totalling 200,000 additional drivers, just to maintain current capacity and meet growing construction and merchant demand. However, the HGV workforce is ageing: as of early 2025, 48.7% of drivers are over 50, while only a small fraction are under 24.
Meanwhile, recruitment across the UK is under pressure: with an estimated shortfall of 2.5 million skilled workers, unfilled vacancies could cost businesses £120 billion by 2030. Within this landscape, hiring for specialised merchant delivery roles is particularly competitive.
Why Builders’ Merchants Need Specialist Talent
Merchant delivery roles, often involving multi-drop routes, crane operation (HIAB or Moffett), yard induction, and site navigation, are far more complex than standard HGV positions. Drivers in merchant roles may manage up to 15 drops daily, operate in restricted spaces, and engage directly with customers.
Delivering heavy materials such as timber, aggregates, plaster, and bricks demands accuracy, safety awareness, and care. Many general recruitment agencies misclassify these roles, failing to meet branch-specific expectations.
5 Proven Ways to Attract Merchant Delivery Drivers
Invest in Training & Certification
Merchant driving is not just a job, it’s a profession. Investing in your team with ongoing skill updates and safety refreshers shows commitment to their careers. Research shows 94% of workers would stay longer at a company that invests in their development.
Offer certification pathways like ALLMI HIAB training, CPCS Moffett licensing, and Driver CPC training. Supporting drivers with structured development opportunities improves retention and enhances your recruitment appeal.
Offer Competitive Pay & Benefits
Pay remains a key factor. Many drivers are deterred by low wages, especially when the role demands extra skills or involves significant responsibility.
Builders’ merchant roles offer higher pay than the £34k average HGV salary, due to added responsibilities like crane operation. Emphasise benefits such as regular local routes, pension schemes, and holiday pay to attract reliable professionals seeking stability.
Provide Supportive Work Environments
Supportive management and decent facilities directly affect retention. Simple upgrades, like clean rest areas, predictable schedules, and respectful site access, can significantly improve driver satisfaction.
Promote Stability & Work-Life Balance
Work-life balance matters. Around 68% of UK drivers would choose better work-life balance over a 5% pay rise.
Highlight that most merchant deliveries are local, multi-drop, and daytime, making the role more family-friendly compared to overnight or long-haul jobs. Minimal weekend work is another key benefit.
Expand Your Candidate Pool
The driver workforce is predominantly older and male, with just 2% female and 1.6% under 24. To future-proof your business, diversify recruitment efforts.
Collaborate with initiatives like Generation Logistics, which has reported a 212% increase in young people’s interest in logistics careers. Consider apprenticeships, return-to-work schemes, and partnerships with organisations such as Building Materials Careers, the BMF, and the Construction Inclusion Coalition to expand your reach.
The SDR Advantage in Driver Recruitment
The builders’ merchants sector faces a growing shortage of qualified HIAB and Moffett drivers. With demographic changes and increasing demand, this challenge is only set to intensify.
Specialist Driver Resourcing (SDR) offers a unique solution: we focus exclusively on the builders’ merchant sector, with a permanently employed driver model and merchant-specific training.
Our clients gain immediate access to qualified, site-trained drivers who align with branch expectations, boosting efficiency, improving customer service, and reducing the average 42-day vacancy gap.
If reliability, safety, and long-term value matter to your business, SDR is the recruitment partner that delivers.
Book consistent, site-trained drivers who integrate seamlessly into your operation. Contact SDR at 02380 989 444 or email info@specialistdrivers.com.