The Department for Transport is exploring ways to help create new opportunities in logistics, including enabling car drivers to drive behind the wheel of larger vans.
It’s launched a call for evidence today (Friday 5 August 2022), seeking views from members of the public and industry professionals on ways to improve HGV driver training standards, raise the profile of the profession and enhance road safety.
The views will “help answer important questions and assist the Government with ongoing research into how post-Brexit freedoms are used to remove red tape and create opportunities for people across the country”.
Some of the potential options include creating a formal register of HGV driving instructors and publishing pass rates for instructors. This could help improve HGV driver training standards, raise the profile of the profession and enhance road safety.
But there are also questions around reintroducing grandfather rights to explore whether the UK should allow those who hold a normal car driving licence to drive certain larger vans or smaller lorries up to 7.5 tonnes. Prior to 1 January 1997, people who passed their driving test for a normal car also obtained the right to drive heavier, larger vehicles up to 8.25 tonnes in weight and minibuses – these entitlements were lost under the EU and the DfT is keen to explore the merits of returning to such a system.
It’s stressed that no decisions have been made on whether these rights should be reintroduced and that it’s keen for views from a wide range of stakeholders to inform its future approach to the issue, as well as the rest of the areas under consideration in the call for evidence.
The DfT added that: “Any changes would need to ensure continued safe use of our roads and be economically proportionate. There could possibly be restrictions based on age or driving experience, which is reflected in the questions set out in the call for evidence.”
This follows the Government’s 33 actions already taken to tackle the HGV driver shortage and protect the supply chain. The Government recently launched the Future of Freight plan, including a new campaign to attract the very best talent to the logistics sector with the help of industry-wide support. The ‘Generation Logistics’ initiative aims to identify, attract and develop a new and diverse generation of talent to fill vacancies and future-proof the sector.
Transport minister Karl McCartney said: “Our country has a robust supply chain and our ongoing and unprecedented support for the haulage sector means that the number of HGV drivers is stabilising.
“We continue looking for ways to make it easier and quicker to kickstart a rewarding career in logistics. That’s why we’re asking people for their views on how we could streamline the licensing process and remove any potential barriers – making the most of our post-Brexit freedoms.
To access the DfT’s call for evidence, click here. It’s open until 11:45pm on 28 October 2022.
