Britain’s Department for Transport (DfT), says the first intensive short courses in HGV training have started, to help tackle driver shortages.
The free courses for adults to train to be HGV drivers are under way across the UK, as part of a package of measures to ease driver issues and support supply chains at Christmas and beyond.
Those successfully completing the HGV courses are guaranteed a job interview with an employer, with first drivers expected to be on the road from March, 2022.
The courses are available now in locations across the country and will also support existing drivers to refresh or upgrade their skills.
The Department for Education has boosted capacity to more than 11,000 places, backed by GBP34m (US$45m). More than 2,000 people have already expressed an interest by signing up with the National Career Service and hundreds more through Jobcentre and the DfE helpline.
To ensure more people can take their test sooner, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is also making capacity available for 500 more HGV driving tests a week, equivalent to up to 26,000 more per year.
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities is extending flexible retail delivery hours – first put in place during the pandemic – to cover all goods. Flexible hours will stay in place until September next year to support supply chains during the Christmas period and beyond.
Construction working hours will also be extended to make sure deliveries are not missed and smaller developers are not unfairly impacted by shortages.
“HGV drivers are vital to keeping this country moving,” said British Education Secretary, Nadhim Zahawi. “It’s brilliant to see the first people with their hands on the steering wheel as they head towards new well-paid careers in the industry.
“To help even more people get the training they need to be road ready, we’re expanding our HGV Skills Bootcamps to support more than 11,000 people to gain the skills they need to progress in the industry and to help those with previous experience refresh their skills so they can get back on the road.”
Additional HGV testing capacity has been made possible following an overhaul of the testing process.
The DVSA has split the HGV and bus driving tests into two parts, so approved assessors can test the off-road exercise part of HGV and bus tests at their own training sites, freeing up DVSA driving examiners to carry out extra on road tests.
Previously, retail deliveries were prevented through the night and construction hours were generally limited to 08:00 – 18:00 on weekdays and 09:00 – 13:00 on Saturdays.
Councils are being encouraged to take a flexible and positive approach and not to unnecessarily impose restrictions that would prevent deliveries being made outside these hours. Delivery hours and construction working hours are set locally and councils are still able to take action where they deem it necessary.
The measures announced build on action already under way to ease temporary supply chain pressures and HGV driver shortages, including a temporary visa scheme to make it easier for foreign lorry drivers to work in the UK and support from the Ministry of Defence to increase testing.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/training-and-more-testing-to-help-people-become-hgv-drivers