Fall reported in number of LCV drivers

15th April 2012

Analysis of Driving Standards agency data reveals a fall in both tests taken (category C and C+E) and the number of tests passed.  While 86,926 LGV tests were taken in 2005/06, this had fallen by more than half (43,094) in 2009/10.  The combined pass rate shows a similar drop over the same period, with a 45% fall from 39,220 to just 21,749 in 2009/10. 

Official government figures also suggest that driver jobs are not being filled.  Data from Jobcentre Plus shows that in 2009/2010 there were 115,690 unfilled LGV driver vacancies nationally and that this climbed by 51% to 235,663 in 2011/12.

"What is really striking about these figures,” said Ross Moloney of Skills For Logistics, “is how they are so obviously at odds with the broad economic situation.  There is something at play here other than the general downturn."