Government to tackle driver shortage

9th April 2015

A review of driving tests and medical assessments for HGV drivers was announced in the Budget last month.

The Chancellor said the Government will review the speed with which HGV driving tests and driver medical assessments currently take place, and will consider speeding the process up in order to help address the shortage of qualified HGV drivers.  It will also work with road haulage firms on an industry-led solution to the driver shortage, including looking at the right level of access to, and funding support for, training.

The Freight Transport Association welcomed the news.  “Speeding up driving test bookings for truck drivers and medical assessments will help us get qualified drivers on the road quicker and more reliably helping industry address its shortfall of 60,000 drivers,” said the FTA’s Managing Director of Policy and Communications James Hookham.

“But solving this in the longer term means attracting more young people to the industry.  The cost of acquiring the necessary licence (£3,000) acts as a major barrier to many young people and we are pleased that George Osborne will work with industry to ensure funding can be provided to overcome this problem.”

Also in the Budget, it was announced that the planned 0.54p per litre fuel duty increase on 1 September this year has been cancelled.  Vehicle Excise Duty on early Euro 4 and Euro 5-compliant vans will be £140, and for all other vans it will be £225.