The UK government has announced changes to the HGV driver test in order to free up capacity for 50,000 additional tests per year. The UK has always had problems attracting and retaining professional drivers to the haulage industry, but a perfect storm exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic and Brexit has led to a drop of up to 30,000 HGV drivers, which could increase to 50,000.
Almost one in 10 logistics businesses (9.8%) surveyed by Logistics UK earlier this year says the recruitment of drivers is an ‘extreme barrier’ to the recovery of their business.
A new streamlined test means drivers will only need to take one test to drive both a rigid and articulated lorry, rather than having to take two separate tests (spaced three weeks apart). This, according to the Government, will make around 20,000 more HGV driving tests available every year and mean drivers can gain their licence and enter the industry more quickly.
Tests will also be made shorter by removing the ‘reversing exercise’ element – and for vehicles with trailers, the ‘uncoupling and recoupling’ exercise – and having it tested separately by a third party. This part of the test is carried out off the road on a manoeuvring area and takes a significant amount of time. Testing such manoeuvres separately will free up examiner time, meaning they can carry out another full test every day.
Car drivers will no longer need to take another test to tow a trailer or caravan, allowing roughly 30,000 more HGV driving tests to be conducted every year.
This new legislation is changing previous EU regulations which the UK is no longer obliged to use.
