Up to 4,000 people will soon be able to take advantage of training courses to become HGV drivers, as part of a package of measures announced by the government to ease temporary supply chain pressures in food haulage industries.
The Department for Education is investing up to £10 million to create new skills bootcamps to train up to 3,000 more people to become HGV drivers.
The free, short, intensive courses will train drivers to be road ready and gain a category C or category C&E licence, helping to tackle the current HGV driver shortage.
An additional 1,000 people are expected to be trained through courses accessed locally and funded by the government’s adult education budget.
Fuel tanker drivers need additional safety qualifications, which the government will work with industry to ensure drivers can access as quickly as possible.
To help make sure new drivers can be road ready as quickly as possible, the Department for Transport have also agreed to work with Driver and Vehicles Standards Agency to ensure that tests will be available for participants who have completed training courses as soon as possible.
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is also announcing the immediate deployment of their Defence Driving Examiners to increase the country’s testing capacity.
MOD examiners will work alongside DVSA examiners, providing thousands of extra tests over the next 12 weeks.
The package comes as the DfT, along with leading logistics organisations have worked with the DVLA to send nearly 1 million letters to thank HGV drivers for their vital role supporting our economy, and to encourage those who have left the industry to return.
The letter, which will arrive on doormats over the coming days, sets out that the steps the road haulage sector is taking to improve the industry, including increased wages, flexible working and fixed hours.
Alongside this, 5,000 HGV drivers will be able to come to the UK for 3 months in the run-up to Christmas, providing short-term relief for the haulage industry.
A further 5,500 visas for poultry workers will also be made available for the same short period, to avoid any potential further pressures on the food industry.