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Driver training hastened by new fast-track rules
Page 9
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III Improvements to the Young HGV Driver Scheme will help speed up the training process and encourage more new entrants into the industry.
Young would-be truck drivers will be able to fast-track into a driving career as part of the improvements, says Brett Jones, operations support trainer for Christian Salvesen (pictured, left).
The new-look scheme, run by the Road Haulage and Distribution Training Council (RHINO), now includes allowing trainees to start training with artics six months after obtaining a full Category C licence. Young people with no more than three penalty points on their licence will also be able to join the scheme. Trainees who are under 21 and have obtained their full licence will also be able to drive artics and large trailer combinations unaccompanied.
Jones is particularly pleased with the fact that young people working towards the new National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) scheme for truck drivers will now be able to get driving experience after completing just two units instead of four.
Brett says these changes are essential in order to address the problem of an ageing driver workforce.
'At the moment, there are a lot of older drivers in our industry who will be retiring but there is nobody to replace them."
Christian Salvesen has putt young drivers forward for the scheme and is looking for another 20.
'We approached schools and colleges and put adverts in maga2ines to attract young people," says Jones.
Increased government funding for the scheme means training is now available for an extra 1,800 drivers over a three-year period, says RHDTC chief executive Ian Hetherington,