Lack of Demand for Trainee Drivers
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SO far, tfie Ministry of Labour's scheme for the training of men and women as drivers for haulage vehicles is operating in Yorkshire to only a very small extent—a position which is said to be due to the attitude of' the roalltransport industry itself.
An official of the North-Eastern Division of the Ministry of Labour and National Service told our Yorkshire correspondent that, at present, the number of trainees in the Division was confined to a small number in Leeds and a few in other places, including Hull. and Halifax. The reason there were not more, he said, was because of a lack of definite demand for trainee drivers on the part .of commercialvehicle operators.
• " We can train drivers only in accordance with known and' definite demands," emphasized the official.
" We cannot risk wasting Government money by training on a speculative basis. If hauliers, instead of crying out in a general way for more drivers, will make specific applications for the services of trainee drivers, either through, their local employment exchange or their trade association, their requests will be rdet. The Ministry is ready,and waiting to provide training facilities, particularly for women.
" The Minister's scheme cannot, of Course, provide drivers already experienced in long-distance journeys and in distributing and picking up consignments at numerous points, and apparently that is one of the reasons why it has not met with a better response from operators. So far asdriving pure and simple is concerned, however, there is no demand for personnel which it could not meet."