MEDITOR'S COMMENT
Page 5
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Like the current Conservative Government, we believe that training is the key to successful economic and industrial growth and as Britain's leading weekly magazine for the road transport industry, Commercial Motor constantly encourages the road haulage industry to regularly examine its transport training needs.
In the past few years we have become increasingly aware of a serious deficiency in the heavy goods vehicle driving test and training programme. Namely that few provisional HGV drivers have the opportunity to drive a laden vehicle, particularly an articulated combination, before taking their test, which is conducted in an unladen truck.
I frequently receive letters from newly qualified drivers complaining that despite having passed their HGV test, few operators are willing to employ them. The reason invariably given is lack of experience — not least in handling laden vehicles. Commercial Motor has frequently requested that the Department of Transport consider the implication of laden HGV training and testing in order to ensure that newly qualified HGV drivers are adequately and properly prepared for a job in road transport.
Last week we published the results of a survey of prominent RTITB-approved HGV driver training schools. While an overwhelming majority confirmed that the current HGV driving test requires a high degree of skill to pass, over 70% think that the current HGV test programme does not adequately prepare the newly qualified driver for a career in the road transport industry.
Futherrnore, over 83% feel that it would be more appropriate for provisional HGV Classl drivers to be taught on laden vehicles, while over 63% would also like to see testing carried out with laden trucks.
The reasons for this are obvious. A laden vehicle behaves very differently to an unladen one in terms of handling, acceleration and braking. Yet there is no requirement in the current HGV test and training programme to gain experience on laden vehicles. This experience is essential and should be gained in a properly controlled training environment rather than on a public highway without guidance.
In the past the DTp has been asked whether laden testing is viable in terms of safety; whether the driver testing department could accept responsibility for a laden vehicle; and how such a vehicle could be provided in a laden state. In the case of I-KGV Class) testing, the solution is to draw up a British standard for a laden test trailer which could be then used for training and testing purposes.
Owsurvey shows that more than 86% of RTITB -approved schools think that provided an agreed British standard specification could be drawn up, they would provide the trailers.
Following the recent proposals from Brussels on HGV driver testing, and the subsequent expansion of those proposals by the DTp, it is time for the Department to once again consider the validity of HGV driver testing, and how appropriate it is to today's industry. Laden training and testing should be adopted as part of the training and testing procedure to ensure that the next generation of HGV drivers are properly trained for one of the most demanding and essential jobs in British industry.