Euro directive threatens to
Page 6
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
worsen UK driver shortage
by Melanie Hammond
UK hauliers face an even worse driver shortage thanks to EU legislation which could also hand more work to foreign operators. if a draft directive being considered by the European Commission comes into force. UK hauliers will have to retrain at least some of their drivers—but the new standards are already met by other EU countries inducing France, Germany and Holland.
While new legislation would not come into force until 2005, the haulage industry needs to be ready for its impact much sooner As the directive stands, by 2005 drivers will need at least three years' experience or will need to be trained to the new Euro standards. So from 2002 new drivers will have to be trained to these standards or risk being sent back to training school.
David Higginbottorn, who recently left the United Road Transport Union following -serious differences over policy'. warns: "If companies drag their feet on training now they risk losing more work to overseas firms." He has set up the Driver Training Strategy to recruit and train new drivers (see above). "We plan to kick off with the same kind of driving standards that you find in France, Germany and Holland," he explains.
• Confusion surrounds money promised for driver training in the Chancellor's preBudget statement. At a meetng between the Road Haulage &Distribution Training Council and the Department of Transport last Wednesday, it emerged that training money is likely to come from the £100m fund ringfenced for the scrapping of old vehicles.
Higginbottem says: 'There is a lack of clarity on where this money is to be allocated. It seems tithe 2100m fund] is for several areas. The DoT has basically told us that the money is up for grabs and now is the time to make a pitch for it."