FTA fights to exclude mechanics from CPC THE FREIGHT TRANSPORT
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Association (FTA) will continue to press the government to change Driver CPC legislation that puts significant burden on operators by including vehicle mechanics in its scope.
The trade association said it was disappointed after the Department for Transport (DfT) confirmed employees of companies that take LGVs to and from testing facilities must also complete 35 hours of training.
FTA head of road freight and enforcement policy James Firth warned that the clarification meant some haulage companies could struggle to put their staff through the required training before the September 2014 deadline. He said it had put representations to the DfT asking it to "be sensible about this" and asking if mechanics were the sort of people intended to be brought into its scope when the directive came in.
However, LGV drivers will not have to do compulsory eco driving training proposed as part of Driver CPC training, the DfT has now confirmed. The decision follows industry opposition to the idea.
RHA director of policy Jack Semple said the industry was already active in promoting effi cient driving and that mandatory training was not the most effective way to improve it. "We are in favour of eco driving and the industry is always looking for ways to improve training. But this feeling that eco driving should be mandatory is not held by the majority of members," he said.