Are you interested in finding out more about HGV or PCV training for your organisation? If so, then our team at HGVC would love to speak to you about how our industry-leading services can help you overcome the ongoing issues surrounding the national driver shortage. A great place to speak to us is at RTX 2024!

Held at NAEC Stoneleigh, a 215,000 sq. ft. indoor venue with 215 acres of outdoor space in Warwickshire, the event is a major platform for the road transport industry. There, you’ll find an array of stakeholders from the haulage industry, such as fleet operators, truck manufacturers and other experts from the sector. 

What You Can Expect to See at RTX 2024

If you travel to RTX 2024 early next month, you’ll see a dazzling showcase of the latest services, technology, and vehicles from the transport industry. This year, there will be more than 200 different exhibitors, live product demonstrations, the highly informative ‘Knowledge Zone’, and even a ‘Ride & Drive Zone’ for test-driving vehicles. 

It’s very much an opportunity to bear witness to the showcasing of the latest innovations and services in the haulage sector. As we mentioned, the HGVC team will be in attendance and will be delighted to tell you about how our HGV training programs can help. 

Here to Help Businesses Circumvent the HGV Driver Shortage

The HGVC network of training centres is nationwide, meaning that we can help businesses throughout the country to upskill their current workers and circumvent the ongoing HGV driver shortage. We also play a leading role in government-backed HGV skills bootcamps across the UK, which provide a subsidised route for people looking for a career in the industry. 

We’ve already trained thousands of new drivers for companies in the UK, and we can do the same for you. So, if you’re heading to RTX 2024 this year and you’d like a chat with our team, you can find us by making a bee-line for stand R27. 

Playing a Leading Role in HGV Training in the UK

Events like RTX 2024 provide a platform to show everything that’s new and exciting about the UK’s haulage sector, and we’re glad to be part of it. That’s because it gives us another way for us to spread awareness about the help that’s available with HGV and PCV training. As such, we hope you find the time to pop by and see us. 

In the meantime, we’ll continue to do what we do best – playing a leading role in providing new drivers for the UK’s supply chain. Thanks to our national network of 60+ HGV training centres across Britain, staffed by some of the most experienced people in the industry, we’re better placed than anyone else to do the work we do. 

To learn more about the bootcamps or anything else relating to HGV training, please take a moment to browse our website. Alternatively, if you’d like to talk directly about your requirements, just call 0330 818 8888 or click ‘contact us’, and we’ll be happy to help.

Today, we bring you an item from the news that highlights what can happen when driver hours rules are not followed. In addition to the safety implications of not adhering to driver-hour regulations, a restriction in a driver’s ability to work can be impacted, as can be seen in the case of Farid Bhaiyat from Bolton. 

As such, failing to follow driver hour rules has led to this HGV driver having his O-Licence suspended for 28 days last year after being called before the Traffic Commissioner (TC) at the time, Gerallt Evans. The offence relates to an occasion in April 2023 when he was driving a minibus and used someone else’s tachograph card in the tachograph machine. 

A Weekly Rest Infringement Recorded

At the time of the offence, Mr Bhaiyat was encountered at the London Gateway M1 services by a Metropolitan Police officer when he was the only occupant of the vehicle at the time. Consequently, a weekly rest infringement was recorded, and two higher-level fixed penalties of £300 were issued and accepted. 

Subsequently, a Traffic Examiner (TE) conducted an investigation on 17 May of 2023 and found that there was no evidence of any system in place to monitor drivers’ hours, with the tachograph downloader device Mr Bhaiyat was using appearing to be unused. The TC also stated that the TE’s report commented on the fact that the driver had accepted the advice provided during the inspection and was now using his driver’s card for all journeys as he should. 

Previous Good Record Prevent Licence Being Revoked

Mr Bhaiyat cited issues in 2022 when having problems switching from an analogue tachograph to a digital device for the first time. Also, due to his good past record, combined with the fact that appropriate procedures and systems were in place to prevent further failings, the TC decided not to revoke his driver’s licence and opted, instead, for suspension.

The driver’s willingness to attend an O-Licence Awareness Training course also played its part in the leniency shown. However, these events have still tarnished his reputation, and he will need to work hard to restore it. As such, this represents a cautionary tale to HGV drivers across the UK, demonstrating the importance of complying with driver-hours rules.

If you’d like to refresh your memory with regard to driver hours rules to ensure you’re operating compliant, be sure to check out our drivers’ hours article that goes into some depth about what’s required from UK HGV drivers. 

Helping to Keep Britain’s Roads Safer For All Motorists

Driver hours rules and the guidelines they contain relating to required rest periods exist for a very good reason. They serve to prevent driver fatigue and ensure that safety is maintained for the benefit of everyone who uses Britain’s roads. As such, any operator or driver infringing these rules can expect to be met with harsh penalties that could impact their livelihood.

At Insite, we’re committed to helping safeguard the future of the UK HGV industry through industry-leading training across our national network training centres. Anyone wanting to discover more about best practices across the whole spectrum of HGV disciplines take a look at our comprehensive knowledge base.

Alternatively, to speak to us about your HGV training needs, simply call 0330 818 8888 or click ‘contact us‘ on our website, and we’ll be delighted to help however we’re able to.

There have been many bumps on the road to addressing the UK’s ongoing HGV driver shortage, and another seems to be on the horizon. As such, it has been announced that nearly 2,000 driving test examiners will strike over four consecutive days during February 2024 due to a dispute over excessive workloads. 

Between the 8th and 11th, the walkouts will affect 270 test centres across England, Scotland and Wales, and the action is in protest of what have been called ‘flawed’ plans to deliver 150,000 more tests by the end of March to clear the backlog. 

“Disappointing” – DVSA

These strikes have been described as “disappointing” by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), as all eligible DVSA admin staff and managers have been requested to return to carry out driving tests full-time to hit the target. 

However, examiners suspect that delivering these extra tests could present significant risks in terms of safety, in terms of them and their customers, as well as eroding their working terms and conditions. 

Unacceptably Long Working Hours 

The situation regarding the backlog has improved over the last year or so, reducing from its peak in November 2022. It was largely caused by the COVID pandemic, before which the average wait for a test after booking one online was roughly six weeks. 

Mark Serwotka, Public and Commercial Services Union general secretary, expressed a concern that examiners want to maintain the highest standards but can’t if they’re expected to work longer and longer years. He went on to say:

“If Mark Harper (Transport Secretary) was serious about reducing the backlog, he would invest in the DVSA, employing more examiners, not just expecting the existing ones to work harder”. 

‘Strikes Will Impact Services’ – DVSA Chief Exec 

Also speaking on the matter, the DVSA’s chief executive, Loveday Ryder, stated that the strikes will impact services. Still, candidates should turn up to their test as directed – unless they have been contacted directly. She added:

“Learners expect a seven-day per week service, and, as a publicly funded body, DVSA wants to provide that.”

During December 2023, the average wait time fell to 17.4 weeks, with more than 150,000 tests – a record for the month – carried out, according to the DVSA’s figures. It has also previously promised to take all the measures to reduce driving test waiting, including recruiting almost 500 new driving examiners.

Doing Our Part to Address the UK’s Chronic HGV Driver Shortage 

While this strike action will impact the progress made in reducing the test backlog, the personal safety of examiners and those taking their tests is paramount. At Insite, we focus on safety in the training we provide, and no one should be forced to endanger themselves or anyone else, irrespective of the reason behind it. 

The industry will continue to monitor events closely, and in the meantime, we’ll continue to do what we’re known for – delivering leading HGV training via our nationwide network training centres. To learn more about us and what we do, take the time to browse our website. Alternatively, to speak to us directly about your needs, simply call 0330 818 8888 or click ‘contact us‘, and we’ll be delighted to help however we can.

The 18th of January saw the holding of the CPT Conference 2024 and 50th Anniversary Dinner, taking place at the Park Plaza London Riverbank. At Insite (formerly HGVC), we’re proud to be able to say that we were an event host for this special occasion marking the 50-year anniversary of the forming of the industry body that represents bus and coach services across the UK.

This black-tie event drew many attendees, including Buses Minister Richard Holden, Shadow Transport Minister Simon Lightwood and many stakeholders from the passenger transport industry. Bus companies like First Bus, National Express, Blackpool Transport, Flixbus and EPM Omnibus were also represented. 

Examining the Biggest Industry Challenges 

It has been a challenging year for the transport industry in general, and the passenger transport sector has had its fair share of obstacles. As such, these challenges were discussed during the programme, including topics like the effect a general election will have on the passenger transportation industry and how perceptions are changing on public transport. 

Tom Cunningham from TfL and Darren Roe from Stagecoach were amongst the names talking about meeting these challenges together. Also discussed were examples of how the industry has brought a diverse range of partners together to tackle these issues head-on, with key influencers, industry suppliers and decision-makers giving their input. 

Promoting Our Bespoke Driver Training Services 

The day came to an end after these extremely important and interesting discussions about the big picture in the sector, and it was followed by an evening of networking and celebration. The Insite (formerly HGVC) team had the chance to attend the dinner, which was a fantastic opportunity for us to tell people about our bespoke driver training services. 

Being able to talk with all the different types of companies working in the passenger transport industry gave us amazing insight into the wants and needs of all the stakeholders involved, from suppliers to bus operators and coach firms. 

Naturally, we took full advantage of the opportunity as we promoted our nationwide training services that help to address the PCV industry’s driver shortage. We were also keen to reinforce our dedication to helping support the passenger transport sector by giving everyone access to our leading driver training expertise and infrastructure. 

Here to Help the PCV Industry Enjoy Success in 2024

At Insite (formerly HGVC), we were delighted to be able to attend this event, not least to celebrate the important advocacy work that’s been done by the CPT over the last half a century. It’s vital that everyone in the industry works together if the many challenges faced are to be overcome and it’s events like CPT 2024 that help to make that happen. 

An enjoyable night was had by all in attendance, and we look forward to seeing everyone at CPT 2025 in 12 months’ time. Anyone wanting to speak to our team at HGVC and our nationwide network of more than 60 training centres across the United Kingdom should call 0330 818 8888.