On Wednesday 27th October, Chancellor Rishi Sunak provided a welcome boost to the UK’s haulage sector as he announced budget changes to help the industry during this difficult time. Along with a suspension of the HGV levy until 2023, the government also froze vehicle excise duty (VED) for HGVs.

Having previously extended the HGV levy until August of 2022, this has now been extended for an extra year, coming along with a commitment for major investment in HGV driver facilities in the UK. This will come as welcome news to the many who have complained of poor facilities over previous months.

Not stopping there, the government has also pledged a further £21 billion in funding, which has been earmarked to improve Britain’s roads. £5 billion of this figure will be invested in local roads – sufficient to deal with more than 1 million of the potholes that have become more common than they should.

“The UK’s Roads & HGV Facilities Need Improving”

During his budget speech, Mr Sunak echoed what many have expressed over the past year by highlighting the need to improve Britain’s road network and available facilities for HGV drivers. He also had this to say “We’ve already suspended the HGV levy until August and I can do more today extending it for a further year until 2023, and freezing Vehicle Excise Duty for heavy goods vehicles.

It would be irresponsible to think that the supply chain issues we currently face will be resolved overnight, but by placing an emphasis on transport, significant strides can be made”. This comes after several recent measures like temporary visas and the scrapping of separate Cat C and Cat+E HGV tests were introduced to increase testing capacity.

Budget Announcements Met With a Mixed Response

The Road Haulage Association’s (RHA) Managing Director Rod McKenzie was full of praise for the VED and Levy changes, saying “These are very welcome measures for the UK’s hard-pressed haulage industry already battling chronic driver shortages and other substantial challenges to maintaining the efficiency of the nation’s supply chain”.

And of the proposed improvement of HGV driver rest area facilities he added “This is a major victory for our demands that truckers need better facilities. Somewhere safe to park with good toilets and washing facilities is vital. The government needs to continue to work with the industry to improve conditions as this will also act as an encouragement to potential truck drivers, particularly women”

David Wells of Logistics UK Agrees…

Echoing Mr McKenzie’s sentiments, David Wells of Logistics UK had this to say “As the government’s own figures estimate, there is currently a shortfall of more than 1,400 truckstop facility spaces nationally so there is still more to be done. The business group will remain in close contact with the government on this issue, to ensure that the spaces needed are finally delivered”

Continuing with… “After more than three years of promises which are yet to be fulfilled, this is vital to acknowledge the contribution which HGV drivers make to the UK’s economy and help industry attract new recruits to the sector.”

Although BVRLA Chief Executive Gerry Keaney Does Not…

The reception was not all positive, however, as British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) Chief Exec was not quite so effusive about the news. “The Chancellor has missed an opportunity to give the industry essential clarity when it is most needed. At a time when the uptake of electric vehicles is ready to accelerate, the silence around areas such as benefit in kind tax rates is deafening.

The Chancellor has failed to provide tangible details on these ‘asks’, meaning that questions remain over what the government’s plan is. The Net Zero Strategy last week marks a very positive step in the right direction and what we needed in today’s budget was more detail. Instead, we have been given headlines that offer no clarity, no foresight and no confidence.”

A Crucial Period to Come Over the Next 6-12 Months

While not everyone is 100% on board with the announced plans, it’s clear to see that the government places high importance on supporting the UK’s haulage industry. Much has been put into action over recent months and this latest budget announcement is welcome news to many who have been calling for significant changes for some time now.

At Insite, we’re heartened to see an improvement in conditions for HGV drivers and the changes in taxation will also have a supportive effect where it matters. We will, of course, continue playing our part by delivering industry-leading HGV licence acquisition programs to organisations across the country, further supplementing the available talent pool.

If you would like to know about us and our cutting-edge, hassle-free driver training process that’s scalable to any size of need, take a look around our website today. Or to talk to us about how we can help your organisation’s needs, simply drop us a line via our Contact Us form or 0330 818 8888.

The ongoing shortage of HGV drivers in the UK is a problem that the government is under intense pressure to resolve and it’s seen some success in the raft of measures that have been implemented over recent weeks.

The Grant Schapps-led Department for Transport (DfT) has introduced a number of changes such as visas for foreign drivers and the scrapping of the car & trailer test – all with a view to increasing capacity for candidate HGV drivers.

Attracting, Recruiting & Training New Drivers

The DfT has now been working with the haulage industry and other government departments for some time. They’ve been doing what they can to attract, recruit and train new candidates into the profession, with an increase in capacity being sought after almost no HGV training activity was possible during the pandemic.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is one such department who have also been instructed to prioritise HGV licence applications over others. Another element of the multi-pronged approach has been to streamline the licence acquisition process, allowing drivers to get tested and out driving more quickly.

The HGV Driver Shortage Is a ‘Top Priority’

Grant Schapps had this to say “This legislation will help to make the process from learner to qualified driver quicker by removing certain steps and allow it to respond more rapidly to the acute need for drivers at the heavier end of the vehicle spectrum.

Tackling the causes and effects of the HGV driver shortage is a top priority for my department and the driving licence regime and its legislation must support our efforts. This, as part of 25 measures we have taken so far, will help us to reduce the impact of this shortage on the people of Britain.”.

Streamlining the Path to an HGV Licence

One recent major change was the elimination of the need for those going for their Category C+E licence to hold a Cat C licence first. The jury is out on the validity of this move, however, it does seem to make the path to a C+E licence quicker, albeit meaning that if either part is failed, the candidate doesn’t even get a CAT C.

This legislation is being pushed through without the standard 28-day publication period due to the urgent need to increase training capacity and alleviate the supply chain issues that now seem to be affecting everyone. One can only hope that the measures are a success and that safety is not compromised.

Insite – Large Scale Licence Acquisition Capacity

At Insite, we are very much at the sharp end of this battle, but we’re very well placed to meet the increasing demand. Our industry-leading licence acquisition programs are suited to both small and large scale needs and we’re doing our part to get the country moving faster in the lead up to Christmas.

If you would like to know more about us and how we work, just take a look around our website and see for yourself. Alternatively, drop us a line via our ‘contact us’ link or give us a call today on 0330 818 8888 to discuss your organisation’s precise training needs.

Amid the ongoing HGV driver shortage and supply chain problems in the United Kingdom, the government is set to extend cabotage rules temporarily as part of a series of measures designed primarily to support the pork production industry.

Potentially resulting in thousands of extra HGV deliveries every month, these changes are hoped to provide resilience to the UK’s supply chains. A 7 day consultation launched on 14 October 2021 could see foreign hauliers able to make unlimited journeys over a two-week period before returning home.

Current Cabotage Rules

The proposals recommend the relaxation of current cabotage guidelines in the UK that state that EU hauliers are only allowed to make 2 cabotage trips within a 7 day period. The new rules would see foreign haulage operators coming into the country laden with goods and able to make multiple pick ups and deliveries whilst here.

Although no exact date is given, these temporary rules would come into play towards the end of 2021 for a period of up to 6 months. This should help to secure supply chains over the medium term, complementing the effects of other wider government measures put into place to address HGV driver shortages.

All Types of Goods to Benefit

These changes will mostly benefit those transporting essential food-related goods through the supply chain, although it does also apply to other types of products. Through the improved efficiency of how foreign haulier lorries are used, it’s also thought that the pressures on the global supply chain would be eased.

UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps had this to say on the matter: “The long-term answer to the supply chain issues we’re currently experiencing must be developing a high-skill, high-wage economy here in the UK.

The temporary changes we’re consulting on to cabotage rules will make sure foreign hauliers in the UK can use their time effectively and get more goods moving in the supply chain at a time of high demand.”

A Raft of Existing Measures

This news comes hot on the heels of temporary visas being approved for EU HGV drivers and a series of measures that seek to address the global HGV driver shortage. It has seen the number of available HGV tests almost double when compared to pre-pandemic levels.

There are also positive signs that efforts to encourage new blood into the road haulage industry are starting to take hold, with the government’s Become a Lorry/Bus Driver website enjoying almost 17,000 hits each day and provisional HGV licence application numbers trebling.

An Ongoing Battle That Needs to Be Won

The extension of Cabot rights represents just one of numerous measures being implemented in an attempt to fight a battle that very much needs to be won. Whether enough has changed to turn the tide against empty shelves and port bottlenecks remains to be seen, but it’s still a step in the right direction.

At Insite, we’re doing our part in this fight by providing industry-leading HGV driver training, with services that are scalable for any size of licence acquisition requirement. If you’d like to know more about what makes us different, take a look around our website, where you’ll find the reasons behind our exceptional pass rates.

Alternatively, if you’d like to discuss your training needs, just give us a call on 0330 818 8888 or click ‘contact us’ and drop us a line. Upon receipt of your enquiry, we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.

The UK is in the grip of an HGV driver shortage, something that recently led to a fuel crisis that is threatening to bring the country to a standstill. In a bid to avert the problem, the government has deployed army drivers to begin delivering fuel to petrol stations across Britain.

This will surely come as welcome news to the many drivers who’ve been sat in long queues at empty fuel stations after several days of panic buying. It remains to be seen how effective this measure will ultimately be, however, as there are just 200 military personnel involved, of whom only 50% are actually trained tanker drivers.

Operation Escalin Underway

This mobilisation, dubbed Operation Escalin, is now underway, as army tanker drivers begin transporting fuel across the UK. It’s a move that still went ahead, despite the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak saying that the situation is beginning to improve.

Pumps began running dry at the end of September due to the lack of available HGV drivers, sparking a frenzied period that saw drivers draining reserves to protect their own interests. This has since led to the government extending the foreign driver visa scheme from Christmas Eve to the end of February.

Helping the Worst-Affected Areas

Ministers have been at pains to deny that the fuel crisis was caused by Brexit, pointing to the fact that the HGV driver shortage is one that’s affecting the world as a whole. However, none of the UK’s EU neighbours have experienced any of the same petrol station queues.

Initially, the troops involved will be concentrated in the capital and across the South East, where the worst of the fuel shortages still continue. That said, the Midlands and the North East have also been badly affected, with petrol stations operating on levels under 20%.

Operating Out of Hertfordshire Oil Depot

Those armed forces members who have been drafted in to carry out this emergency work were seen arriving at Buncefield Oil Depot in Hemel Hempstead – the project’s base of operations. Speaking to LBC radio about the crisis as a whole, Mr Sunak had this to say: “We know there’s enough petrol at our refineries and our terminals, and the issue is we’ve had a very steep demand spike”.

He continued: “The good news is that it’s getting better, as every single day since last Tuesday we’ve delivered more petrol to forecourts than has been taken out. The number of people getting deliveries has increased and the volume of fuel getting delivered has increased.”

Insite – Continuing to Provide New HGV Driving Talent

The events of the past week or so illustrate just how crucial it is to have a well-functioning HGV driver infrastructure in place. At Insite, we continue to offer industry-leading driver acquisition programs that allow companies and organisations to gain access to the next generation of driving talent.

If you would like to know more about us and what we offer, please browse through our website where you’ll find everything you’re looking for and more. Alternatively, should you wish to speak to us about your training requirements, call us on 0330 818 8888 or click on ‘contact us’ and we’ll be happy to discuss your needs.

 

Last week we brought you news about the rules governing trailer towing being relaxed in an attempt to tackle the current HGV driver shortage. Today, we’re back again to tell you about two major changes to the HGV licence rules and what they mean for trainee drivers.

As you’ll find out by reading on, the rule changes relate to the removal of staging requirements for licence acquisition and the reversing element of the HGV test.

Change #1 – Removal of Current Licence Staging Requirements

According to the official government website, Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations 1999 have been amended to allow car licence holders to make an application for both the Cat C and C+E entitlement at the same time, rather than having to apply for both separately.

This allows drivers to choose which test they want to take first, meaning that if the articulated lorry element (C+E) is passed first, they would automatically be granted C+E, C, C1 and C1+E entitlements (this applies to buses, minibuses, minibus + trailer and bus + trailer licence acquisition).

20,000 Extra Tests Per Year Is the Goal

This move is aimed at simplifying the process required for drivers to obtain their licence at the same time as speeding up the national HGV licence acquisition system. The hope is this will free up space for 20,000 extra HGV tests to be taken each year and in turn, lightening the workload of DVSA examiners.

Before this change was made, drivers needed to pass their Cat C test and wait until they had their licence in their possession before booking their C+E test. By granting provisional C, as well as C+E entitlement at the same time, the C+E test can now be applied for immediately.

Change #2 – Alternative Arrangements For HGV Reversing Manoeuvres

The second major change that’s been introduced relates to the removal of the reversing exercise from both the Cat C and C+E tests. Both forms of the HGV practical test require candidates to carry out an off-road reversing exercise in addition to demonstrating an ability to safely couple and decouple a trailer to the towing vehicle.

This will shorten the test from 2 hours to 1 hour 15 minutes, with the reversing element instead be tested via an instructor, rather than a DVSA examiner – further freeing up their valuable time.

The Aspect of Safety Continues to Be a Concern

At Insite, we welcome changes like these, as they will allow more tests to be carried out. We’re also keen to share the responsibility with the rest of the training industry, but we do have some concerns relating to the safety of these amendments. At the very least, road safety standards should be maintained rather than eroded as part of the overall effort to combat the ongoing HGV driver shortage.

This is a belief echoed by Andrew Malcom – Chief Executive of the Malcolm Group, who had this to say on the matter “In principle, I can understand what they’ve done, to try to unlock test dates. However, I am seriously concerned about the safety aspect. I think they’ve cut far too much out of the process of the test – that’s my biggest worry.”

It’s also a feeling shared by Brian Kenny – RHA’s head of training and sales who said “According to HSE, there’s about seven people knocked down and killed in yards each year by reversing vehicles.

Removing the reversing manoeuvre from the test is a step back. As far as we’re concerned, one person killed is one too many. Going forward on the roads should be assessed and should be tested. It’s equally important to test properly how an individual reverses and manoeuvres off the road.”

Tackling the HGV Driver Shortage in Unison

There’s no getting around the fact that the driver crisis is an urgent issue that needs to be dealt with and we’ll continue to contribute to the effort by providing the very best large-scale HGV driver acquisition programs in the UK right now. However, we’re also keen to ensure that the roads remain safe – something that should always be priority number one.

If you would like to know more about us and how we do things, take a look around our website where you’ll find everything you need to know and more. Alternatively, if you’d like to speak with us about your training needs, simply call us on 0330 818 8888 or click on ‘contact us’ and drop us a line to discuss your requirements.

We recently brought you news that the UK government was considering relaxing the rules that currently require anyone wanting to tow a trailer or caravan over a certain weight to take an extra test. Today we can confirm that this is about to come into effect in the very near future with a view to delivering tens of thousands of extra HGV tests per year and tackling the current driver shortage.

Previously, anyone obtaining their driving licence after 1st January 1997 had to take a separate test when driving a vehicle & trailer combo of over 4,250kg Maximum Authorised Mass (MAM) or a trailer above 750kg MAM, however, in the near future, that all changes, with all drivers able to tow trailers up to 3,500kg MAM. It’s a move that’s been well received by some, but not from all quarters.

A Wealth of New HGV Talent

According to the Department of transport, this impending change represents something that will allow 30,000 more HGV driving tests to be carried out each year – welcome news for retailers experiencing empty shelves up and down the country.

This is what Transport Secretary Grant Shapps had to say on the matter: “From Inverness to St Ives, HGV drivers are helping to keep the country running, and have been throughout the pandemic. The shortage of drivers is a global problem, but we’ve been taking action here in the UK to help industry leaders attract drivers and build a more resilient sector”.

This change is one of a number of different tactics the government is currently using to turn the tide in the fight against the shortage, however, some – including ourselves at Insite, have a number of misgivings about the move, as it’s effectively making the roads less safe to drive on.

Will The Change Come At the Cost of Safety?

While the relaxation in towing rules will undoubtedly help the HGV industry fight back against the current shortage, there is perhaps not enough attention being paid to safety. Rather than lowering safety standards – which is what this move does – they should be being improved, not reduced.

We feel that despite the imminent rule changes, companies should still put their staff through B+E (trailer towing) training if they’re going to be doing so as part of their job. Regardless of the fact that it’s no longer a legal requirement, doing so will maintain safety, as well as lowering insurance costs and improving the reputation of your company.

A ‘Dead Zone’ Is Created After September 20

At Insite, we will still be providing this training with a new competency certification and while there will be no more B+E tests after 20 September, the law isn’t going to be changing until an as yet undetermined date. What this does is create a ‘dead zone’ where no new drivers can tow a trailer until the law actually changes.

Essentially, what we’re talking about is a change that may lead to more accidents occurring on the road and while we might not be completely happy about what’s to come, we understand that it’s going to happen anyway. So, we’ll continue to uphold the highest standards of HGV instruction regardless, so that companies that want to maintain current towing standards are able to.

Continuing to Support the Industry With High Quality Training

The fight against the HGV driver shortage is an ongoing one and we will likely see more measures like this one to boost the UK’s available driving talent. At Insite, we are continuing to offer high quality licence acquisition programs of all sizes to empower businesses and keep the wheels of UK commerce turning.

If you would like to know more about what we do at Insite and how we do it, take a look around our website where you’ll discover everything you need to know and more. Alternatively, should you wish to discuss your training needs with our team, give us a call on 0330 818 8888 or click on ‘contact us’ and drop us a line to discuss your requirements.