Options

How useful was this document? Print this document Email a link to this document

Take a step up - lessons in driver development from leading companies

Contents

• Driver shortages are continuing to worsen - an update on the current situation
• New European Union legislation looks set to further exacerbate LGV driver shortages
• Government funding is available to support new initiatives but the freight industry has also got to play its part
• AAG Distribution - has included a range of health and safety issues in its driver development programme
• Bibby Distribution - working on a number of initiatives designed to boost the recruitment into the transport industry of armed forces personnel
• Christian Salvesen - putting a focus on the proper training of managers in modern management thinking and practise
• Nightfreight - runs an in-house training school to meet both its own driver training needs and those of other organisations
• Safeway - working with key logistics service providers and a driver training agency to recruit and train LGV personnel
• Stiller Group - looking to support the training of unemployed people as an additional means of recruiting new drivers
• TNT Logistics - has launched a Young Driver Scheme to help it recruit young people and train them up to LGV licence standard
• Truronian - the bus and coach operator has established a partnership with the Employment Service and DMT Business Services, to offer LGV training

Foreword

As a government we are committed to ensuring continued sustainable economic growth in the UK. Efficient distribution of goods and services is crucial to our economy and our day to day lives so we need to ensure that we have the skilled workforce available to provide these essential services. The Government therefore takes a very real interest in the road transport industry because of its integral role in the well-being of the economy and country as a whole.

We recognise that there are a number of skills issues facing the road transport industry today, in particular problems with recruitment and a shortage of drivers, accentuated by an ageing population of current drivers. Increased demand will only make the problem worse. In addition, the increasing sophistication of transport and logistics management requires higher levels of skills than in the past. So, it's clear that the industry needs to find new ways to recruit, develop and retain talent if it is to respond quickly and positively to changes in technology, changing markets and increasing competition.

That is why the government is working closely with the industry to help it tackle its recruitment and training needs. To this end, we initially committed a £5m package of measures that aim to recruit more young people to the industry and will look at ways of protecting employer investment in training. The package includes the expansion of the Young Drivers Scheme worth £3.3m, a Modern Apprenticeship demonstration project worth £1.6m, and a feasibility study into Transferable Training loans worth £100,000. Additionally, we have allocated a further £1m for the development of a driver simulator prototype.

So you can see that government can and is helping the industry to tackle issues of recruitment and training. However, the industry must have ultimate responsibility to recruit and train the skilled workforce needed to operate a modern, integrated transport system. That is why I am pleased to recommend to all this supplement which not only sets out current actions to address the challenges facing the industry but provides best practice examples. You will read how industries are taking practical action to build a positive attitude towards continuous professional development for drivers, enabling companies to compete profitably and safely in an increasingly competitive market and to contribute to the continued sustainable growth of our economy.

John Spellar
Minister for Transport

Continue to Current situation

Last updated: Fri Jul 23 09:01:28 2004