(Reuters) – A shortage of truckers on Britain’s roads could leave Christmas shoppers out in the cold as tough new rules for drivers kick in.
Hauliers are getting creative – training warehouse staff to drive, hiring truckers from abroad, even turning to the army – to minimise disruption from a Europe-wide licensing scheme that requires drivers to undergo extra training.
The logistics industry in Britain, where more than 60 percent of goods move by road, is 60,000 drivers short as peak season begins, according to the UK Commission for Employment and Skills.
The seasonal advice from Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin to Britons last week: Get your shopping done soon.
New legislation demands that, from Sept. 10, most commercial truck, bus and coach drivers hold a driver certificate of professional competence (CPC). At about 3,000 pounds ($4,700) per HGV driver, the qualification doesn’t come cheap.
That cost estimate, according to two trade bodies, includes 35 hours of mandatory government-approved training every five years – a cause of much grumbling among experienced hands in a country where most HGV drivers are in their mid-50s.
“Some of the older drivers don’t really understand why they need to do this,” said Jamie Boyd, managing director of haulage firm Today Team Ltd and himself a former truck driver.
Read more at Reuters
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