GOVERNMENT ACTS TO ADDRESS LORRY DRIVER SHORTAGES

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: september 2021 :: RMTnews 12 U K lorry operators and driver training industries are being asked for their views on the government’s proposed changes to help address the current lorry driver shortages. The government has announced a package of measures to support recruitment and retention within the road haulage industry to ease pressure on the sector. This includes launching a consultation on allowing drivers to take one test to drive both an articulated and rigid lorry. This would streamline the process for new drivers to gain their HGV licence and would increase lorry test appointment availability. The full list of proposals being consulted on includes allowing: • drivers to take one test to drive both a rigid and articulated lorry, rather than having to pass a test in a rigid lorry first, and then another in an articulated lorry • drivers who want to use a bus or coach to tow a trailer to take one test with a trailer, rather than having to pass a test without a trailer first • the off-road manoeuvres part of the test to be assessed by the driver training industry • car drivers to tow a trailer without having to take another test DVSA continues to develop measures to maximise testing capacity and tackle the backlog. It has already increased throughput from 1,150 successful vocational passes a week pre-COVID to 1,500 by offering overtime and allocating additional staff into testing. Further measures could sustain this increase and potentially raise it to 2,000 successful passes a week. Other measures to support increasing the availability of vocational tests include recruiting additional vocational examiners and making changes to the online booking service to help prioritise lorry tests. R MT regional organiser Ken Usher has received the Merchant Navy Medal for meritorious service. Ken was the youngest ever full- time officer for the National Union of Seamen and is currently the longest serving RMT official. He completed his training in 1976 at the National Sea Training College in Gravesend and served with a number of companies. He has also acted on behalf of the International Transport Federation (ITF) to represent the interests of foreign seafarers welfare. He is also a Trustee of Care Ashore, the Merchant Seamen’s War Memorial Society. GOVERNMENT ACTS TO ADDRESS LORRY DRIVER SHORTAGES MERITORIOUS MEDAL FOR KEN