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Licenced car drivers could be allowed to drive HGVs without taking a test

22 September 2022

In light of the current UK HGV driver shortage, the Department for Transport has opened a consultation about changing the law in order for certified car drivers to be able to drive HGVs without requiring an additional test.

Respondents to the consultation will, in part, consider whether the government should: 

grant drivers who have category B car licence entitlement additional entitlement to category C1 (7.5 tonnes) goods vehicle entitlement and whether to grant drivers who have a category B licence entitlement to a minibus category D1 licence.

raise the standards of HGV instruction and improve pass rates and to permit a person who has held an HGV category C licence for 2 years to drive passenger car vehicles (PCVs) for maintenance and repair purposes.

Amongst other contributing staff retention factors such as wages and working conditions, the outbreak of Covid 19 and the ensuing restrictions had a large hand in the HGV driver shortage. According to the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC), around 70,000 HGV drivers have left their role since early 2020, 12,500 of whom are EU nationals. 

In a letter to MPs, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps wrote, “It has been suggested that now the UK has left the European Union, we may wish to allow all car drivers – not just those who passed their test before Jan 1, 1997 - the right to drive these larger vehicles without the need for a further test.

“Changes to the licensing categories would potentially create a greater pool of drivers. I am quite happy to explore this idea and how this may work in reality – without making any commitments to legislative change at this stage.”

You can find out more about the call for evidence and contribute to the consultation here.

Contract hire and fleet management specialists

We at Marshall Leasing are always interested to know about proposed changes to legislation, and the impact they may have on road safety.

If you talk to us about how we could help you with your fleet requirements, please email us at info@marshall-leasing.co.uk or call 01480 414541. Alternatively, please complete our contact form.  

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