Embrace training or lose drivers, says RHA

Britain’s lorry drivers could fail to comply with an important new EU Directive on training, the Road Haulage Association warns.

In the biggest change to lorry driving in 40 years, ALL drivers will have to be able to show they have received further training from an approved instructor – a total of 35 hours over a five-year period.

Some companies are getting their systems in place now - but many others may be tempted to do nothing until it is too late - which would be disastrous, RHA chief executive Roger King said.

Speaking at the RHA Training Conference at Jaguar, Birmingham today, King told delegates: “The risk is that trainers will be overwhelmed by a late surge in demand and that many hundreds of lorry drivers become ineligible to drive, through a lack of statutory training.”

The new Directive for truck drivers comes into force in September 2009 but leaves open when the training can be taken. That means there is no legal obligation on drivers or employers to do anything until autumn 2014.

The RHA is urging employers to invest in training of their staff on a regular basis or even towards the beginning of the first five-year period, rather than wait until the last minute. It Association has been invited by the Driving Standards Agency to propose ideas for a government-backed campaign to win over drivers and their employers, and is working up its ideas now.

Meanwhile, training experts within the RHA are working to ensure that the packages available meet the needs of companies, from the larger fleets to small hauliers and owner-drivers. “Our training will be by the industry, for the industry,” King said.

The new drivers’ 'CPC' (Certificate of Professional Competence) is an opportunity to drive up standards and both the real and perceived level of professionalism in the industry. Our view is that, given the right climate, firms will want to be seen to be training for what is an increasing skilled job,” King said.

The RHA has also newly-launched fastFORWARD, the only magazine dedicated to training in the road haulage sector, with widespread report for other industry bodies.