New towing regulations

[FerlasDave]

I’ve just read that the regulations for towing are changing soon. Those that passed their test post 1997 will now be allowed to tow up to 3.5 ton gvm, so caravans and larger trailers etc. I believe this is in a bid to try and get more HGV drivers on the road do to a shortage, but

I’m not sure it’s the best move, as someone who has failed the B+E test will now get a free pass.

What’s everyone’s thoughts?

 

[MrEd]

I am annoyed as I did my b+e in may to the cost of £800 ***.

seems like a lowering of standards as a sticking plaster for the predicted mess of foreign lorry drivers leaving after brexit.

 

[demographic]

Yeah, thats another vote for it just being a sticking plaster to cover for Brexit causing a lorry driver shortage.
One of the local builders merchants was using an Arnold Clarke hire van to deliver plywood sheets the other day and thats a first.

 

[Macaroon]

Yeah, thats another vote for it just being a sticking plaster to cover for Brexit causing a lorry driver shortage.
One of the local builders merchants was using an Arnold Clarke hire van to deliver plywood sheets the other day and thats a first.

Did he have an armed escort? He'd need one around these parts.....

 

[demographic]

Did he have an armed escort? He'd need one around these parts.....

Aye, plywood sheet price has shot up a LOT as well.
Oddly enough, we're still building despite this huge increase in cost of materials so the extra money must have been in the system somewhere before the increase.
Remember that when people say there's not enough to put yer wages up...

 

[Fadcode]

Allowing car and van drivers to pull a trailer wont have much effect on the HGV shortage.

 

[Robbi]

All the instructors and testers doing car and van towing tests can now be redirected to HGV instruction and testing, it'll be a bit slow but it will help.

Over here all the " white van man" delivery drivers are being offer free HGV instruction and tests by the big supermarket chains, resulting in a shortage of local delivery drivers.

 

[FerlasDave]

So are they hoping white van men will become HGVers and those with BE will become white van men?

 

[Nice65]

Turns out you won’t even need a licence for a smaller vehicle to drive HGVs.

HGV driving tests to be relaxed to help lorry driver shortages ahead of Christmas

Bare supermarket shelves have become common in the UK as there are not enough HGV drivers to deliver essential goods as tests were halted during the pandemic and thousands of European drivers left after Brexit.

news.sky.com

 

[Robbi]

Turns out you won’t even need a licence for a smaller vehicle to drive HGVs.

HGV driving tests to be relaxed to help lorry driver shortages ahead of Christmas

Bare supermarket shelves have become common in the UK as there are not enough HGV drivers to deliver essential goods as tests were halted during the pandemic and thousands of European drivers left after Brexit.

news.sky.com

Wow! That would appear to make it quite easy to get an HGV license, the lack of skills could be quite worrying with such a large vehicle.

 

[Nice65]

Wow! That would appear to make it quite easy to get an HGV license, the lack of skills could be quite worrying with such a large vehicle.

It’ll be fine I’m sure.

 

[FerlasDave]

Wow! That would appear to make it quite easy to get an HGV license, the lack of skills could be quite worrying with such a large vehicle.

Im more worried about all the folk that will now be pulling horse boxes and larger trailers. At least a hgv driver is accountable to a firm.

In fact, I wonder how many firms would actually not hire someone that has obtained their licence this way…

 

[Countryman]

Most firms want a couple years experience as insurance on 100,000 quids of wagon is a consideration.

Apparently industry was short 80,000 HGV drivers before Brexit. 20,000 going home has triggered the issue. Bidding on an agency driver starts at £350 a day. HGV drivers have been getting walloping pay rises.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[SaraR]

I guess someone with a pre-1997 licence could still have about 20-25 years left before retirement, but I'm not sure enough people in that age bracket and older would want to swap careers to lorry driving. Wouldn't it be better to focus on attracting younger people into the sector and on how to keep the drivers you've got?