Sept 26 2021 A No Entry Sign At An HGV Parking Area In A British Service Station As HGV Driver Shortages Cause Fuel Panic Buying Editorial Photo

Up to 4,000 people will soon be able to take advantage of training courses to become HGV drivers, as part of a package of measures announced today 25 September 2021 by the government to ease temporary supply chain pressures in food haulage industries, brought on by the pandemic and the global economy rebounding around the world.The Department for Education is investing up to £10 million to create new skills bootcamps to train up to 3,000 more people to become HGV drivers. The free, short, intensive courses will train drivers to be road ready and gain a category C or category C&E licence, helping to tackle the current HGV driver shortage. An additional 1,000 people are expected to be trained through courses accessed locally and funded by the government’s adult education budget.Fuel tanker drivers need additional safety qualifications, which the government will work with industry to ensure drivers can access as quickly as possible.To help make sure new drivers can be road ready as quickly as possible, the Department for Transport DfT have also agreed to work with Driver and Vehicles Standards Agency DVSA to ensure that tests will be available for participants who have completed training courses as soon as possible.