June 10 2024
The Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) has now submitted its response to the DfT’s consultation on vocational driver licensing.
The Government proposed two key changes: One will permit new recruits to get on with off-road training and testing while still awaiting their provisional licence from DVLA (that will ensure more trainees stay the course and become safe, qualified bus or coach drivers). The other will permit 18- and 19-year-olds to drive regular services without any distance restriction.
CPT’s Operations Director Keith McNally said,
“The consultation covered two key areas of licensing – one more important to coach and the other of particular help to bus operators. Together these changes could help our members recruit the people they need.
“The General Election will now delay progress in this area but we are confident DfT officials will present the results of the consultation and appropriate advice to new ministers promptly after the election.”
CPT’s response includes a significant quantity of high-quality evidence in support of the proposals that CPT collected from its large bus and coach sector membership.
“CPT is confident that through our regular engagement with members via our Bus & Coach Commissions, and through more detailed policy groups like Road Operations Committee and Recruitment & Training Group, CPT has been able to provide highly informed answers to the many questions raised by DfT in its consultation questionnaire,” adds McNally.
Notes for editors
Download the response here.
DfT's Consultation on The Amendments to Licensing Restrictions: Bus, Coach and Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) examined two key proposals: One to permit new recruits to get on with off-road training and testing while still awaiting their provisional licence from DVLA (that will ensure more trainees stay the course and become safe, qualified bus or coach drivers). The other is to permit 18- and 19-year-olds to drive regular services without any distance restriction.
Both proposals are the direct consequence of CPT’s lobbying and engagement, which followed from a discussion held during the CPT / DfT Driver Shortage Summit in November 2022.
CPT considers these changes a welcome step forward that will open up the transport sector to younger people, increase job opportunities, help grow the economy and help tackle driver shortages that can undermine the provision of services. CPT would also like to see the proposals go further since it believes well-trained drivers in this age group can safely drive a wider range of passenger carrying services and longer services including ‘non-regular’ coaches.
CPT publishes a comprehensive best practice guide to recruitment & retention within the Compliance Manual available to all of its members. Bus & coach operators have adopted a range of initiatives to address driver shortages since 2022 including significant investment in their workforces, improved working conditions & training.
CPT's manifestos for bus and coach Driving Britain Forward and Access All Areas both argue the next government must support an industry-led workforce strategy for the bus and coach sector.