Driver CPC Training to Help with Driver Shortage

Online, August 9, 2013 (Newswire.com) - Driver Shortage

It's been no secret that the driving industry is facing a shortage of drivers and has struggled to attract workers as the economy recovers. Demand for moving goods is increasing as the economy slowly begins to recover and workers are becoming more encouraged to go back into jobs such as construction and manufacture as more work becomes available again within these industries.

Interest from new entrants to the driving workforce has significantly dropped from a staggering 48,227 in 2005 to just over 25,000 in 2012. The existing driving workforce is ageing with only 11% of existing drivers being in their 20's and the average truck driver aged 55. Therefore it is predicted that the industry will continue to face a shortage in the next decade due to retirements.

Drivers are being put off the job due to having to spend weeks away from home, and with companies paying on a per mile basis, drivers spend more time on the road to earn as much money as they possibly can.

Driver CPC Training

Driver CPC is now a legal requirement for LGV and PCV drivers who are professional drivers within the UK and is expected to help with the driver shortage. Existing and new drivers must undertake 35 hours of training every 5 years. The training has been developed with the aim to improve both the knowledge and skills of professional drivers in their working life. The driver CPC training becomes compulsory for PCV drivers as of September 2013 and for LGV drivers as of September 2014.

With a reported 7% of drivers intending to not undertake the Driver CPC training at all and many older drivers leaving the industry rather than undertaking the Driver CPC training, initially, there was some worry that the shortage of UK drivers would remain an issue and there was a concern that many UK drivers will not complete the training in time, increasing the threat of a transportation crisis.

Having said this, official figures have shown that over 613,000 drivers have now completed their Driver CPC training, meaning the industry is on target to have sufficient drivers trained before the September 2013 deadline. 2012-2013 saw a 25% increase in the number of trainees, a 20% rise in the number of training centres and a 15% increase in the number of courses offered. The figures will continue to be monitored over the next few months, and will consider how the industry will approach the LGV driver training starting as of autumn 2014.

Driver CPC training needs to be continue to be encouraged to as many existing and new drivers to avoid a transportation crisis occurring as seen back in 2002 - 2003. Skills in Logistics is a company that offers Driver CPC Training in Norfolk and they highlight benefits that come from being CPC trained to encourage as many drivers to take the course before the deadline. They emphasise that the training can benefit a driver's long term career as well as protect drivers from any changing legal regulations.