HGV driving tests increase by 74% in first quarter of 2022

It seems that the Government are making inroads into their initiatives to reduce the shortfall in HGV drivers in the UK, according to the latest official statistics. The HGV driver shortage was well over 100,000 in 2021.

From January 1^st, 2022, to March 31^st, 2022, there was an impressive 74% increase in HGV driving tests compared to the same period pre-pandemic in 2020, that’s 11,197 more driving tests in 2022 Q1.

Alongside a £52.5m investment from the Government to improve working conditions for HGV drivers – including improving roadside facilities and lorry parking – there have been 33 Government actions to attract new truck drivers to the industry or to tempt previous truck drivers to return.

These include:

• allowing the off-road part of the lorry test to be carried out by non-DVSA assessors
• allowing drivers to take one test to drive both a rigid and articulated lorry
• removing the need for drivers to do a separate car and trailer test

All designed to increase the throughput of tests and reduce the waiting list.

The DVSA have also stepped in after encouragement from the Government, with measures such as:

• DVSA recruited more vocational driving examiners to help make more tests available in the areas of where demand is highest
• vocational driving examiners working overtime, including at weekends and on public holidays

Industry bodies such as the Road Haulage Association are noticing a reduction in the shortage of HGV drivers and unofficially believe that the perception of the industry – and becoming an HGV driver – is improving and therefore more people are looking to train and qualify to become on HGV driver.

Karl McCartney, Transport Minister, commented:

“The government took swift action and introduced 33 measures to support our vital freight sector throughout a global driver shortage and to maintain our country’s supply chains. Those measures have worked, with the number of lorry driver tests being taken on the rise, and the sector reporting driver numbers are stabilising. We’ll continue to work with the industry to remove any potential barriers to a rewarding, successful career in logistics and to boost and maintain driver numbers”.

Loveday Ryder, the DVSA Chief Executive, added:

“We recognise the haulage industry keeps the wheels of our economy turning. I want to say thank you to all vocational training providers and our vocational driving examiners for supporting the changes. It’s their hard work and commitment that has allowed us to offer an additional 11,197 tests and increase the number of drivers joining the industry”.

The full article can be viewed by clicking the link below, including access to the official statistics.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/huge-increase-in-lorry-driving-tests-following-government-action