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Tories brew opposition to 420 hours of driver trainini
Page 4
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• by Melanie Hammond Conservative MEPE are rallying opposition to the proposal that would force new truck drivers to undertake 420 hours training, claiming hauters face another "red tape nightmare" and that it will cost the industry E140m a year.
Tory MEP Geoffrey Van Orden, a member of the European Parliament's Transport Committee, spoke out after the second reading of the Grosch Report on the "Training of Professional Drivers" in Strasbourg last week.
He says: "It is very disappointing that yet again British Labour MEPs are so quick to pile more regulation and more costs on British businesses."
But while Tory MEPs are seething, the industry generally is taking a more cautious stance.
The Road Haulage Association says the Directive will hit householders who will already be feeling the pinch from a "30% increase in distribution costs from the Working Time Directive"—also due for implementation in 2005. However, it supports those aspects of the Directive which focus on "environmental responsibility, safety, and fuel-efficient driving techniques".
Road Haulage & Distribution Training Council (RHDTC) chairman Ian Hetherington, says: "Unusually the UK government has gained a lot of go and progress is made."
However, all the I industry bodies are appointed that there been no shift away I the compulsory hours of training novice drivers.
RHA Chief Exec. Roger King says: "It ignores the abilil some individuals to master driving t niques in far less time. Surely we are ta about reaching a professional status can be achieved through examination pointless time-serving."
But John Hix of the Freight Trans Association points out that conces: have been made by allowing drivers to work and complete their competence t log while they are being paid.
Hix also agrees that the industry have to absorb costs and is partin concerned about the costs passed c individual trainees, fearing will further exacerbate the ver shortage.
Continuous training rein part of the Directive-35 h of training every five year: existing drivers—but European Parliament accepted that this training be undertaken during woi hours.
Some areas which re contentious lie in the 'tech annex" of the report. Dri will still be expected to s topics including healthy c the economics of road tr port and how to prevent ricking in illegal immigrants. Potts of the RHA says: "I ously question whether ad needs to know all of this. Mc it is plain common sense some of it simply won't api domestic drivers."