News that the government is consulting on relaxing the 50km, regular service restriction that applies to the youngest PCV drivers will be welcomed by many in the coach and bus sector.
Minister Guy Opperman says that consultation aside, he expects the amendment to proceed. Tellingly, he adds that the move has arisen following engagement with the industry on the wider driver shortage.
Some may say that the proposed change should have been progressed earlier. That it has come about at all illustrates the importance of the sector’s work with elected representatives and government officials.
One may wonder whether announcement during National Coach Week is coincidental. Surely, it is not. Dropping the 50km limit fully would bring most benefit to coach operators, and Secretary of State for Transport Mark Harper’s presence at the opening of National Coach Week suggests that he is onboard with the aims of that work.
Mr Opperman acknowledges the shortage of PCV drivers. But he advises that at present, there are no plans to extend the Skills Bootcamp approach to category D licence acquisition. That mechanism delivers funded training, and – in a key point – government guidance notes how “skills that support the green economy” fall within its scope.
Expanding coach and bus fleets is a clear measure to support the green economy. Ministers must thus look with no delay to bring training to drive a PCV into the Skills Bootcamp fold. Industry influence has already delivered progress on the 50km hurdle, and it can do the same with Skills Bootcamp.
Note: The version of this column published in the April 2024 print issue of routeone was written before publication of the consultation into the proposed 50km relaxation, and hence the above text has been slightly amended to reflect what that document contains.
