Bluebird Coaches of Weymouth has repeated concerns over the impact of the 50km, regular service restriction for PCV drivers below the age of 20 on operators that do not operate regular services or shorter routes.
Despite a Department for Transport proposal to relax the 50km limit, it would still enable 18- and 19-year-old category D licence holders only to undertake regular and special regular services (as defined in legislation).
Bluebird owner Martyn Hoare has emphasised the need for the restriction to be further relaxed to put more coach work in scope, such as private hires or longer home-to-school services, allowing the business to engage with younger recruits.
“There is the potential for us to pick up young people leaving school, train them and get them hooked on our industry early. We need to catch them early to better integrate them into the sector,” he says.
The operator’s position reflects a broader challenge faced by coach operators that struggle to attract young people to the industry when other sectors can offer immediate career opportunities.
UK Coach Operators Association (UKCOA) Managing Director Peter Bradley supports the concerns raised by Bluebird and advocates a structured approach to integrating young drivers into coaching. He suggests the development of an apprenticeship-style scheme that would provide a pathway for young drivers to gradually build skills and experience to handle more challenging assignments.
“UKCOA would like to see and develop more opportunities for 18-year-olds to drive coaches so they can come out of school and be able to start a career within the industry just as they can with many other sectors,” he says. “We obviously have to recognise that people develop at different rates, and we need to make sure that whatever training is in place for young people takes account that one 18-year-old is going to be very different from another.
“A recognised apprenticeship scheme with incremental stages could ensure that young drivers develop both maturity and capability at their own pace, ultimately leading them to becoming fully proficient drivers,” Mr Bradley adds.
