By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions.
Accept
routeonerouteonerouteone
  • News
    • Show all
    • Awards & Events
    • Deliveries
    • Environment
    • Exhibitor News
    • Euro Bus Expo 2024
    • Features
    • Legal
    • Minibus and minicoach
    • Operators
    • Opinion
    • People
    • Suppliers
    • Vehicles
  • Vehicles
    • Find a Vehicle
    • ZEV Comparison Tool
    • Sell a Vehicle
    • Vehicle Seller Dashboard
  • Insights
  • Careers
  • Events
    • British Tourism & Travel Show
    • Euro Bus Expo
    • Innovation Challenge
    • Livery Competition
    • routeone Awards
  • Advertise
  • Contact
    • Share your news
    • Subscribe
    • Update Subscription Details
  • Latest Issue
  • SIGN UP
Search
© 2024 routeone News. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Some licence delays largely tackled, but other worries stay
Share
Font ResizerAa
routeonerouteone
Font ResizerAa
Search
  • News
    • Show all
    • Awards & Events
    • Deliveries
    • Environment
    • Exhibitor News
    • Euro Bus Expo 2024
    • Features
    • Legal
    • Minibus and minicoach
    • Operators
    • Opinion
    • People
    • Suppliers
    • Vehicles
  • Vehicles
    • Find a Vehicle
    • ZEV Comparison Tool
    • Sell a Vehicle
    • Vehicle Seller Dashboard
  • Insights
  • Careers
  • Events
    • British Tourism & Travel Show
    • Euro Bus Expo
    • Innovation Challenge
    • Livery Competition
    • routeone Awards
  • Advertise
  • Contact
    • Share your news
    • Subscribe
    • Update Subscription Details
  • Latest Issue
  • SIGN UP
Follow US
© 2024 routeone News | Powered by Diversified Business Communications UK Ltd
- Advertisement -
-
routeone > Drivers > Some licence delays largely tackled, but other worries stay
DriversNewsOperatorsTop Story

Some licence delays largely tackled, but other worries stay

Tim Deakin
Tim Deakin
Published: October 14, 2021
Share
Vocational licence delays largely tackled by DVLA
SHARE

Delays to the processing of vocational driving licence applications by DVLA appear to have receded significantly following engagement by the coach and bus industry and its representatives, both the Agency and operators have reported. But concerns remain that turnaround times where medical investigation is needed continue to be excessive.

Contents
Cautious welcome as vocational licence delays reducedContingency to be put in place by DVLA?Defence Driving Instructors start to conduct PCV tests

A DVLA spokesperson says that straightforward applications are now being dealt with “within around five days,” adding that the Agency is “looking at ways to speed up this process even further.”

DVLA accepts that when an application is more complicated – including where medical investigation is required – delays may still be incurred. Trade body RHA has suggested that this element of processing “is still a major issue.” Operations Manager – Coach Sector Andy Warrender says that there are currently five applications, renewals and reinstatements among members that are not being processed more than three months after they were submitted.

Cautious welcome as vocational licence delays reduced

Despite that, one operator that earlier was vocal in its criticism of the delays to standard applications agrees that DVLA has “massively improved” its turnaround time. But Adventure Travel Managing Director Adam Keen adds that there remains room for further improvement.

“We are seeing new applications returned in between two and four weeks, which we can live with,” says Mr Keen, although one submission by an Adventure Travel trainee that was made in July has still not been dealt with.

Data published on 11 October stated that DVLA was processing applications for vocational driving licences that were received on 5 October, or four working days earlier. That represents a significant change from an earlier position, where delays at one point were over two months. The data is updated weekly.

Contingency to be put in place by DVLA?

In early October, the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) said that feedback from members was that some – but not all – vocational licence applications were being returned within two weeks. “We are still getting reports of variability in processing times, and we are working through some examples with DVLA to identify whether all of those taking longer involve items like a medical issue,” says the Confederation.

Vocational licence delays largely tackled, DVLA says
DVLA says that processing times for vocational licence applications have been slashed – but ‘more complicated’ submissions still attract delays

CPT adds that it worked with DVLA to reduce standard processing times “from around eight weeks to around two weeks.”

DVLA says that the number of employees allocated to processing vocational licence applications has been doubled. It is understood that DVLA is examining the establishment of a second centre that can provide contingency capacity should difficulties return.

However, some operators have reiterated the impact that vocational licence delays have caused. On 30 September, Transdev Blazefield said that trainee drivers were waiting “over three times longer than usual” to obtain their licences. When combined with difficulties in finding test slots with DVSA, that had left the operator with 95 recruits in limbo and no option than to cancel some journeys at short notice.

While processing times have largely been reduced since then, on 4 October the PCS union said it would ballot its members employed by DVLA for industrial action, including strikes, over what it says is an “ongoing health and safety dispute” concerning the number of staff on site at DVLA’s Swansea offices. That ballot runs to 10 November.

Defence Driving Instructors start to conduct PCV tests

Meanwhile, Defence Driving Examiners (DDEs) seconded from the Ministry of Defence to help to clear the backlog of vocational driving test appointments can in most cases conduct PCV tests, the Department for Transport (DfT) has confirmed.

DDEs were due to begin conducting civilian vocational driving tests on 11 October. They will carry out five tests per day over a five-day working week. DDEs will be assigned to DVSA and customer sites with the highest demand.

Bringing in DDEs is part of the government’s response to difficulties with vocational testing, although it has been criticised in some quarters for acting too late. News that DDEs will be able to conduct PCV driving tests follows assurances given to CPT that work to increase testing capacity will be applied fairly across the passenger and freight sectors.

Separately, DVSA has again stated that vocational testing slots are going “unsold.” In week commencing 27 September, 397 such appointments were unutilised, down slightly from 402 seven days earlier but up from 316 in week commencing 13 September.

While the above developments at DVLA and DVSA have been welcomed, many operators continue to experience severe driver shortages. One business is currently engaging around 70 agency staff, while another has raised its hourly rate of pay (including a discretionary bonus) to £20 for night and weekend work.

Share This Article
Facebook LinkedIn Threads Email Copy Link
ByTim Deakin
Tim is Editor of routeone and has worked in both the coach and bus and haulage industries.
Previous Article National Bus Strategy money to continue beyond 2024/25? National Bus Strategy money to continue beyond 2024/25?
Next Article Falcon Coaches in talks with Arriva about Guildford business Falcon Coaches in talks to take on Arriva Guildford business
- Advertisement -

Latest News

Temsa HD12 and HD13 delivered to Cresta Coaches under Asset Alliance rental deal
Temsa pair join Cresta Coaches on Asset Alliance rental agreement
Deliveries
Go-Ahead London – Managing Director
Careers Jobs
andy burnham tfgm £15.6 billion (1) The funding announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves today (4 June) has been allocated to several combined mayoral authorities to use on rail, tram, road and bus infrastructure. Transport for Greater Manchester revealed today that part of the £2.5 billion it will receive will go towards making the Bee Network fully battery-electric by 2030. An as-yet undecided portion of that will support a planned investment in 1,000 new zero-emission buses over that period, the mayoral authority said. That is part of plans to build the UK's "first fully integrated, zero-emission public transport system", with trams and trains also set to benefit. Liverpool City Region's already announced BRT system is among the projects to which its £1.6 billion will be allocated. Under those plans - due for realisation by 2028 - a high-speed network will be served by articulated buses which are modelled on the 'Glider' in Belfast. It is due to link Liverpool city centre with John Lennon Airport, and Liverpool FC and Everton FC's respective stadia along three routes. Although the model of bus has not been confirmed, a Van Hool Exqui.City on loan from Belfast was last year used as a demonstrator. That 18m vehicle can accommodate around 30% more passengers than a typical bus and has three sets of double doors. The funding will also go towards buses elsewhere in the city as the region heads towards franchising services by 2027. Liverpool Mayor Steve Rotheram with a 'Glider' which was on loan from Belfast last year - an example of the sort of bus which could serve the new BRT Bus services in the East Midlands region will be boosted by the funding, thanks to the £2 billion handed to it today by the government. Some of that allocation will be used for a rapid transit network on the Trent Arc between Nottingham and Derby. Between the two cities, the Freeport, Infinity Park Investment Zone and Ratcliffe-on-Soar will also benefit from the improved bus services. South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority's newly announced commitment towards bus franchising has been boosted by £350 million in funding as part of that region's allocation. The funding for West Yorkshire will help build new bus stations in Bradford and Wakefield. Likewise, the Tees Valley Mayoral Authority will put its sum towards a new £15 million bus station in Middlesbrough. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander says: "Today marks a watershed moment on our journey to improving transport across the North and Midlands – opening up access to jobs, growing the economy and driving up quality of life as we deliver our Plan for Change. "For too long, people in the North and Midlands have been locked out of the investment they deserve. With £15.6bn of government investment, we’re giving local leaders the means to drive cities, towns and communities forward, investing in Britain’s renewal so you and your family are better off."
TfGM’s all-electric bus plan boosted by new £15.6 billion package
News
Local Transport Minister opens First Bus electric depot in Hengrove
Local Transport Minister opens First Bus electric depot in Hengrove
Bus
- Advertisement -
-

routeone magazine is the indispensable resource for professional UK coach, bus and minibus operators. The home of vehicle sales and the latest bus and coach job vacancies, routeone connects professional PCV operators with complete and unrivalled news coverage.

  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • GDPR Policy
  • Sustainability
  • Advertise
  • Latest Issue
  • Share Your News
routeonerouteone
Follow US
© 2024 routeone News | Powered by Diversified Business Communications UK Ltd