I agree with Kenneth Farrington [routeone/Letters/27 March] that a certain number of drivers are not aware of the impact of shift work on their lives prior to application.
I also agree that the Driver CPC (DCPC) modules are informative and a handy refresher of industry knowledge. But overall, I believe it only equates to a stealth tax on drivers.
I have been in this industry for near enough 20 years now, and yes I agree that benefits packages for drivers from their employers have gotten better and practical, and yes you are not treated like just a number as much as we were when I first started in the industry, but nowadays I find that implied respect from other road users and passengers has deteriorated to an all-time low.
I regularly get brake tested on the motorway, undercut, have U-turns pulled in front of me with no warning, all this adds to the stress of an already stressful and responsible position of a PSV driver.
I myself believe that, like the DCPC that we are legally required to undertake, car drivers should have to take a PCV/HGV awareness course as part of their driving test.
Once implied respect for said drivers improves (which won’t happen overnight), maybe then firms will be able to retain staff for longer and build up sufficient numbers.
Name and address supplied.
