Driver training specialist HGVC has helped 315 candidates to pass their category D test so far in 2024, a figure that the business says is an 11% rise on the same period in 2023.
It offers D and D1 training to coach and bus operators across the UK and has 23 PCV driving instructors around the country, up from 19 in 2023. HGVC can also place instructors and training vehicles at client sites.
In 2023 the supplier doubled its training fleet, which includes single- and double-decker buses. It says that demand for its services has risen as coach and bus operators continue to face driver shortages and cost-of-living challenges.
Adds CEO James Clifford: “With the UK still feeling the impact of the cost-of-living crisis, accessible bus travel has a valuable role to play in keeping the country moving.
“Bus companies provide a vital service and can often be the only form of transport for some communities. It is therefore not a surprise that we have seen record demand from coach and bus operators this year.”
Mr Clifford says that there is scope for HGVC’s 23-strong pool of PCV instructors to grow further with demand. He adds that the supplier “is offering a range of services that have not been offered before to this market, including third-party instructors, and overflow vehicles to expand training capacity.”
In addition to PCV driver training, HGVC delivers courses across every other licence category and Driver CPC tuition. It claims that its driving candidates are 75% more likely than the industry standard to pass first time.
