There has been good news for the trucking industry that suggests some big changes are on its way. The Large Goods Vehicle (LGV) Driver Apprenticeship is set to have a big change this summer. This will entitle two new LGV Driver Apprenticeships. One will include the CAT C+E licence, while the other will focus on the CAT C licence. This will be a huge benefit for the industry as the U.K. Has been facing a driver shortage for a number of years, with the profession not being targeted to younger people.

The introduction for the change

The introduction for the new Driver Apprenticeships were accepted last month by the Department for Transport (DTF) and the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IFATE), which is the body that oversees apprenticeships. The need for the change follows the widespread criticism that the current LGV Driver Apprenticeship standard is not fit for purpose because it only offers a CAT C licence while most operators need drivers with a CAT C+E licence.

What changes are being made to apprenticeships?

IFATE member and chief executive, David Coombes said:  “The existing apprenticeship standard will be amended to include the cat C+E licence by the summer.”

However, he warned that there could be some time before an LGV Apprenticeship offering a CAT C licence is offered. “The challenge will lie with the new CAT C licence. The existing LGV Driver  CAT C licence will be scrapped when the new Apprenticeships containing the CAT C+E licences launch. It could be months before rigid operators will have the new urban-focused LGV Driver Apprenticeship standard offering a CAT C licence. It will be a challenge to launch that by the autumn”. There is a lot expected to come of this change with positive impacts on the trucking industry.

When will the change take place?

The head of skills of Freight Transport Association (FTA) Sally Gilson quoted that “The move to include a cat C+E in the LGV Driver Apprenticeship standard was approved last month by the DFT and the IFATE”. She said: “It was agreed that the amended LGV Driver Cat C+E Apprenticeship would be submitted and ready to use by the summer”. This will create so many new job opportunities around the U.K. for people, especially young people. The change will also take effect on the national driver shortage, which currently stands at 50,000 short.