Caravan tests halted to help lorry crisis

CAR owners will no longer have to take another test to tow a caravan as the Government tries to free up capacity to train new lorry drivers and deal with Britain’s supply chain crisis.

In an effort to provide an additional 50,000 test slots a year for HGV learner drivers, Grant Shapps, the Transport Secretary, has announced a series of measures designed to ease the burden on supermarkets and businesses in the run-up to Christmas.

In a statement issued yesterday, Mr Shapps said waiving the requirement for car drivers to take another test to tow a trailer or caravan would free up examiners and allow another 30,000 HGV tests to be conducted per year.

Other measures include removing the need for HGV drivers to take two tests, which were previously spaced three weeks apart and required them to drive both a rigid and articulated lorry.

The tests will also be made shorter by removing certain elements.

The changes have been implemented as concern mounts over a shortage of lorry drivers, which is having a knockon effect on supermarket, retail and restaurant deliveries and supply chains.

The estimated 90,000 vacancies have been blamed on a mixture of the pandemic, global supply chain issues and Brexit, with thousands of drivers said to have retired after being furloughed or having returned to Europe.

Industry leaders have warned that without urgent action, there could be significant disruption during the Christmas trading period, and have urged the Government to place lorry drivers on the immigration shortage occupation list.

However, ministers have so far rejected their calls and argue that the issue must be dealt with domestically by hiring more British drivers and paying higher wages.