Policy wins – January 2022

New online driver licence checking system for NI 

Logistics UK has successfully influenced the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA) in Northern Ireland to introduce an efficient online system for employers to check drivers’ licences for entitlements and penalty points. This follows several years of engagement, and the system (which was significantly shaped by member feedback) officially went live in December 2021. 

Exemptions for minimum numbers of EV charge points 

A general exemption will be applied for installing minimum numbers of chargepoints in new buildings or significantly refurbished existing properties, where existing power supply is insufficient. Logistics UK called for an exemption for non-residential buildings in areas where there is no grid supply, such as with mining and quarrying operations in its consultation response as well as directly to OZEV and BEIS officials. This general exemption goes even further and includes non-residential buildings if EV chargepoint installation would require a costly power supply upgrade.  

HGV Driver Skills Bootcamps and apprenticeship funding 

Logistics UK called on the Department for Education (DfE) to meet the skills shortage by introducing government provided and funded HGV driver training. As a result, the much-anticipated HGV Driver Skills Bootcamps opened for applications in December 2021. These include additional funding to train 11,000 new HGV drivers for the sector. 

In addition to this, DfE has confirmed that the funding band for the new Urban Driver (Cat C) Apprenticeship Standard will be £5,000. This is a win for members, as the initial decision from the Institute of Apprenticeships was a lower funding band of £4,500. Logistics UK had made clear to DfE that a higher funding band was justified due to the costs involved in running the apprenticeship scheme. 

*www.logistics.org.uk/campaigns

Published On: 06/01/2022 16:00:09

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