North West LGV Driver Training Firm Celebrates Double Success

Newton-Le-Willows-based LGV training firm ABC Team NW accredited as one of the UK’s first non-DVSA sites authorised to examine practical elements of new lorry driving exams.

Whilst learner lorry driver Gareth Linaker, aged 34 from Southport, has gained a fast track licence to drive an articulated lorry in time for Christmas.

driving instructor firms have begun taking on some of the testing previously only carried out by the DVSA. Private training providers can now examine lorry drivers on certain practical elements of their driving test, including the new module [module 3A] that examines drivers reversing and uncoupling their load.

With the industry facing driver shortage crises a shake up of the legislation means that new drivers can gain their licence in a faster timescale. And now the first fast track articulated lorry drivers have taken their tests in the UK, ABC Team NW student  Gareth Linaker, aged 34, from Banks near Southport has gained his licence. He took it under the new fast track system at Kirkham DVSA driving test centre [on 30th November] after five days of intensive training.

Changes came into force earlier last month, meaning drivers can gain their HGV licence in a shorter period of time.  The DVSA now allows drivers  to take a test to drive an articulated lorry without having first passed a test in a large rigid lorry.

From start to finish Gareth obtained the practical part of his HGV 1 articulated lorry driving licence in just over three weeks.  In order to complete the training and take the actual driving test, he had to apply for and hold the relevant provisional licence [Cat C+E / HGV 1] and pass the theory test. 

Meanwhile, ABC instructors Neil McDonald and Kevin Kristiansen have this week become approved examiners having gained near perfect marks [94%] in their examiner assessment. This places ABC Team NW among the first non-DVSA sites authorised to conduct Module 3a assessments. 

Module 3a is an off-road large vehicle maneuvering exercise. In order to gain a licence to drive an articulated lorry it is accompanied by theory tests, an on-road practical driving test and a CPC element giving drivers a certificate of professional competence.  

Gareth Linaker says:

“I have wanted to be a lorry driver since I left school. Going straight to my articulated lorry test shows I can drive a larger vehicle.  Driving a truck is a really important job, virtually everything we have in our homes has been transported in this way.  The recent DVSA changes are a great way to help get new drivers behind the wheel, but it wasn’t an easy ride, the tests are tough.  It’s a really good career and since Brexit, wages more accurately reflect the level of skill required to do the job.”

Chris Morgan, who runs Team ABC NW, says:

“The post Brexit turmoil has seen a pressure on truckers like never before. The revised test rules mean we can get more drivers behind the wheel in time for Xmas. With the new process there’s no need for drivers to jump through unnecessary hoops.

Another recent development is independent test centres being allowed to run tests for LGV drivers. Our centre is now providing this service and is among the first private training providers certified to assess the reversing and uncoupling module of the HGV practical assessment. Across the UK the new measures should result in around 20,000 more test slots a year.

It has been a painful period but training up our own UK workforce can only be a good thing for the economy. What has been a largely overlooked profession has finally been put centre stage where it belongs.”

Lorry driving is not on the Government list of skilled jobs; meaning qualified EU drivers can’t obtain a visa to work in the UK.

The lack of qualified LGV/HGV drivers has impacted food and fuel supplies in the UK. An ageing workforce, the impact of Brexit and the pandemic are blamed for the shortages. In April 2021 tax changes preventing drivers remaining self-employed further exacerbated the driver shortages. Freelance drivers were forced to become employed under IR35 rules.

The Road Haulage Association estimates that there is a shortage of around 85,000 truck and lorry drivers.