Wednesday 19 November 2014

Presumably, somebody intended this outcome but who and why?

From The Evening Standard:

The Freight Transport Association estimates that as many as 20,000 delivery drivers have taken early retirement or moved to different jobs since the Certificate of Professional Competence became mandatory in September.

The qualification, a new European requirement, involves 35 hours of training and costs up to £300. Drivers who do not hold it risk a £1,000 fine.

James Hookham, managing director of the FTA, said: “This is the first Christmas when we have had this requirement and many drivers are saying ‘I didn’t take up truck-driving to go back to school’ and just voting with their feet.”


I don't think this is special pleading by the hauliers, the government has been piling stupid regulations on them for years, overall, their complaints are justified.

So what's the point? Who stands to gain from this? The people doing the stupid courses?

4 comments:

mombers said...

Surely a Grandfather clause would have sorted this out? Make it mandatory for newly qualified drivers. Still an unnecessary cost but would have at least prevented this skill loss and early pension draw

A K Haart said...

Our neighbour has just swapped lorry driving for general property maintenance.

Mark Wadsworth said...

M, sure, but that doesn't tell us who was pushing for this nonsense.

AKH, good anecdotal, thanks.

Bayard said...

It's the elfansafety industry justifying their existence. In the construction industry you can't fart on site without the relevant ticket (which you would have got after passing a £300, two day Safe Farting on Site course).