The focus of this article is passenger transport and road freight driver training, and freight management, with a particular focus on the qualifications and licensing that will help you make your way in this sector.

Passenger transport

Britons make 4.5 million journeys a year, travelling nearly 15 billion miles in nearly 100,000 coaches and buses, with two out of every three passenger journeys being taken by bus, however 25% of the passenger transport workforce is aged 55-plus. Fleets of vans, taxis, hire cars, cranes and other forms of transport, together with private motorists, make up well over 30 million licensed vehicles in the UK. It is estimated that 223,000 people drive coaches and buses (buses are also known as PCVs – passenger carrying vehicles), with another 215,000 driving taxis and private hire vehicles. Male employees make up 80% of the total, significantly more in bus, coach, taxi and private hire vehicles. More than half of the passenger transport workforce is qualified to level 2 and above.

Road freight transport

Road transport/driving and ‘logistics’ (the movement of freight) is a diverse sector that plays a major role in the UK and global economy. Within the industry, logistics is often described in terms of the method of goods transportation (i.e. road, sea, air or rail), however large logistics companies use all types of transport within a variety of industries. It is still very much the case, though, that road freight transport makes up the majority of the market: in the UK, it is the main mode in use, with around 82% of freight transported by road.

The industry is heavily reliant on subcontractors and smaller haulage firms, and needs extensive, well-structured and continuing training to recruit and retain drivers. It has previously suffered from major skills shortages, in particular of larger goods vehicles (LGV; formerly HGV) drivers. However, recruitment of LGV drivers is not currently a major concern for employers, although recruiting women and people from minority ethnic groups into the profession is still proving difficult.

Driver training: licensing and certification

Road freight transport driving
LGV (C) licence holders (see panel titled ‘Vehicle licensing categories’) require a current clean B (motor car) licence, and a minimum age of 21 (although they may be any age in the Services). Some insurers may insist that those driving certain loads (e.g. hazardous chemicals) are over 30. Employers and trainers look for ability in reading, writing and maths, and require an aptitude test. Everyone is required to take a medical exam, including eyesight and colour blindness tests.

The LGV Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC)

CPC training is continuing professional development that carries on throughout a professional lorry driver’s career. All professional lorry drivers are now required to hold a Driver CPC in addition to their vocational driving licence. This is designed to improve the knowledge and skills of professional LGV drivers throughout their working life. There are two parts to the legislation:

1. the initial qualification, which must be achieved by new LGV drivers along with their vocational licence to enable them to use their licence professionally
2. periodic training, which involves all professional drivers undertaking 35 hours of training every five years.

New LGV drivers will have to pass an initial Driver CPC qualification before being able to drive professionally. This can be taken at the same time as the vocational driving test. Driver CPC came into force across all EU member states in September 2009 for lorry drivers (LGV).

Existing professional lorry drivers are deemed to hold Driver CPC by ‘acquired rights’. However, they must complete their periodic training within five years of the introduction of Driver CPC, which means by 9 September 2014 for LGV licence holders.

Passenger transport: coach and bus driving

There are no formal academic entry requirements to become a coach driver, although employers will expect basic levels of literacy and numeracy. Bus drivers, however, need to have a PCV licence, also known as a category D licence, as well their PCV Driver CPC (see below). To drive for a commercial operation, coach drivers will also need a PCV Driver CPC. Adult entry is common, and drivers in the Forces with a D licence must convert to civilian standards and practices. To train for this licence, a full UK driving licence is required. Drivers cannot train for the PCV licence and Driver CPC until they are at least 18. However, PCV drivers must usually wait until the age of 21 to be allowed to drive on major bus or coach routes. Many companies give entrants PCV and Driver CPC training while paying them a trainee wage, although it is also possible to train for the licence and Driver CPC independently.

The PCV Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC)

As discussed in relation to lorry drivers above, all professional PCV drivers are also required to hold a Driver CPC in addition to their vocational (D or D1) driving licence. Again, there are two parts to the legislation:

1. the initial qualification, which must be achieved by new PCV drivers along with their vocational licence to enable them to use their licence professionally
2. periodic training, which involves all professional drivers undertaking 35 hours of training every five years.

New PCV drivers will have to pass an initial Driver CPC qualification before being able to drive professionally. This can be taken at the same time as the vocational driving test. Driver CPC came into force across all EU member states in September 2008 for commercial PCV drivers.

Existing professional PCV drivers are deemed to hold Driver CPC by ‘acquired rights’. However, they must complete their periodic training within five years of the introduction of Driver CPC, which means by 9 September 2013 for PCV licence holders.

Van driving
A number of people drive vans either full-time or as part of another job. Those driving vans over 3.5 tonnes need a C Licence and those driving vans over 7.5 tonnes require a C1 Licence. For smaller vans, only a B Licence is required. The minimum age for driving ‘light commercial vehicles’ is 18, although some insurers insist on 21. Some employers prefer people aged 25 with experience and a good driving record.

Chauffeurs
Driving, maintaining and cleaning high-powered cars, together with a B Licence, are the basic requirements for this employment. Chauffeurs should have several years’ driving experience with a clean record. Membership of the Institute of Advanced Motorists and some knowledge of defensive driving techniques could be advantageous.

Taxi drivers and private hire
Taxi drivers must hold a full, clean B Licence. They need good local area knowledge and may require a test. They are licensed by their local authority, or the Public Carriage Office in London, and this special licence can be held only by people over 21 who have passed a medical.

Carriage of dangerous goods
Every company involved in the transportation of dangerous goods must have a Dangerous Goods Safety Adviser (DGSA), who must pass the necessary courses to become qualified in:

• basic dangerous goods transport
• safe transport of dangerous goods in small packages
• completing and checking dangerous goods transport documents
• safe loading of dangerous goods vehicles and containers.

Transport skills gained in the Services

Every unit has its Motor Transport Officer who runs a fleet of vehicles and drivers. Transport units have many more managers and drivers as the total unit holding is split into fleets of all sizes and descriptions. Since the Services are usually concerned with mobility in their activities, transport features heavily in all that they do. The Defence School of Transport (DST) takes students from all three Services on a huge variety of courses. Programmes emphasise vocational qualifications and apprenticeships, so that every student on a major course leaves with a qualification. For resettlement, training in transport management and driving can be accessed through the Career Transition Partnership. Service drivers who already hold a C or C+E Licence (see panel titled ‘Vehicle licensing categories’) may need to convert to civilian standards and practices.

The CPC and Armed Forces drivers

Because those driving as part of their job in the Armed Forces are exempt from CPC requirements while serving (Driver CPC does not form part of MoD LGV training), those leaving the Forces with an LGV licence issued after September 2009 will need to pass the initial seven-hour core module Driver CPC qualification in order to obtain their Drivers’ Qualification Card, which will allow them to drive legally in a civilian capacity. They will then have five years in which to complete the required 35 hours of periodic training. Those Forces leavers who gained their licence before these dates will have ‘acquired rights’, as stated above, and will therefore need only to complete the 35 hours’ periodic training within five years.

For more information, please visit the Directgov website (see ‘Key contacts’).

Transport management: qualifications and training

Freight logistics companies fall into two groups: those that manage their own distribution system and those that manage it on behalf of another company; the latter organisations are referred to as third-party logistics (3PL). According to Skills for Logistics (the Sector Skills Council for the UK’s freight logistics industries), over 60% of UK freight is carried out for ‘hire and reward’ (i.e. 3PL) on behalf of another company.
There are five main routes into transport management.

1. Graduate training entrants join management-training programmes run by employers. Degrees may be in transport and logistics, or in more general qualifications.
2. Postgraduate entry applicants will have an MSc in logistics or supply chain management, or an MBA in an appropriate discipline.
3. Graduates with management experience may look for a career change into transport and logistics, and will need to gain the necessary knowledge.
4. Service leavers with A-levels may move into management through on-the-job experience, while also studying for professional exams.
5. Professional qualifications, which must reflect the needs of the profession and employers, enable the translation of Service skills into their civilian equivalents.

Freight transport vocational qualifications are available as national and Scottish vocational qualifications, and as apprenticeships.

CPC for transport managers

The CPC (see above) is a suitable first-level qualification for those wanting to pursue a career in transport management and fleet operation in the road freight industry – whether self-employed or as an employee of a larger organisation – and provides a good basis from which to progress to professional qualifications. Those operating or managing goods vehicles over 3.5 tonnes GVW require an Operator CPC, also known as the Transport Manager’s CPC (this is a separate qualification from the Driver CPC discussed above, so anyone holding an Operator CPC who still drives professionally as part of their job will also need to hold a Driver CPC). Those wishing to obtain a standard licence must hold the relevant Certificate of Professional Competence in Road Haulage (CPC) qualification. A Standard Operator’s Licence is required for ‘hire and reward’ operations and a Restricted Operator’s Licence for own account.

CILT(UK) qualifications

The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport in the UK (CILT(UK)) offers a number of formal qualifications at the following levels (because they are modular, most can be studied as stand-alone units).

• Level 2 Certificate – for new employees or students; provides a broad understanding of logistics and transport.
• Level 3 Certificate – designed to provide a solid foundation for a career within the transport, logistics and supply chain sectors; aims to equip existing and potential supervisors and first-line managers with a complete set of management skills.
• Level 5 Professional Diploma – a professional qualification for those individuals already working within logistics and transport who wish to develop a strategic view of logistics and transport operations, and to become capable of reviewing operational activities.
• Level 6 Advanced Diploma in Logistics and Transport – a qualification providing those strategic management skills required for professional and business development for individuals in the logistics and transport sectors.
• MSc International Logistics and Supply Chain Management/MSc International Transport and Logistics – providing the necessary skills and knowledge to bridge the gap between operational and strategic management, to fulfil professional potential and enhance strategic capabilities for the benefit of both individual and organisation.