News / Flawed novice driver policy sees trucker numbers fall, but raises the risk factor

© Igorvitkrivosheev Dreamstime.com

Truckers are calling for urgent changes to the requirements for trainees and the re-imposition of rules preventing anyone under the age of 21 being recruited.

Until 2009, all HGV drivers in the UK, and across the EU, had to be at least 21 to get a licence, but an EU law change reduced the minimum age to 18 as the member states sought to address the burgeoning driver crisis.

One driver told The Loadstar: “This decade-old decision urgently needs to be reversed, ...