There have been many bumps on the road to addressing the UK’s ongoing HGV driver shortage, and another seems to be on the horizon. As such, it has been announced that nearly 2,000 driving test examiners will strike over four consecutive days during February 2024 due to a dispute over excessive workloads.
Between the 8th and 11th, the walkouts will affect 270 test centres across England, Scotland and Wales, and the action is in protest of what have been called ‘flawed’ plans to deliver 150,000 more tests by the end of March to clear the backlog.
“Disappointing” – DVSA
These strikes have been described as “disappointing” by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), as all eligible DVSA admin staff and managers have been requested to return to carry out driving tests full-time to hit the target.
However, examiners suspect that delivering these extra tests could present significant risks in terms of safety, in terms of them and their customers, as well as eroding their working terms and conditions.
Unacceptably Long Working Hours
The situation regarding the backlog has improved over the last year or so, reducing from its peak in November 2022. It was largely caused by the COVID pandemic, before which the average wait for a test after booking one online was roughly six weeks.
Mark Serwotka, Public and Commercial Services Union general secretary, expressed a concern that examiners want to maintain the highest standards but can’t if they’re expected to work longer and longer years. He went on to say:
“If Mark Harper (Transport Secretary) was serious about reducing the backlog, he would invest in the DVSA, employing more examiners, not just expecting the existing ones to work harder”.
‘Strikes Will Impact Services’ – DVSA Chief Exec
Also speaking on the matter, the DVSA’s chief executive, Loveday Ryder, stated that the strikes will impact services. Still, candidates should turn up to their test as directed – unless they have been contacted directly. She added:
“Learners expect a seven-day per week service, and, as a publicly funded body, DVSA wants to provide that.”
During December 2023, the average wait time fell to 17.4 weeks, with more than 150,000 tests – a record for the month – carried out, according to the DVSA’s figures. It has also previously promised to take all the measures to reduce driving test waiting, including recruiting almost 500 new driving examiners.
Doing Our Part to Address the UK’s Chronic HGV Driver Shortage
While this strike action will impact the progress made in reducing the test backlog, the personal safety of examiners and those taking their tests is paramount. At HGVC, we focus on safety in the training we provide, and no one should be forced to endanger themselves or anyone else, irrespective of the reason behind it.
The industry will continue to monitor events closely, and in the meantime, we’ll continue to do what we’re known for – delivering leading HGV training via our nationwide network training centres. To learn more about us and what we do, take the time to browse our website. Alternatively, to speak to us directly about your needs, simply call 0330 818 8888 or click ‘contact us’, and we’ll be delighted to help however we can.
