New Road Haulage Scheme to Help UK Heroes Become Professional HGV Drivers

UK – We often hear how the US deals with its war veterans and over the past couple of years we have seen similar schemes in the UK such as Help for Heroes and the rise of the Invictus Games. Now Britain's hauliers have joined with partners in a practical move to help ex-service veterans who have hit hard times by training them up to drive trucks. Backed by the Road Haulage Association (RHA) Road to Logistics will create and maintain a national training programme to encourage new talent into the transport and logistics industry from sections of society where individuals need help and support to regain their self-confidence and independence.

The scheme fits perfectly with the fact that the country faces an ever increasing need for more professional HGV drivers, a subject we have written about often in the past. The RHA, together with telematics experts Microlise, can help Care After Combat give these vulnerable heroes a career by setting them up with a job as a truck driver. This new initiative will help address the chronic shortage of truck drivers in the UK currently estimated to be 45,000.

Before training even begins, candidates will be rigorously assessed for their suitability, including a thorough medical examination. Those that pass will have to sign up to a strict Road to Logistics code of conduct. The Code will cover all aspects of their behaviour and professionalism and will ensure that their prospective employers can be confident that they will be taking on someone in whom that confidence is well placed. RHA chief executive Richard Burnett said:

“Those who have served us in the forces deserve our help if things don't work out when they leave. The charity Care After Combat, championed by comedian Jim Davidson helps a significant number of ex-service personnel who end up homeless, have health issues or fall foul of the law. This industry needs drivers and Care After Combat has an excellent source for potential drivers. Microlise will create the training academies, and we, through our membership, have the jobs.

”By working together, we can make sure that Road to Logistics helps three organisations achieve their goals. Such is our confidence in the Road to Logistics programme that we will be taking the results to Westminster to gain a permanent funding stream for further entrants into the academies.”