The Freight Transport Association (FTA) and Road Haulage Association (RHA) have joined forces in voicing their deep concern at the recent advice issued by the Department for Transport (DfT) regarding garage technicians and mechanics driving heavy goods vehicles to statutory annual tests being considered in-scope of the Driver CPC Directive.

In a joint letter to the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport, Stephen Hammond MP, the associations raised the point that according to industry estimates there are more than 30,000 technicians in the UK and that for all of them to achieve full compliance for their staff in just over one year would be a massive task and cost for the industry and one that they believe will deliver relatively little benefit to the freight industry.

Theo de Pencier, FTA Chief Executive said: "FTA feels strongly that the recent advice issued by the DfT represents an unreasonable reading of the Directive which we believe will put undue burden on our members and all businesses within the logistics sector."

Geoff Dunning, RHA Chief Executive added: "RHA doesn't think that the Directive was ever intended to include the same restrictions on technicians and mechanics carrying out these activities, and the frequent reference to “the profession of driver” in the recital confirms to us that technicians, who are neither professional drivers nor engaged in the carriage of goods, were not who the Commission had in mind when developing these requirements."