The UK faces a scarcity of LGV (massive items car) drivers. The disaster peaked in 2021 when there was a shortfall of over 100,000 certified drivers. Three years later, in 2024, there may be nonetheless a major scarcity of HGV drivers throughout the UK regardless of the rise within the variety of LGV assessments.
LGV refers to a lorry with a gross mixture mass of greater than 3,500 kg (7,700 lb). To earn an LGV licence, drivers must cross 4 assessments after which take further coaching and assessments each 5 years, so, unsurprisingly, many aspiring LGV drivers are eager to cross their check the primary time.
The UK scarcity of LGV drivers
There may be a scarcity of LGV drivers within the UK. This scarcity can be predicted to be a bigger drawback within the coming years, with 55% of HGV drivers aged 50 to 65, which means most drivers will retire within the coming decade. Lower than 2% of LGV drivers are underneath 25, which can put elevated strain on UK companies within the coming years as the motive force scarcity is more likely to worsen.
UK companies, particularly supermarkets, closely depend on LGV drivers at Christmas time. These autos transport inventory throughout the UK. A scarcity of drivers can result in companies not receiving produce on time, leading to fewer merchandise in outlets for shoppers.
Driving specialists from Nationwide Automobile Contracts have analysed driving check centre information for these eager to cross their LGV driving check and revealed the place drivers are most and least more likely to cross their LGV driving check throughout the UK.
From 2022 to 2023, the check centre in Yeading, London, carried out essentially the most LGV driving assessments, with 4,708 assessments. Featherstone ranks because the second hottest location, with 4,581 assessments. Atherton in Manchester locations within the high three hottest, with 4,250 LGV driving assessments.
|
Location |
No. of assessments |
Move charge (%) |
|
Yeading (London) |
4708 |
52.7 |
|
Featherstone |
4581 |
44.6 |
|
Atherton (Manchester) |
4250 |
51.7 |
|
Leighton Buzzard (Stanbridge Highway) |
3380 |
58.1 |
|
Bredbury (Manchester) |
3172 |
52.7 |
One LGV check centre had a cross charge of solely 40.1% in 2024, one more had a cross charge of 80.8%, so it could be greatest to decide on properly…
The LGV driving check centres with the very best cross charges
|
Rank |
Location |
Assessments Performed |
No. of Passes |
Move charge (%) |
|
1 |
Ipswich |
1920 |
1551 |
80.8 |
|
2 |
Kilmarnock LGV |
1101 |
836 |
75.9 |
|
3 |
Heads of the Valleys |
560 |
422 |
75.4 |
|
4 |
Poole |
688 |
510 |
74.1 |
|
5 |
Bristol (Kingswood) |
3113 |
2250 |
72.3 |
Ipswich and Kilmarnock have the very best LGV cross charges
Ipswich, a city in Suffolk, has the very best LGV driving check cross charge of 80.8%. In 2024, 1,920 assessments had been carried out, and 1,551 drivers handed. 836 drivers handed their check right here final yr, leaving solely 265 drivers failing.
South Wales ranks in the high 5 areas with a 75.4% cross charge
The Head of the Valleys check centre is positioned in Abergavenny, South Wales. The check centre ranks quantity three within the high areas; out of 560 drivers, 422 handed their sensible check, leading to a cross charge of 75.4%.
Poole and Bristol full the highest 5
Poole ranks within the high 5 greatest areas in your LGV driving check. 510 drivers handed their check right here, leading to a cross charge of 74.1%. Kingswood, positioned in Bristol, is the fifth-best LGV check centre, with a cross charge of 71.3%.
The LGV driving check centres with the bottom cross charges
|
Rank |
Location |
Performed |
Passes |
Move charge (%) |
|
1 |
CRH Transport Coaching |
720 |
289 |
40.1 |
|
2 |
GTG (West Midlands) |
778 |
338 |
43.4 |
|
3 |
Featherstone |
4581 |
2043 |
44.6 |
|
4 |
Birmingham (Garretts Inexperienced) |
3065 |
1372 |
44.8 |
|
5 |
Leicester (Cannock Road) |
1808 |
850 |
47.0 |
Birmingham and West Midlands have the bottom LGV cross charges
CRH Transport Coaching is in Birmingham, which is the worst location to take your LGV driving check. GTG West Midlands check centre is second-worst and is positioned in Wolverhampton. Of 778 drivers who took their check on the GTG check centre, solely 338 drivers efficiently handed their check.
Featherstone has an LGV cross charge of 44.6%
Featherstone, a city in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, ranks among the many high 5 LGV driving check centres. Though it is likely one of the hottest areas, out of 4,581 drivers, solely 2,043 have handed their check right here prior to now yr, leading to a cross charge of lower than half, at 44.6%.
Birmingham and Leicester rank within the worst 5
Birmingham and Leicester check centres rank within the worst 5, with a cross charge of 44.8% on the Birmingham check centre, with only one,372 drivers efficiently passing their check there. Leicester check centre has a cross charge of 47%, so it ranks fifth among the many UK’s worst LGV driving check centres.
