The Department for Transport is exploring changes to licensing rules for 18 and 19 year olds bus and coach drivers. Ministers want to give them the right to take on longer journeys and “non-regular” jobs, such as school trips, weddings, transport for football matches and holiday tours.
Option 1 – removing the requirement to hold a provisional bus, coach or HGV licence before undertaking the theory, case study and practical demonstration modules of the DCPC test. People do not drive any vehicles during these tests.
Option 2 – removing the same requirement given in Option 1, but also includes the off-road manoeuvres test of the DCPC.
In both options, a provisional entitlement would be required before completing any on-road
driving, which includes the on-road test. Gov’t are not proposing removing the entitlement for
on-road driving. They are seeking views from interested parties – including road haulage operators, training providers and trade bodies – about this proposal and if it could help with driver shortages.
Views are also sought as to operators who pay for and provide training for their employees to sit these tests, and so any tests or training undertaken by individuals who are eventually refused a provisional entitlement would ultimately impact operators’ resources. Evidence from the industry indicates this cost is one the sector is willing to absorb, but we would like views from the wider industry on this potential impact.
Further information: