JDK Marcom

A survey of agency LGV drivers has revealed that nearly two-thirds have yet to do any training to meet the 2014 deadline for mandatory CPC driver accreditation.

The poll of 1,000 drivers by specialist haulage agency ADR found that 63% (627) had not started their CPC training, while 37% (373) had.

Andrew Waldron, managing director of ADR, says one of the major reasons for the slow uptake in CPC training is that many older drivers are planning to leave the industry by September 2014 rather than complete the Driver CPC. 

A report by Skills for Logistics backs up Waldron's concerns. It revealed there is a shortfall of 1.7 million Driver CPC training hours, suggesting many don't intend to do the seven-hour training course to achieve the qualification.

Figures from the Department for Transport estimate that up to 337,313 commercial vehicle drivers (including PCV) are yet begin CPC training, with the average driver currently having completed around two days of training.

This is supported by data gathered by Driver Hire at this year's CV Show, which showed around half of those interviewed have completed two or three days’ training. Richard Owen-Hughes, group marketing director of Driver Hire, said: "These people are on track to complete their training by the 2014 deadline. However that means half of the industry is still behind, and far too many people have done no Driver CPC training at all."

The government is to introduce new laws to make it easier to prosecute drivers found to have illegal drugs in their system.

Under the proposed new legislation, announced in the Queens Speech last week, it will automatically be an offence to drive a motor vehicle if certain controlled drugs found in the body exceed specified limits. Currently, police have to prove that driving had been impaired by drugs in order to prosecute.

Devices to screen for drugs are expected to receive type approval from the Home Office by the end of the year.

The penalty for the new offence will be a maximum of six months imprisonment and/or a fine of up to £5,000, and an automatic driving ban of at least 12 months.

Road Safety Minister Mike Penning says: “Drug drivers are a deadly menace – they must be stopped and that is exactly what I intend to do.

“The new offence sends out a clear message that if you drive whilst under the influence of drugs you will not get away with it.

“We have an enviable record on road safety in this country and I want to keep it that way. This measure will help to rid our roads of the irresponsible minority who risk the lives of innocent motorists and pedestrians.”

Operators need to check their routes for possible disruption caused by the Olympic Torch Relay, due to kick off tomorrow (19 May).

The Torch is due to land in the UK later today, ready to commence its 70-day tour of the country before being carried into the Olympic Stadium on 27 July for the opening Games ceremony.

Accompanying the Torch on its BA flight from Athens are David Beckham, Princess Anne and Lord Coe.

A rolling road block will be set up as the Torch travels through 1,019 cities, towns and villages on the official route.

Full details of the exact route the Torch will travel can be found at london201.com/torch-relay/route.

York logistics firm and Palletline member House of James has agreed a sale to Potter Group Logistics.

The deal, struck this week (16 May) boosts Potter’s turnover by 50% to £22m, adding 100,000ft² of warehousing space, 35 vehicles and 55 trailers to the fleet.

It is believed Simon Gill, MD of House of James, has committed to remaining at the enlarged business for at least three years in the role of commercial director.

Matthew Lamb, MD of Potter’s, says: “The House of James is a good fit with our existing business and we are looking forward to growing the combined businesses.

“The acquisition will enable us to offer our existing customer base improved services and will allow us to create new opportunities for Potter Group Logistics enhancing our position in the value added logistics market.”

Having received approval from its board, Potter Group Logistics has become a member of the Palletline network following the deal.

The House of James brand will also remain for now.

A quarter of the revenue increase at Eddie Stobart in the past year was down to the increasing cost of fuel being passed on to customers.

But the rise in rates did not off-set all cost pressures, and the transport and warehousing division of Stobart Group saw profit fall for the period.

For the 12 months ending 29 February turnover rose to £519.5m, from £475.3m a year ago. But profit before tax fell from £34.2m to £27.4m.

Stobart admits that it was hit with cost rises of £4m “which have not been fully recovered through rate increases, mainly due to the increase in our customers' costs”.

During the same period it also closed its depot in Leeds and reduced headcount by 284 in the ambient fleet.

Stobart is also restructuring its chilled operations, with the closure of its Corby and Alcester distribution centres (DCs), transferring to a new site in Manga Park, near Lutterworth in Leicestershire.

The chilled business, despite winning a new contract with Arla Foods it saw a volume decline, equating to a fall of approximately £3m.

Chief executive Andrew Tinkler tells Commercialmotor.com: "It is a tough environment and we are bumping along the bottom. Going forward, and even in the second half of the last financial year, margin improvements have come through.

"Our restructuring will be done by the end of June. Our customers buy into what we are trying to do."