On April 11th, 2024, Roads Minister Guy Opperman announced proposals designed to attract more young people to careers as bus, coach, and lorry drivers. One key proposal is the lowering of minimum age requirements for bus and coach drivers. Currently, while fully trained drivers aged 18-20 can operate an articulated lorry with no distance limit, those in the same age group driving buses and coaches are restricted to routes of up to 50km.

The Department for Transport (DfT) emphasises that training standards will remain rigorous to ensure road safety. Minister Opperman noted that these changes would help bring young talent into the transport sector, improve job opportunities for school leavers, and alleviate ongoing driver shortages.

Declan Pang from the Road Haulage Association (RHA) supported the initiatives, pointing out that easing age restrictions could level the playing field between coach and HGV drivers and boost the coach sector.

The government's focus on promoting logistics careers among youth continues with further investments in facilities for HGV drivers and extended training programs, part of a broader strategy to enhance the logistics sector.