The waiting time to book a driving test for an HGV has rocketed by over two-thirds over the last 11 months, despite promises from the DVSA to ‘do more’ to reduce waiting times… How bad has it got? Find out here…
If you’re looking to book a driving test for an HGV vehicle, then you’re in a long wait. Recently released figures, obtained via a Freedom of Information request, show that since the start of August, 2015, 33 out of 49 centres offering driving tests for an HGV across the UK have seen waiting times increase.
The figures for August 2015 were compared with figures for October 2014, and despite promises from the DVSA to ‘do more’ to cut waiting times to book a driving test for an HGV, it would appear their efforts are failing.
In January [2015], the DVSA had said: “We adapt our examiner resource to meet demand and have an ongoing programme to train examiners to deliver vocational tests.â€
Waiting times to book a driving test for an HGV increase
However, despite the DVSA’s statement, the average wait to book a driving test has risen from 3.1 weeks to 5.4 weeks, representing a 75% increase in just 11 months.
Bristol and Leighton Buzzard test centres have been singled out as having the most notable increases. Both these centres had a one week waiting list to book a driving test for a HGV. That’s since increased to 11 weeks. Watnall in Nottinghamshire went from a 3 week waiting list to 11 weeks, while Livingston went from 3 weeks to 10 weeks.
Not all bad news
While several test centres saw a marked increase in waiting times, five test centres had waiting lists that remained the same and 11 actually saw a decrease in waiting times. If you want to book a driving test for an HGV anytime soon, Kirkham is your best bet.
Having previously had a seven-week waiting list, the average waiting time has fallen to just one week.
Unfortunately, the DVSA is unable to break down waiting times by the type of licence, such as HGV or PSV. However, long-term trends indicate that there has been a significant fall in the numbers of HGV licences being acquired while also identifying a spike in the number of newly-qualified drivers.
Phil Lloyd, head of operations at the DVSA, said: “Demand to book a driving test for an HGV is increasing and we are working to ensure people can take their driving test as quickly as possible. As part of this, we are in the process of recruiting more HGV examiners. We apologise for any inconvenience caused by the wait.â€
He added: “We have also been working with the industry to try and ensure that we continue to provide the best service we can as demand continues to rise.â€
If you’re looking to book a driving test for HGV, the DVSA recommends that candidates check their online booking service for cancellations. Alternatively, you can contact Book Theory Test Today for assistance with booking a driving test.
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