Minibus driver shortages are a significant and growing barrier to the expansion, and even the survival, of Community Transport services across the UK.
The current requirement for minibus drivers to have a minibus category D1 licence severely constrains the pool of potential staff and volunteers for our sector. Individuals who passed their B licence test prior to 1997 have an automatic entitlement to a D1 licence. However, otherwise securing a D1 licence is prohibitively expensive and time-consuming for small, non-profit operators, as well as for younger drivers or less well-off volunteers. D1 training can cost over £1,000 and take up to 12 months.
65% of Community Transport operators report lower levels of volunteer recruitment and retention
(CTA) (UK) (2022)
92% of Community Transport operators struggle to recruit younger drivers
(CTA) (Scotland) (2021)
CTA believes that D1 licence entitlements should be granted to B licence holders subject to an accessibility and safety training requirement – like our recently modernised and widely recognised Minibus Driver Awareness Scheme (MiDAS) – as a recognised and mandatory standard.
We believe that this change would:
- Expand the number of confident, qualified and safe minibus drivers available to Community Transport operators, whether as staff or volunteers;
- Remove financial barriers to employment and volunteering, creating new jobs and volunteering opportunities, while ensuring Community Transport driver roles are accessible, affordable and attractive to everyone;
- Address the challenges of an ageing workforce and volunteer pool, improving diversity in our sector and securing a more sustainable long-term future for essential transport services; and,
- Raise standards of accessibility, comfort and safety through MiDAS, because many drivers presently have an automatic entitlement to D1 without the requirement for any additional advice, training or support before they get on the road with a minibus full of passengers.
CTA has been engaging with Ministers and officials at the Department for Transport (DfT) for several years on this issue, sharing data, information and views from our diverse membership.
In October 2022, the DfT released a call for evidence that sought views on potential opportunities to improve the UK’s driving licensing regime after leaving the European Union (EU). Options included whether to grant drivers who have category B car licence entitlement additional entitlement to category C1 (7.5 tonnes) goods vehicle entitlement and whether to grant drivers who have a category B licence entitlement to a minibus category D1 licence. You can read CTA’s submission here.
In Jul 2023, the DfT published a summary report on its findings, which indicated strong support (73%) for CTA’s position among respondents and a consensus belief that this change would increase the supply of minibus drivers (84%). A further group (31%) were supportive with additional stipulations, such as a minimum age (86%) or undertaking MiDAS (49%).
Safety is of utmost importance to CTA and our members. We believe that implementing comprehensive driver training can address any concerns about the removal of the D1 requirement and provide assurance that road safety will not be compromised.
73% of respondents support CTA’s position on D1
(DfT) (UK) (2023)
84% of respondents believe it would increase supply of minibus drivers
(DfT) (UK) (2023)
In July 2024, a new UK Government was elected, and CTA continued our work with Ministers and officials to progress this piece of work. DfT will be conducting further investigations to understand the safety implications of the potential changes and, if implemented, what measures will ensure no negative impact on road safety. We do not currently have specific timelines, but we will keep you updated as we receive more information.