The Large Goods Vehicle Driver apprenticeship could soon include category C+E after hundreds of hauliers backed the suggestion in an official survey aimed at gauging industry support for its inclusion.

The survey was carried out last month by the logistics industry Trailblazer Group on behalf of the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IFATE).

The IFATE is the body that approves apprenticeships.

It requested the survey last month to test industry appetite for the potential addition. It followed mounting industry concern at its exclusion, with the FTA having warned that without the licence the apprenticeship was “not fit for purpose”, as it failed to address the needs of most hauliers and therefore wouldn't help tackle the HGV driver shortage.

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motortransport.co.uk has learnt that of the 413 respondents to the survey, the majority supported the inclusion of the C+E licence in the apprenticeship.

It appears that most respondents want both licences included in the apprenticeship, and this means IFATE will now have to consider how the scheme can be modified so it does not penalise those who only want to pay for a category C licence.

The survey also asked for funding for the apprenticeship to be increased from £5,000 to £7,000 - a move also supported by the majority of survey respondents.

A meeting to decide whether to include category C+E in the apprenticeship will be held next month (1 May).

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