The long-awaited driver apprenticeship standard for Cat C+E licences is due to be published this summer, according to the FTA.
It said its approval and rollout couldn’t come quickly enough in an industry plagued with skills shortages in recent years.
The new standard should give operators the opportunity to draw down from the Levy fund and help them meet their employment and training demands.
It follows widespread criticism that the current HGV driver apprenticeship standard was not fit for purpose because it only offers training to Cat C standard.
The logistics sector has paid more than £410m into the Levy pot, but only drawn down 10% of this, largely due to the fact that the appropriate standard was not available.
The FTA said this new standard should ensure that suitable candidates are trained towards achieving a full HGV licence.
Mags Simpson, FTA policy manager added: “Our next priority is to gain accreditation for the Urban Delivery standard, as well as progressing the Transport and Warehouse Supervisor L3 apprenticeship, which is already under way.”
