With a chronic HGV driver shortage and an aging driver cohort, FTA Ireland is leading the way in attracting new blood into the industry. In the first edition of the Roadway Ireland Podcast, Anna Gorecka, FTA Ireland course coordinator explains that the Commercial Driver Apprenticeship Programme in ATU Sligo is training the HGV drivers of tomorrow.

“We offer the Commercial Driving Apprenticeship Programme, in collaboration with ATU Sligo,” Anna told the Roadway Ireland Podcast.

“It’s a two year program, which is offered to people who have no background and no driving qualification to drive heavy goods vehicles. And it’s very much a blended learning approach, where apprentices are trained on the job, and throughout the program. Over two years they undertake driving lessons.  In year one they do rigid lessons to get their C license, and in the year two of the program, the do the C and E licenses.

It’s the first qualification linked to the profession of driving. The whole idea about the program is to attract younger people into the profession of driving. We know there’s such a huge shortage of drivers, not only in Ireland, but this is a global issue as well. And the majority of the professional drivers who are working within the sector, they are  aging as well, so soon they will be retiring.

Listen to the Roadway Ireland Podcast now