This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Truck drivers go green
27/09/2005
Truck drivers are to be encouraged to do their bit for the environment through a £3 million pounds initiative which provides two high-tech truck driving simulators.
One of the simulators is a mobile unit, the first of its kind in the UK, and the aim is to help reduce fuel consumption by training drivers to use more economical methods of driving.
At Bellshill, Transport Minister Tavish Scott said:
"This devolved government is committed, in partnership with the Road Haulage Association and the Freight Transport Association, to helping modernise Scotland's haulage industry. Part of that commitment is to increase our pool of skilled, highly trained drivers.
"Through these simulators we will be able to train truck drivers throughout Scotland which will help reduce fuel consumption and promote safer driving. This technology is leading the way in truck simulation training in the UK."
The timetable for the mobile simulator is:
- Oban: October 3 - 14, 2005
- Inverness: October 14, 2005 - November 15, 2005
- Aberdeen: November 21, 2005 - January 20, 2006
- Dundee: January 23, 2006 - February 24, 2006
- Dumfries: February 27, 2006 - March 28, 2006
It is expected that by March 2006, 700 road haulage drivers will have been trained using both simulators. At least 190 will be trained using the mobile simulator.
By March 2005, spend from the Scottish Road Haulage Modernisation Fund (SRHMF) totalled £5.6 million. Funding available over the next three years is £6.3 million, making a total of £11.9 million.
A Stakeholder Group has been established including representatives from the Road Haulage Association, Freight Transport Association and Skills for Logistics to advise on how SRHMF can best be used in Scotland.
Priorities for the fund are:
- To tackle problems of recruiting and retaining lorry drivers
- To address skills shortages within the industry
- To increase fuel efficiency
- To reduce emissions from road haulage vehicles
Other schemes being supported from the SRHMF are:
- The Young Driver Training Scheme (YDS)
- The Scottish Driver Training Scheme (SDTS)
- SAFED training scheme (delivering in-cab training to lorry drivers)