Petroleum drivers to get new passport

A ‘passport’ for petroleum drivers will be launched in January 2014 following talks between the sector and arbitration service Acas that took place after the tanker drivers’ strikes last year.

According to the UK Downstream Oil Distribution Forum, which oversees the work of the country’s 6,000 tanker drivers, the Petroleum Driver Passport (PDP) will build on the knowledge tested in the ADR certification process and will be accredited and audited by theScottish Qualifications Authority (SQA).

John Bowman, head of skills at Skills for Logistics, said the PDP would be an annual practical assessment, with drivers undertaking an observed drive. “The [current] level of training and assessment isn’t consistent,” he said.

Referring to concerns raised late last month that hauliers were still experiencing delays in drivers receiving ADR pass certificates,Bowman said: “SQA is aware of the problems. There’s no reason to think that by the time PDP is introduced these problems won’t have been sorted.”