The 49-year-old has been behind the wheel of a Cardiff Bus for the past 21 years, and said when it comes to driving gender just isn’t an issue.
“I can drive a bus better than a man,” she joked. “It’s become such an important thing for women to be seen in the public eye doing these jobs. That (gender) attitude is stuck in the dark ages,” she said.
Ms Dean is one of four dedicated women at Cardiff Bus who are speaking out on the benefits of driving for the bus operator this month.
Women have been jumping in the driving seat at Cardiff Bus since the First World War, with the flexibility of shifts, camaraderie, and independence attracting female recruits over the decades.
Despite this, just 7% of the bus operator’s current workforce is female, which reflects a clear national gender divide in the transport industry.
Statistics highlighted by Business Wales, the Welsh Government’s flagship business support programme, reveal a worrying gender disparity in the industry, with women accounting for just 2.3 to 2.7 per cent of bus and coach drivers in the UK.
In a bid to encourage greater diversity in the workforce, Cardiff Bus has launched an all-female recruitment drive to mark International Women’s Day on March 8th.
In keeping with the global initiative’s theme of Each for Equal this year, women are being urged to sign up to become a driver and help to bridge the gender gap in the transport industry.
Amanda Canterbury, Head of Human Resources at Cardiff Bus said: “We are delighted to be launching our latest recruitment drive encouraging women across the city to become a part of the Cardiff Bus family.
“Traditionally we have seen a larger percentage of applications from men for our driver positions, and while our dedicated male drivers are integral to our success, we want to create a more diverse workforce going forwards.
“We strive to offer a variety of benefits, which we tailor to ensure they can achieve a greater work-life balance, and ultimately a greater sense of job satisfaction and pride in their work.
“These include more flexible shift patterns, a friendly working environment, good pay and conditions, full in-house training, and consistent support from colleagues and management.
“We’ve found that some people are dissuaded from applying because there is a misconception that driving a bus is difficult or even scary, however with our full training in-house, and the support of other drivers, we’ll be there to support you every mile of your journey.
The move will see the firm double the ranks of its female workforce before 2025 as it recruits an average of more than 150 women per year over the course of the next six years.
If successful with their recruitment plans, Go-Ahead’s bus driving workforce would then be made up of 20 per cent women.
As well as bus driver jobs, there will also be opportunities for women to join Go-Ahead in vehicle maintenance roles.
Announcing the recruitment drive, People Director at the Go-Ahead Group, Siobhan Morrison, said: “Women and men of all ages and backgrounds travel on our buses. We want our workforce to reflect the diversity of our passengers and communities, so there are great opportunities for women to work in our bus businesses.”
“We are challenging stereotypes and leading the way in securing skills from the widest possible talent pool,” added Ms Morrison.
Commercial & Customer Director for the Go-Ahead Group, Katy Taylor, also commented, saying: “There are no requirements of women to be strong or big or tall. Over 70 per cent of our customers in London are female so it totally makes sense to have women behind the wheel to reflect that audience and to make sure we're making the right decisions for our customers.”
“There are lots of perceived barriers for women and why they think bus driving isn't for them. But they're very easy to drive, they 're very simple. You don't have to be strong, they're not very heavy,” said Ms Taylor.
Sarah Stephenson shared her experiences of working as a bus driver for Go-Ahead, saying: “Being a bus driver is a job that many women may not even consider, but since starting I have seen just what a great career path this is.”
“It’s so well suited to those who want to be able to contribute to the community, but also have a steady work-life balance with flexible working hours. Along with good pay, we get lots of great benefits such as free travel for me and one other person, so my teenage daughter loves it.”
“I would really like to encourage more women to join the industry and to prove that we can do it just as well as men. It’s a good job with great benefits,” enthused Ms Stephenson.
You can find out more about jobs and apprenticeships and apply for live vacancies at Go-Ahead Buses by visiting their careers site. And for some general information about working behind the wheel, take a look at our guide to Driver Apprenticeships where you will also find current opportunities to enter the career.
Her looks might make you think she is a girly girl, and she is, but not only is she skilled behind the wheel of a truck (she received her commercial truck driving license at the age of 19) but is also an experienced heavy equipment operator, skydiver, motorcycle rider, and scuba diver. She says “My hobbies are my work, I also enjoy working out and eating well to keep in shape so I can handle the physical aspects of trucking and traveling any chance I get, generally behind the wheel of a Big Rig." Larsson goes on to say “there’s a lot of drivers out there but only a few real truckers, so many people only see trucking as a job, but for me; trucking is everything, my passion in life, I can sit all day long and have conversations that mostly revolve around trucking.” That's why she posts plenty of selfies next to her beloved truck.
Angelica sees her career in trucking as a way to open doors to greater things: “I may sound silly. But my dream is to travel around the world and try different trucks and ride on different roads and maybe testing new technologies and equipment for big manufacturers or maybe get involved in helping design some of the future trucks to hit the road. I also want to show that girls can do exactly the same things the boys can.” You can follow Angelica ‘Bubbles’ Larsson on Instagram and on her Official Facebook Page.
England's Youngest Female Coach Driver
Hayley passed her test for a passenger carrying vehicle (PCV) licence on January 11 – less than four months after celebrating her 18th birthday on September 30 last year.
Now she can't wait to get on her old school double decker bus and surprise her former teachers at Winterton Community Academy in her new role as the driver.
Hayley, who also attended John Leggott College in Scunthorpe, told the Scunthorpe Telegraph said: "I feel very proud at having passed the test at my first attempt".
Her introduction to the bus lane came a year after she passed her car driving test on January 20 last year.
"But that took me a lot more lessons," she admitted.
On leaving school, Haley had her sights set on becoming an accountant and studied maths and economics at college.
Proud Hayley with her pass certificate (Image: Scunthorpe Telegraph / SWNS.com)
Since 1993 her parents, Kevin and Melanie Burlinson, have run a coach firm called 2-Way Transport at Wressle, between Broughton and Brigg.
Her older brother Richard, 33, is also a mechanic and driver with the business.
So it was a natural move for Hayley to join the family firm in her dual role as trainee accountant and driver.
Under the law, she cannot drive a bus outside a 50km radius of Wressle until she turns 20.
In the meantime, she is behind the wheel on the morning school run from Broughton to the Vale Academy in Brigg.
But her parents have promised that she will soon make her debut on that dream drive to Winterton.
She will soon be making her debut doing the school run for her old school (Image: Scunthorpe Telegraph / SWNS.com)
She said of life as a bus driver: "You have be alert at all times and think of your passengers".
But bus is not the only mode of transport for the have-a-go teenager.
For the past five years, Hayley has owned her own thoroughbred mare, Paris, and she is also a competent skier.
Read More
Now the Burlinson family is waiting to see if Hayley's success on the buses can be equalled by younger brother Myles, 15.
A spokesman for the DVLA said Haley was among the 40 youngest licence holders in the country.
From <https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/teen-youngest-girl-become-bus-9767598>
Katie Ellis, aged 20, has been described as a ‘trailblazer inspiration’ and is believed to be one of the youngest women ever to obtain a Class1 licence.
Katie works for Prestige Distribution, based in Horsham, West Sussex – which is part of the Pallet-Track network – and covers the southeast of England including night trunk driving from Pallet-Track’s southern hub directly into London.
Nigel Parkes, managing director of Pallet-Track said: “This is a great success story from a traditional family firm and goes to the heart of issues facing the supply chain. The industry needs more young people like Katie to come forward as drivers. She is a role model for the next generation who, though her achievement, is breaking records, stereotypical moulds and glass ceilings in their wake.
“With the average age of HGV drivers being over 50, the girls are a breath of fresh air to an industry struggling to recruit qualified drivers. It is a national problem which needs to be solved because it is having an impact on the price of goods and services if businesses have to use agency drivers who are by their nature more expensive.”
Katie is now looking to obtain the Driver Management CPC.
After completing her A-Levels at Steyning Grammar School, Katie wasn’t sure what career path to take and father Steve, the founder of Prestige Distribution, said she should get a job outside of the business in the first instance.
“Dad did not want me to join the company straight away, but said that I should go out and learn to stand on my own two feet,” said Katie.
“I thought about university, but I did not know to study so got a part time job in a bakery and they offered me a full time post, which I did for over a year before a job came up with Dad. I took Class 2 driver training when I was 19 and have just got my Class 1 which was another notch on my belt.”
Steve added: “I suggested that she go out and get a job in the first instance to learn what life was all about, but she has a real aptitude for the job learns very quickly – she is a natural and a great asset to the business.”
Katie, who did her training with EP Training Services, is no longer treated as a novelty by fellow drivers, but as one of the lads. “When I pull up outside a delivery point, I used to get surprised comments along the lines of “did you drive that big thing in here?” she said
“Now people are used to the idea and I’m pretty much treated like everyone else.”
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International Driver CPC will be the new name for how Driver CPC currently works.
You will need to take 35 hours of International Driver CPC training every 5 years to be allowed to drive in the EU and the UK.
The will be no changes to how it works. This means that:
- courses must be at least 7 hours long
- if a course is split over a day, it has to be completed on 2 consecutive days
- e-learning in a trainer-led course is limited to 2 hours
- you’re allowed to do a total of 12 hours e-learning towards your overall 35 hours of training
National Driver CPC will be a more flexible version of the existing Driver CPC.
If you only want to drive in the UK, you’ll be able to take either:
- 35 hours of National Driver CPC training every 5 years
- a combination of 35 hours of National Driver CPC and International Driver CPC training every 5 years
The new flexibility means that with National Driver CPC courses:
- the courses must be at least 3 hours 30 minutes long - training providers will still be able to offer longer courses if they want to
- split courses will not need to be completed on 2 consecutive days - course providers will be free to set their own time limits
- you will be able to take e-learning only courses - for example, you could take an approved 3 hours 30 minutes long e-learning course at your workplace or home
- you’ll be allowed to do a total of 12 hours e-learning towards your overall 35 hours of training
Drivers and hauliers are in even greater demand. There may also be changes to the operater licence requirements coming soon, so driver and manager training are more important than ever. If you already work in a transport operation, or are thinking about setting up as an operator in haulage or PSV, you will need to get plenty of help and advice. We are always happy to speak to people who need some information, so please contact us and we will do what we can to help. We do not charge for any services until we agree with the client. Advice is free!
Drivers must have a Driver Qualification Card, or DQC. If you are a professional large goods vehicle driver (C, C1, C+E or C1+E).
Each CPC card is valid for five years from the date of issue. This means that – unlike the 2014 deadline set when Driver CPC was introduced – each driver’s renewal date is unique to them.
All drivers must undertake 35 hours’ periodic training before the end of the five years following the issue date on their DQC. If the training is not undertaken during that time, they will not be permitted to drive professionally until they have completed their 35 hours.
The best way to ensure that a DQC doesn’t lapse is to carry out at least one day’s mandatory periodic training every year.
The consequences
If a driver is caught driving commercially without their Driver Qualification Card:
Both driver and operator face fines of up to £1000
Driver suspended from driving commercially until training is completed
Possible reduction in driving workforce, and operations adversely affected
If operations are affected, your reputation with customers could be damaged
If convicted, operator’s OCRS rating will drop to red
Likely increase in insurance premiums
From 1 October 2022 the Joint Approvals Unit for Periodic Training (JAUPT) became part of DVSA.
JAUPT processed applications from training providers for centre and course approvals for Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (DCPC) and drink-drive rehabilitation (DDR).
JAUPT offered these services exclusively to DVSA so it was decided to bring the functions JAUPT offered in-house to DVSA. The existing staff have joined DVSA so the service to DCPC training providers and drink-drive rehabilitation providers stays the same.
Services staying the same in the short term
So, the change does not affect the services to DCPC and DDR providers a lot of the services will remain the same to begin with, including:
the current process for approving training courses and centres
uploading new courses
auditing process for training courses and centres
keeping the existing find your nearest service
The phone number for enquiries will continue to be 01908 787 000 and the email for general enquiries is JAUPT-Enquiries@dvsa.gov.uk
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Driver CPC Training Online
We understand that a course via the internet is never the same as face-to-face but we guarantee that we will make it the best
experience we possibly can - informative and fun too.
You will still:
• get a full day of training.
• get the information you need.
• be able to participate and ask questions.
• get a valid CPC certificate.
• get the support we offer all our customers.
• get a very competitive price.
See our Driver CPC page for more info and booking courses
Driver CPC consultation results published
On 11 December 2023, the Department for Transport (DfT) has published its response to the consultation on proposed changes to the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (DCPC).
The consultation ran earlier in the year to gather views on measures to make it simpler to become and remain a professional driver in the UK. The recommendations from the government include:
- introducing a National DCPC (N-DCPC) that will cover driving a lorry, bus or coach in the UK
- allowing training courses to be done in blocks of 3.5 hours rather than the current 7 hours to allow greater flexibility
- Increasing the amount of e-learning that can be done to 12 hours.
These changes will only apply to the N-DCPC for driving a lorry, bus or coach solely within the UK.
The intention is to introduce these changes in summer 2024. The full response has been published on GOV.UK.
Those wanting to drive a lorry, bus or coach outside of the UK will need to complete the training within the existing rules which will not change from 35 hours of training every 5 years.
Making it easier to return to driving
The government is also looking to speed up the process for drivers whose DCPC has run out to return to driving a lorry, bus or coach in the UK.
This would be by allowing them to take 7 hours of training before returning to the sector and making the remaining 28 hours up within the first year.
This would only be for NDCPC and is not expected to be introduced until 2025.
Further consultation
The consultation also asked about the introduction of a periodic test to take the place of training. Further consultation is needed on this option which will be launched in the new year.
Understanding Driver CPC
The Driver CPC (Certificate of Professional Competence) was introduced in 2008 for PCV Drivers and 2009 for Lorry Drivers. It represents a pivotal step in enhancing road safety and compliance within the transport industry. But what exactly is Driver CPC, and how does it affect you?
Choosing the Right CPC Training Course
Driver CPC Training comes in two forms: Periodic and Initial Driver CPC Training. The choice depends on your specific circumstances. Periodic training is for those with acquired rights. This may include holding a 7.5-tonne, class 2, or class 1 license before September 9th, 2009. Or a PCV license, this would be before September 9th, 2008. For these individuals, a 35-hour (five-day) Periodic Training session is required every five years.
If you passed your car test before January 1997, you may be entitled to drive 7.5-tonne vehicles (Cat C1). Candidates with a C1 entitlement pre-September 9th, 2009, attend Periodic Training on acquired rights, even if they have never passed a vocational driving test. If you hold both bus and coach, as well as lorry vocational licenses, you need only complete one set of Periodic Training.
CPC Training for Lorry Drivers.
If you operate a vehicle over 3.5 tonnes for work purposes, you must hold a Driver Qualification Card. Drivers who had a lorry entitlement of C1 (7.5 Tonne) or higher on September 9th, 2009, needed to complete 35 hours of Periodic CPC Training. This needs to be done by September 9th, 2014, to obtain a Driver Qualification Card valid for five years. During this period, they completed another 35 hours of periodic training to drive beyond 2019.
Each new five-year period begins from the expiry date of the current Driver CPC qualification. If you did not have a lorry entitlement of C1 (7.5 Tonne) or higher on September 9th, 2009, you must obtain your first Driver Qualification Card by completing Initial CPC.
CPC Training for PCV Drivers
If you drive vehicles requiring D1 (minibus) or D (bus) licenses for work, a Driver Qualification Card is essential. Drivers with a lorry entitlement of D1 (minibus) or higher on September 9th, 2008, had to complete 35 hours of Periodic CPC Training by September 9th, 2013, to obtain a five-year valid Driver Qualification Card. During this period, they completed another 35 hours of periodic training to drive beyond 2018.
As with lorry drivers, each new five-year period begins from the expiry date of the current Driver CPC qualification. If you did not have an entitlement of D1 or higher on September 9th, 2008, you must obtain your first Driver Qualification Card by completing Initial CPC.
CPC Training for Dual Entitlement (Lorry & PCV) Drivers
If you held a PCV License on September 9th, 2008, and a lorry license on September 9th, 2009, your 35 hours of Periodic Training will cover both. However, if you held only one license at the cut-off dates and gained the other later, you require an Initial CPC for your new entitlement (and Periodic for your old entitlement). The benefit is that once you’ve completed your Initial CPC, any subsequent Periodic Training will count toward both categories.
If you have 'acquired rights' on your driving licence, it may be possible to drive another catoegory professionally, but you will have to make sure you have completed the right CPC courses. To be able to sit a standard Driver CPC course, you need to be able to answer yes to one of the following 3 statements:
A) I passed my car test before 1997
B) I passed a vocational driving qualification before 2008(PCV) or 2009(HGV)
C) I currently hold or have held a driver CPC card
If a driver held a Cat C or CE licence prior to the introduction of CPC on 10 September 2009, they were granted acquired rights for the first 5 years. These acquired rights expired on 9 September 2014.
If the driver holds these acquired rights, 35 hours of periodic training should renew the entitlement.
You can still drive professionally while waiting for your card if both of the following apply:
• you’ve done your periodic training
• your training provider has recorded the training (they must do this within 5 working days of the training ending)
For drivers who passed their test while in the Armed Forces, you will need to complete modules 2 and 4 of the current driving test.
How much does a CPC course cost?
The cost of a CPC course can vary, depending on where and how you do it. It is usually cheaper per person if a company runs a course because they often pay a group fee, instead of for each person, but generally a CPC course is between £50 and £70 per day's course.
For drivers of companies in Swindon, Royal Wootton Bassett, Marlborough, Chippenham, Corsham, Newbury, Hungerford, Cirencester, Stroud, Wantage, Didcot, Witney, Abingdon, Oxford and Reading, we offer classroom CPC courses at exceptionally reasonable rates that suit the client's needs.
For companies we have a sliding scale of pricing, so you pay as little as necessary to get your drivers CPC trained.
Driver CPC courses in the workplace for as little as £35 per driver - 10 to 15 drivers.
For 5 still only £55 per driver, and for fewer than 5, it is 175+18 per driver.
For 15 to 20 drivers it is just 30 per driver!
Email: contact@swindontraining.com or use the contact form and we will get back to you right away.
The CPC Scheme Explained
The CPC (Certificate of Professional Competence) scheme was developed in order to standardise professional levels of competency across Europe in the transport sector, which is subject to detailed and comprehensive legislation. The scheme applies to drivers and transport managers.
The idea is that a professional driver will undertake 35 hours of periodic training within a 5-year period. This may be taken all at once – 5 modules of 7 hours each during a week of training, or it may be spread over the 5-year period, for instance, the individual undertaking a CPC module once or twice a year until he or she has ‘banked’ the requisite number of CPC training hours.
A transport manager will complete an initial Transport Manager CPC course and will then undertake periodic refresher courses in order to stay abreast of current legislation.
Staying up to date with changes in legislation, keeping key information fresh and to the forefront of our thinking and ensuring that we all understand the importance of the role we play in compliancy and customer care are some of the mainstays of the CPC scheme, each clearly laid out in the CPC syllabus (see JAUPT).
A solid CPC course will look at specific factors that affect the transport industry, legislation and driver behaviours. It will provide ample learning opportunities for the attendees and, like any vocational training course, a driver CPC module will involve the recycling and refreshing of knowledge that the participants already have, with opportunities to build on that knowledge and apply it to their own specific context.
Another extremely important part of the CPC training scheme is to increase the learner’s confidence in their own ability to carry out their daily tasks effectively and address any issues or concerns they may have. This is why it is essential for the trainer to create an environment that permits and encourages the participants to be open and frank about their own experiences and (professional) opinions. As a trainer, I have found that I learn something new every time I deliver a course, so I too gain from the process and always aim to use the experience to develop professionally.
Operating Light Goods Vehicles in Europe? – Apply for your International Operators’ Licence TODAY
From 21 May 2022, new EU rules mean that if you are intending to use a Light Goods Vehicle weighing more than 2.5 tonnes to transport goods for hire or reward into or through the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein, you will need an International Operators’ Licence.
With less than a month until these rules come into effect, if you want to continue to operate in the EU without interruption, you need to apply for an operators’ licence and select the interim option.
To avoid delays in processing your application, please visit GOV.UK for a full list of the information required.
When completing your application, remember:
- You’ll need to have a qualified transport manager. If you do not have the qualification, you might be able to be temporarily recognised as a transport manager if you have enough experience. You can make the process easier by using the service on GOV.UK.
- You’ll need to show documents such as bank statements, to prove that you have access to a set amount of finance to run your business. See which documents you can use.
Do you already hold an International Operators’ Licence?
If you already hold an International Operators' Licence for Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) you can add extra LGVs to your existing licence.
You may also need to make posting declarations for journeys to the EU
Don’t forget that if you’re transporting goods between two points in the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway for commercial purposes, (known as cabotage or cross trade), you must now make a “posting declaration”, which means registering the operator, driver, driver employment details, dates of travel, and the vehicle used.
This could be using HGVs, vans or other light goods vehicles of any size, or cars, whether or not you’re towing a trailer. It’ll apply if you’re moving the goods for hire or reward, or for your own business’ use.