Ton That Hung, chairman of HCM City-based Transimex Logistics Company said transport businesses have a 20-30 percent shortfall of container truck drivers who hold an FC class driving licence.

FC driver's licence is valid for five years and allows drivers to drive container trucks, tractors, trailers or semi-trailers of a designed gross vehicle weight of 3.5 tonnes or more.

Hung said the shortage of container truck drivers is affecting the operation of transport businesses and directly restricts the movement of goods.

He pointed out many people do not choose to study the FC class licence partly because of the difficult nature of the profession and strict requirements in obtaining the licence.

To be allowed to operate a container truck, drivers need to upgrade their licence from C class to FC class. However, the current requirements for the FC class licence test are quite strict.

Drivers must have three years of driving experience and 50,000 kilometers of safe driving distance as prescribed in the Circular of the Ministry of Transport.

“These requirements were too strict and not all drivers meet the minimum conditions to participate in the FC class driving licence test,” Hung said.

Bui Van Quan, chairman of the HCMC City Cargo Transport Association, said that the association has received many complaints from member businesses about the shortage of drivers with FC class licences.

“The shortage of drivers has caused major impacts on freight businesses. Without drivers, some small firms have been forced to scale down their operation, affecting their orders and business expansion plans,” Quan said.

Because of the strict regulations related to the test, many people are not eligible to obtain the FC class licence. Therefore, there are very few training centres for FC class licences.

"In HCM City, there are few training centres for FC-class driving licences," said Quan.

The association proposed authorities to relax requirements in granting the FC class driving licences.

It wanted to reduce the time of practice from three to one year and the total kilometres of safe driving distance to help drivers easily to get the licence.

Bui Hoa An, deputy director of the municipal Department of Transport, said container trucks have large sizes so many strict regulations are needed to ensure traffic safety.

He also said the current process of granting an FC-class driving licence ‘is very normal.’

Source: Dtinews