Industry Demanding More Lorry Driver Protection in Calais

The problem of immigrants trying to illegally stow away on HGVs in Calais is getting worse by the day. Unsuspecting drivers wait nervously at the Calais crossing while immigrants, eager to get to England, attempt to climb underneath trailers or inside them. To date there have been a number of deaths, plenty of injuries and dangerous confrontations between drivers and stowaways. Now the industry is demanding the French government do more to protect them.

The call for change is being led by the Freight Transport Association (FTA), an industry leader throughout Europe. The FTA believes that current attempts to curtail the problems are only ‘sticking plaster measures’. FTA Internal Affairs Manager Donald Armour has said the French government needs to deal with the immigrants by either putting them through the asylum process or deporting them.

Having so many immigrants living on the streets of Calais presents a number of serious dangers to both themselves and others. First and foremost, it is extremely dangerous to try to cross the border into England by stowing away underneath a trailer. It does not take much to lose one’s grip before falling onto the roadway.

There is a second danger of exposure to the weather that many of the immigrants do not consider. Exposure is a problem whether riding underneath a lorry or in the back, along with the cargo. And of course, it is dangerous for drivers if they attempt to confront immigrants to prevent them from stowing away.

It is clear something needs to be done to stem the tide of illegals trying to cross into England from Calais. The FTA, and the industry as a whole, believes the French government is running out of time to deal with the problem.

A Professional Driving Career

Despite the ongoing problem in Calais, becoming a professional lorry driver is a great career choice. The Calais problems are not the rule in the trucking industry; these are the exception. Most professional drivers will go their entire careers without experiencing anything like what we see at the French-English crossing.

Driving professionally is a career that offers excitement, new challenges every day, an ever-changing environment, good pay, and stability. Moreover, with the shortage of professional drivers that the UK is experiencing right now, you should not have any trouble finding work after completing your training. At the HGV Training Centre, we even help our graduates by giving them access to our up-to-date jobs database.

Becoming a lorry driver is not hard in principle. All you need to get started is a full car licence and the ability to pass a routine medical exam. We will help you apply for your provisional entitlement, prepare for your theory test, and provide the classroom and behind-the-wheel training you need for your final practical skills test. We will even send a trainer with you to your test!

The HGV Training Centre is a leading provider of commercial training in the UK. Contact us for more information about starting your career.

Sources:

HGV Ireland – http://www.hgvireland.com/08/21/fta-wants-safe-passage-for-lorry-drivers-through-calais/