Lorry driver who blocked A361 route has left company

Managers at R R Memmory Haulage Ltd in Sheffield said the driver has since left the company’s employment ‘by mutual consent’.

The manager said: “We don’t sack people. The driver had his chance. He had done a few things wrong and that was the final straw.”

The driver of the articulated HGV got stuck in a muddy grass verge as he tried to reverse close to the West Wiltshire Crematorium on Thursday (March 21) afternoon.

He completely blocked the A361 main road in both directions, causing major delays to traffic to and from the A350 and the road to Devizes.

Eyewitnesses said the driver attempted to reverse the 44-tonne Scania lorry into the track near the traveller camp when it got stuck.

Bob Memmory, managing director of the Sheffield trucking company, said he would be reviewing the driver's employment when he got back home.

His firm employs 28 drivers for his fleet of 28 vehicles.

“He was on the wrong road and tried to turn round but the space was not big enough to turn round in," Mr Memmory said.

“It’s not the first incident that we’ve had with this driver. It’s about the third or fourth. I’m going to have to review his employment when he gets back.”

Mr Memmory also criticised the Government’s HGV driving test, saying it was inadequate and doesn’t now teach drivers some of the basic manoeuvres.

“Over the years, the Government has relaxed the driving test for HGVs.

“We have some drivers who come here for employment who have no idea how to disconnect the trailer or how to reverse.

“They have left it to the employer to teach them. Some of the drivers who are coming here now are absolutely shocking. They have no idea.”

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency denied that HGV test standards have been lowered to attract more drivers into the haulage sector.

The agency has made changes to the HGV driving test since 2021 to deal with a driver shortage and protect the supply chain sector.

These have simplified the process of becoming a HGV driver and include allowing the off-road part of the lorry test to be carried out by non-DVSA assessors.

The DVSA is allowing drivers to take one test to drive both a rigid and articulated lorry and has removed the need for drivers to do a separate car and trailer test.

Jessica Williams, head of vocational driver policy at the DVSA, which administers HGV driving tests, said: “DVSA’s priority is helping everyone through a lifetime of safe driving.

“That’s why any changes to streamline the process of vocational testing have maintained the integrity and the high standards drivers must demonstrate to pass.

“The manoeuvres test, which includes reversing, continues to be an integral part of driver training and all drivers must regularly undertake training to continually improve their skills, with the operator responsible to tailor training to individual drivers.”

Lorry and bus drivers need to undergo 35 hours of periodic training every five years to maintain their Certificate of Professional Competence (Driver CPC).

Training can cover a broad range of topics to ensure that the driver continues to develop the skills and knowledge required to operate safely on Britain's roads.

Responsible employers will ensure that such training addresses the needs of their employees, the DVSA said.