A logistics training company is celebrating securing an agreement to deliver training to driving examiners.

Carlisle-based SP Training has secured an agreement with the national Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency.

It will deliver a three-week course to provide would-be examiners with the training and tests to obtain their rigid articulated truck and bus licences, which are required before they become fully-qualified vocational examiners in large goods vehicle and passenger carrying vehicle driving.

In the last two years, DVSA has trained 63 examiners to conduct vocational tests.

It is expected that SP Training will train 20 DVSA examiners a year at their facility near Carlisle airport.

Tony Higgins, SP Training managing director, said: “SP Training has over 20 years’ experience in logistics training.

“We have some of the industry’s most knowledgeable and expert driver trainers, so it makes sense for us to have the opportunity to pass that expertise onto DVSA’s future LGV and PCV examiners.

“We are seeing increased demand for new commercial drivers and this move from DVSA will ensure it is well-placed to meet that demand and undertake more driving tests.”

Graham McMaster, DVSA academy manager, said: “DVSA’s priority is to help everyone through a lifetime of safe driving. Last year we carried out over 116,000 vocational driving tests but we need to make sure we can keep up with the demand for potential LGV and PCV drivers. SP Training will help us train our examiners and make sure we maintain the highest quality standards, so we can keep Britain’s roads safe.”