Truckers 'to take to two wheels'

Date: 8/3/2011

Professionals who spend much of their time on the UK's roads inside the confines of a vehicle are set to get out in the fresh air this summer as they take to two wheels in order to raise money for charity.

According to the Freight Transport Association, a 14-day bicycle ride is being organised for truckers this June in aid of Transaid's Professional Driver Training Project.

It is hoped that the money and awareness raised by the event will help the UK charity to continue its work improving road safety in Africa, where it is committed to furthering commercial vehicle driver training standards in Zambia and Tanzania.

Truckers who take part will be challenged to cycle around 750 miles in two weeks in a route that will take in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Chris Saunders, Chief Executive Officer of Transaid, said: "When people think of bad transport in Africa, they often think of investing in road infrastructure, but very few donors think about the need to train and educate road users at the grassroots."

Last September, two trucks, a trailer and a container were delivered to a Zambian site to help boost the transport capacity used for driver training.

Posted by Mary Treen