THE road haulage industry faces a far-reaching overhaul as new European legislation signals a drive back to the classroom.

Drivers will have to spend hours sitting new oral, written and practical exams on safety issues in a move set to cost East Lancashire cash-strapped companies thousands of pounds.

Haulage industry experts say the changes spell the biggest shake-up of working practice for more than a decade.

The new European Union laws mean that haulage companies will have to make time during working hours to provide training and 35-hour exam refresher courses on safety.

Today North West MEP Sir Robert Atkins slammed the proposals as "completely unnecessary" and estimated they could cost the haulage industry £40billion.

He said: "Our safety record on Britain's roads is far better than our European counterparts yet our companies will have to comply with expensive measures imposed by Brussels.

"This matter should be one entirely for the UK to determine. The additional cost of this unnecessary training will fall on already beleaguered haulage sector and consumers will suffer as costs of transporting goods rises. We already have the safest commercial drivers record in Europe."

Steve Gibson, managing director of Blackburn-based haulage company Gilbraith Transtore, which employs 17 drivers, said the changes will be difficult but is prepared to put safety first.

He added: "The haulage industry has got a bad image of egg 'n' chips and greasy fry-ups.

"But at the end of the day they are professional people doing a very responsible job.

"It won't be easy as it costs a lot of money to train people -- but it costs an awful lot more if you don't."

Area manager for the Royal Haulage Association Chris Fylan has organised a series of forums with company managers from across Lancashire to unravel the new directives and their implications.

"It is already very hard to attract people into the industry and this is now making life very difficult," he said.

"It costs around £2,000 to train someone up and since 1997 stage testing means that there is a continuous need already to pass exams. Worse still for companies, drivers often do not stay with one company which means incentives for managers to provide the training are less."