I'm not sure that that's actually a good enough excuse for the haulage industry to just shrug their shoulders and go "not my problem guv"! If the requirements of holding a CPC are reducing the available pool of drivers then the solution isn't just to recruit anyone who happens to have the right paperwork. The solution is to start paying for drivers to get CPCs! The idea that a haulage firm could have a candidate who is perfect in every way but is rejected because they don't have a CPC and the firm won't pay to get one is crackers surely? I can't think of a single other industry involving people in charge of vehicles where it would be considered acceptable to lower standards due to a lack of recruits because a company wasn't willing to pay to train their recruits. Any firm that did do so would likely find themselves fined and prosecuted out of existence rapidly!
I really do hope that if the haulage industry won't improve their standards and practises by themselves that legislation and regulation will do it for them. Another one that seems stunning is that haulage companies can get away with providing regular SatNav's rather than ones specifically intended for tall vehicles. Or even worse just not providing them at all and asking drivers to use Google Maps! Another one where if they won't do it themselves hopefully regulations can be brought to force them to.
I just find it stunning that the way the haulage industry is allowed to show a complete lack of due diligence regarding this issue.
All that being said I do think that Network Rail could probably do more at bridges that are at risk. Fixed bars prior to the bridge itself, better signage, dangling chains to brush cabs/roofs of vehicles, etc. It definetly needs to be a joint effort to reduce this scourge but the main problem, it seems to me, lies with the haulage industry not the rail industry and simply saying "well, that's just the way it is" is not sufficient.
@Jack15001 My rant should not be taken to be aimed at you personally but the haulage companies!