The key to training: understanding drivers

Laura Nelson, managing director for RTITB, explains how a tailored approach can boost engagement

It should be no surprise to those involved in the delivery of training of any type that people learn in different ways.

In the past, traditional approaches to LGV, HGV and PCV training have struggled to cater to different types of learners – from auditory learners, who prefer to hear information, to kinaesthetic learners, who learn best by doing and benefit from hands-on, experiential learning, and everything in between.

Everybody learns differently, so tapping into the right learning style, as well as topics that the people being trained are interested in, is absolutely vital for engagement. And it is through this engagement that training can result in genuine, measurable business benefits.

Driver CPC does not have the best of reputations with drivers. Even in-house Driver CPC trainers and commercial training providers will often ask whether Driver CPC is really relevant or beneficial. We know from experience with countless businesses, that when they make the most out of Driver CPC, they can expect to see real changes and feel the benefit.

For instance, one operator that we spoke with found that customer complaints dropped by 38 per cent after drivers completed an ‘Enhancing company image’ course as part of Driver CPC Periodic Training. Another saw reduced incident rates as a result of delivering a ‘Tachographs and Working Hours’ course.

However, these are just a couple of the many benefits that can be achieved through Driver CPC training. When you understand your drivers and the needs of your business, and customise your Driver CPC training to cater this, you can also increase safety, reduce equipment damage and make significant savings on fuel costs, for instance.

That’s one of the reasons why our Driver CPC Periodic Training portal gives trainers ways to deliver courses using a huge range of topics and wide variety of learning styles. Not everyone likes PowerPoint! So trainers can consider avoiding this by using videos, quizzes, discussions, and role play instead.

Organisations are extremely stretched at the moment and need to ensure that they’re utilising their training time as best as possible. So not only should employers be planning ahead to ensure compliance – including in the case of Driver CPC – but they should also consider whether the type of training works for their employees.

What’s more, it’s been shown that male and female drivers learn differently too. In general, female trainees tend to have a better memory, bring greater focus and attention and are more articulate, displaying a better use of language. Meanwhile, male trainees often bring greater spacial awareness and more mechanical focus to the training environment.

If Instructors didn’t have enough to contend with, it’s also important to be aware of how individuals from different generations prefer to learn. For example, those considered to be ‘baby boomers’ who were born between 1946-64 can be untrusting or dismissive of technology, partly because they developed their careers without it, whereas ‘millennials’ who were born between 1981-96 expect technology to be involved in training and don’t wish to be ‘taught’ in the traditional sense.

But why is getting it right so important? Because professional development for LGV, HGV and PCV drivers is absolutely crucial to meet the changing needs of our industry and address the skills shortage.

The UK transport and logistics sector currently estimates a shortfall of 76,000 drivers. This has been further compounded by issues surrounding Brexit and Covid-19, which has seen thousands of EU workers leave the country, whether due to the weaker pound, or a potentially less stable or attractive working environment.

It’s still largely believed that Driver CPC is a way to get around fines and penalties. Of course, this is important but in the current skills shortage, it’s essential that the industry ensures that drivers are retained. Key to this is offering them opportunities to develop within their role.

For advice on how to use training to improve the skills shortages that your organisation is facing, or for more information on the RTITB Master Driver CPC Consortium, visit: www.rtitb.com