Driver Hire puts refresher training in the spotlight
Driver Hire Training has highlighted the advantages for transport managers of regularly undertaking refresher courses to ensure they keep up to speed with the requirements of their role.
Whilst standards in the industry are generally high, says Driver Hire, it’s not uncommon to read in the trade press of cases where transport managers have broken industry regulations, sometimes inadvertently, and faced sanctions including the loss of their Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) – and so possibly their livelihood.
“Gaining the Transport Manager CPC is a real achievement, and something of a badge of honour in the industry,” said John Keelan-Edwards, MD at Driver Hire Training.
The qualification includes details on civil, commercial, social and fiscal law, as well as business and financial management, access to the market, technical vehicle standards, technical aspects of operations and road safety.
But retaining all this in memory once immersed in the cut and thrust of a busy transport office can be a challenge, John points out – and changes to the rules are common.
“The Transport Manager CPC is a ‘once-only’ qualification. But regulations change and it’s not easy to keep up.”
He cites the example of changes to the Highway Code in recent years, which introduced a ‘hierarchy of road users’.
“For car drivers, knowing about changes like this is important; for transport operators it’s essential. That’s why we follow traffic commissioner guidance and recommend transport manager refresher training every two years.”
Whilst serious or regular infringements lead to disqualification, he explains, there are also plenty of instances where the transport manager in the dock has been found to have made relatively minor lapses in following the regulations or simply an innocent mistake. In such cases, the traffic commissioners will often be lenient and instruct them to attend a transport manager refresher course. Once they have updated themselves on industry rules and regulations, and provided there are no further violations, they can continue in post.
“It is better by far to avoid these issues in the first place by choosing to invest in regular update training,” said John.
“A key element of a transport manager’s job description is running a profitable, efficient and compliant transport business – it’s better for the bottom line, the staff at the business and for the general public. For this, a transport manager needs a strong knowledge of best practice, enabling him to operate successfully and within the industry’s legal framework.
“A quality refresher course, generally just a couple of days, is time well spent: it will pay for itself, both financially and, when it comes to reducing risk, in terms of peace of mind – helping to ensure that businesses are following the rules, complying with operator licence undertakings and maintaining a healthy Operator Compliance Risk Score (OCRS).”
Driver Hire Training also emphasises the potential job satisfaction benefits, and highlights one of the many post-course comments it has received from course participants: “The 2-day TM Refresher was run by Jackie. A good bunch of people and Jackie’s in-depth knowledge and experience in the industry made it easy to follow. I came away with a more comprehensive and up-to-date understanding of the ever-increasing complexities of compliance.”
John added: “We’re seeing increased demand for Transport Manager CPC refresher training courses. We run them weekly and, if there’s demand, more frequently. We see it as an investment in your people and your business.”
