Well I have just completed an entire week’s dcpc training (at my own expense) and am looking forward to the little card dropping on my mat sometime next week.
Although I had heard lots of horror stories about these courses, the one I attended was run by a transport company that had an independent training facility and the two instructors were both former truckers with years of experience between them, so it was ok.
It took me a week to get my hgv licence many years ago and this dcpc course has also taken a week. Using simple calculation, it means I should now be paid double - right? After all I am now a true ‘professional’ as I have now undertaken further training.
Does anyone know if I’ll also be able to join the golf club as a true ‘professional’, or is that title just for VOSA when they start hitting vocational drivers with fines?
Unfortunately you could be waiting a while for the double wage I know what you mean about the dcpc horror stories though…I got told lots of bad things about the courses but the instructor was an ex truck and coach driver so really knew his stuff so I found it very useful…not sure all courses are run like this though… Did you find 7 hours is a long time each day in a training room when you’re used to being out and about though?! Can’t imagine being sat in a office chair all day at work! I don’t drive the full time at work but when I’m not driving in generally picking orders or moving around constantly! Shame the companies aren’t allowed to stagger this a bit more, say a few hours a week spread over a longer period…or maybe next time I should just do the training in winter!
They were a very long 7 hours and it has been a very long week. Fortunately the other candidates were a great bunch of lads and we had some real laughs this week. Particularly memorable was the session where 18 drivers with hundreds of years experience between them didn’t know what many of the road signs were…
Am also booking myself on a forklift course in a few days time, so must be a real glutton for punishment…
xxmitaxx:
It is VOSA no more. They are called VDSA now.
We were advised that despite the name change, the vehicles they drive and the reflective jackets they wear etc will still continue to be labelled up VOSA.
What was worrying is that agency will be completely self financing soon and run as a private entity. Irrespective of how well you have checked your vehicle or secured your load, hgv drivers and psv drivers are going to be a major cash cow for them. I am guessing that very fact may lead to more people leaving the industry than the dcpc ever will. To target the average driving Joe that isn’t a qualified mechanic or trained load technician is not good news…
Happy days, start my week driving a desk on Monday, also at my own expense. Not so much looking forward to it, more a case of glad to get it out of the way. Let’s face it, it cannot be any worse than watching England at the World Cup can it? Can it?
Who knows, if the ukip disciples are correct it may not come up again.
I know what you mean about the dcpc horror stories though…I got told lots of bad things about the courses but the instructor was an ex truck and coach driver so really knew his stuff so I found it very useful…not sure all courses are run like this though… Did you find 7 hours is a long time each day in a training room when you’re used to being out and about though?! Can’t imagine being sat in a office chair all day at work! I don’t drive the full time at work but when I’m not driving in generally picking orders or moving around constantly! Shame the companies aren’t allowed to stagger this a bit more, say a few hours a week spread over a longer period…or maybe next time I should just do the training in winter!
