now we all argue about the merits of the driver cpc, its here to stay and we have to do the 35 hrs every five years. now this had me thinking should operators/transport managers have to complete some sort of refresher course every so many years to keep them up to date with the ever changing regulations, I know there are courses out there for them to do voluntarily but do you guys feel that this should be compulsory.
As for planners, my personal opinion is that they should have to sit some sort of qualification, so that they know the rules that they have to comply with in regard to what they are asking drivers to do on a daily basis.
The place I used to work had one of the drivers dad’s as the CPC holder. He was qualified but didn’t know any of the regs as he was never involved with it. He just turned up once a month to collect a paycheck.
Drivers have to do periodic training in order to keep our vocational licence so why shouldn’t CPC holders?
wildfire:
As for planners, my personal opinion is that they should have to sit some sort of qualification, so that they know the rules that they have to comply with in regard to what they are asking drivers to do on a daily basis.
I think every planner should be forced to go out with a driver every few weeks, so they can see first hand that endless chasing on the phone won’t clear the stationary traffic in front of the cab, it won’t make your drops unload quicker and ultimately it only distracts the driver when driving a potentially lethal weapon.
i actually think both drivers and planners need to be a more understanding of each others role imm sure there job has its owm problems they must be under presure as as well
Anybody in a more senior position to you should have done, and still be able to do your job.
I begun as a driver, then I progressed to a transport supervisor and after gaining my international operator cpc became a transport manager. It was always beneficial to know what my drivers faced on a daily basis out on the road. It helped maintain a mutual respect and formed a healthy working relationship.
As a TM I also attended refresher training and briefings from industry associations.
I have since given up management and gone back on the road for a good firm and I still love the job.
It is a bit daft that soon drivers will be better trained and qualified than the folk telling them what to do.
Yes I agree that
Planners, TMs &etc should have to regularly update their knowledge and go out on runs (nominated by the drivers) at least once in 6 months. Planners in particular should have to sit an update on Tacho and WTD directives on an annually.
As part of their annual training, all roles in business should gain an understanding of the roles of others and the associated pressures.
The DCPC should be tightened up with a set syllabus with a pass/fail rather than the current box ticking exercise and the only repeatable sections in a 5 year period should be regulations and other things like first aid/ADR/HIAB/FLT which need to be refreshed within 5yrs.
Interesting topic! I know I’m going to be harking back to the military, but when i was running the veh dept in Germany,(Approx 25 veh’s, 8 bods) i made sure that each and every person in the office was aware of each others role.
This included getting the office bods out into the servicing bay, on the odd run out, loading/unloading of various vehs, including chocking and chaining them down. Not only did this give me the extra manpower per se, but each could cover either job at a moments notice, this in turn got the dept out of a few deep holes! Mostly due to sleeping in after the odd night out! But definatley worth the trouble, and most definatley what should be happening in each transport company. Various TM’s may have started as the lowly yard boy, but as with all trades, things change, veh’s change, traffic changes!
ObviousRichy:
Anybody in a more senior position to you should have done, and still be able to do your job.
I begun as a driver, then I progressed to a transport supervisor and after gaining my international operator cpc became a transport manager. It was always beneficial to know what my drivers faced on a daily basis out on the road. It helped maintain a mutual respect and formed a healthy working relationship.
As a TM I also attended refresher training and briefings from industry associations.
I have since given up management and gone back on the road for a good firm and I still love the job.
I don’t think doing the job is necessary make a good planner or manger.
The best most efficient transport manger I ever worked for had never driven a truck in his life, he started as an office boy, but his skill was keeping a fleet of trucks loaded and moving.
If you had a problem with a load, or meeting a deadline because of traffic etc. you phoned him and he sorted it, in return he needed drivers to keep him informed of a problem, no good telling him when you’ve been turned somewhere away because you were late, when you could have told him you were going to get there late 2 hours earlier. No good asking for an early finish on Friday on Friday morning, but ask on Monday and he would remember and by Thursday night you be heading back for a local delivery.
In contrast some of the worst managers I’ve met are people who’ve done the job then been made up to manager. Driving a truck is far different from looking after several trucks, drivers and customers. You need a completely different set of skills to do the job. This doesn’t mean a driver can’t be a good TM or traffic planner, but they need to learn and develop new skills.
The answer is an understanding of the job, but it works both ways drivers need an understanding of the planners and TM’s job.
Abolishing the “them and us” attitude and accepting that we are all on the same side would be a start. Until management respect drivers and vice versa then all the courses in the world won’t improve the situation.
Everybody should spend some time doing other people’s jobs and then there may be a better understanding of what we all do.
Transport Manager CPC refresher courses are starting to become more popular - if not yet compulsory. In the last six months I have read/heard about & been involved with some TM CPC refresher training.
Traffic Commissioners are starting to use the ‘refresher course’ - usually min. two days duration as a weapon to punish any non-compliance issues with Operators effectively being ordered to book & sit such a course.
Interestingly the successful attendance of a TM refresher course is also being utilised when any significant change or upgrade to an O licence is applied for - again as a condition on the granting of the change by the Traffic Commissioners. This is especially asked for if the CPC holder gained their qual. through Grandfather Rights or via the very old, original exam process (minus Case Study exam). IMO this is a good move and should ensure more & more TM Refresher Courses being attended - and a pre-cursor to the future possibility that they become compulsory for all current TM’s.
