Good post from DOYOUMEAN ME. the large bus firms mainly train their own drivers and in some cases test them as well it works in the bus game ,so why not in haulage.That way there wont be shed loads of drivers holding on to a useless qualification.
Hi DoYouMeanMe
Interesting idea but there are some things you have not mentioned or taken into account.
- The vehicle insurance would need to be altered to include drivers under instruction
- Who would actually be doing the loading and delivering? The trainee or the trainer
- As your idea eliminates the need for training companies where would the reversing excercise be taught. This requires an area approx 300ft x 60ft. Although to be fair 5 times the vehicle length is the absolute minimum
- The vehicle would be needed for test day and not out working as it should be. It would have to be equipped with extra mirrors for the examiner and be completely unladen for the test. It would eliminate any 6 speed vehicles because of the minimum testing requirements of a 8 speed gearbox.
- A week or 2 of instructor’s time would have to be paid for as well as the trainee’s wages
- Very little of the testing area could be visited because the training would be done mostly on motorways in order to complete the deliveries
- The trainee would need a digi card
- Where would the driver CPC module 4 be taught. Does the employer have the neccessary load securing demonstration device.
I am not trying to be negative just pointing out a few issues.
Would the company prefer your idea or would they prefer to start with a driver who had satisfied the DSA that their driving ability was up to the required standard and send him out with one of their own experienced drivers for a week or so (paid or unpaid…lets not go there again)
DoYouMeanMe?:
The trainers would still need to be the same qualified persons as required now and could hire them selves to different companies.
LGV Driving Instructor - DSA Voluntary Register
Which qualifications do you mean?
I accept that there is a lot of fine tuning needed (and likely, some not so fine), but my point is that maybe the haulage companies who are reluctant at present, to see newbies as ready for employment, would prefer to see a work based training regime over the present version.
Quite possibly, it could be done as a two part system where you give them the basic training and teach them about the reverse test etc in your existing truck on your existing off road patch and then move onto a final week in a haulage company environment.
I wasn’t actually thinking it was a finished article, just wondering if, with the input of the relevant people, it might be a more practical solution. I also wasn’t thinking of actually paying the trainees for it, but the loads delivery costs could be used to offset the extra hours and help pay for the trainer as they would pay an agency driver etc.
You could recommend when and if you think they are fit to go on to stage 2 where they actually go down the road with a loaded truck as no doubt in the past, you have had some that are ready more or less straight way and others who will sadly, never make stage 2.
I know that there will be many who say, “Why change things”, but there has been many changes over the years recently, none of which IMO have made the job any better, however, change that is also sanctioned by the industry could be well worthwhile.
Anyway, it’s all pie in the sky and will never happen because the people who dream up the next wave of legislation are too far removed from the harsh facts of reality. They would more likely legislate about suitable colours of clothing while training than actually making the training regime more appropriate.