Tachodisc In The News
DRIVER CPC ONE YEAR ON
With the 12 month anniversary of Driver CPC looming, bus and coach operators seriously need to start thinking, if they haven’t done so already, about courses that can add real benefit to their business. Here we speak to Tachodisc Director’ Anne McDougall about Driver CPC and how it has been embraced by operators and drivers in its first year.
1. From your experience has the PCV Industry embraced the Driver CPC?
When it was first introduced in September 2008, we received a significant amount of interest and the take up on the courses we offer was tremendous. We were particularly busy through the school holidays, with operators taking the opportunity to release drivers during quiet times – we were so busy in fact that we had to put on extra courses to cope with the demand. However, the downturn in the economy in recent months has impacted on passenger operators, and in our experience the Driver CPC has lost some momentum. With a five year window for the drivers to undertake 35 hours of training, it seems that many operators are reluctant to invest in training when times are hard.
2. How is the Industry tackling periodic training i.e. In-house or out sourced??
Some of the larger operators are investing in providing their own courses and using their own internal trainers, whilst small to medium sized businesses that do not have the resources are outsourcing. In all scenarios, the fact that JAUPT require trainers to be approved and experienced - and not only in the subject matter but also in delivering training and the complexity of compiling an effective package - should result in training of a high standard.
3. What part of the syllabus are operators concentrating on?
Our experience has been that operators are concentrating on the driver’s legal obligations, and we have found Drivers’ Hours Law and Digital Tachographs courses the most popular. However, we also believe that a focus on ‘economical driving’ will also be a priority. If drivers implement the techniques learned from an economical driving course effectively, the operator should have visible cost benefits almost immediately with lower fuel usage and less wear and tear on vehicles.
4. What are the most common problems that have come to light in year one?
The most common problem has been the driver’s attitudes to the CPC programme, which could be summed up as somewhat apprehensive. Apart from their initial driving test, many drivers have never had any formal training and so some are concerned, understandably, that they may find the courses particularly demanding.
The other concern is that although there is a facility to split the 7-hour block of training over a 24-hours period most operators find it operationally difficult to facilitate this, and would rather release the driver for a full day. Also, delegates undertaking a 7-hour block of training find this a very long period for concentration, despite the day being broken up with different subject matter and delegate participation. This is especially true when you are dealing with an intense subject matter like the law.
5. How is the Industry planning periodic training?
Our advice to operators is that they should consider adopting a phased approach to the requirement of 35-hours of training in a five year period, by organising 7-hours annually for every driver. In our experience most operators see this as the most practical way forward, particularly in today’s economic climate. They understand the implications of ‘putting-off’ the training requirements until the final year, which will make it difficult to find a training provider due to demand and drivers will have to be released for a whole week.
6. Is there any feedback from Operators to show that periodic training is actually benefiting operator efficiency?
We have no precise data to evaluate this effect, however drivers can only benefit from refreshing their knowledge particularly on Drivers’ Hours law, working time rules and defect reporting.
With the new graduated fixed penalty scheme going live this year and the implications to the operator in respect of OCRS scoring, more training for drivers should naturally provide benefits to the operation.
7. Is there any evidence that the DCPC is attracting new entrants to the Industry?
We have no evidence at Tachodisc that this is the case. I would suggest it is too early to say, however the introduction of DCPC should raise the profile of the Industry and give the occupation a more professional status.
8. What lessons can be learned one year on?
To generalise some operators in the past have not given sufficient commitment to Driver Training and although the DCPC changes this to some extent, operators should take on board the value of training and invest in their workforce, particularly in view of the significant legislation changes that have been imposed on the industry since 2006 and now the fixed penalty scheme.
Yes some see this as an additional cost and yet another piece of legislation, but it’s not going away so it’s better to be prepared than ignore it. Therefore, operators need to evaluate what type of training will be of most benefit to their business, i.e. training that will ultimately have cost benefits, resulting in more skilled and knowledgeable drivers that comply with the rules and drive their vehicles more safely and economically.
9. What is your advice to operators?
Prepare drivers for Driver CPC, and make sure they are provided with the best possible skills needed to enhance the operation. Invest in your most valuable asset - the driver – and use the training to ensure that drivers are more compliant and running vehicles more efficiently
Anne McDougall is a Director of Tachodisc and is renowned across the transport industry for her 30 years expertise in Tachograph related law, training and tachograph analysis.
Tachodisc is a JAUPT accredited training centre for Driver CPC and offers a range of approved open courses from its Warrington training school. These include 7-hour courses on Drivers’ Hours and Tachograph Regulations, Digital Tachographs, Tachograph Records and Working Time Requirements, Defect Reporting, Economical Driving, and Driver Safety Controls and Systems. Accident prevention, vehicle fire management, driver/customer relations and disability awareness for PCV. Courses are also held at operators’ premises.
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