Part of the
Truck UK Training Unit at Oundle in Northamptonshire
Truck UK has been an approved Joint Approvals Unit for Periodic Training (JAUPT) approved centre since September 2008 and we intend to continue to provide training courses to our clients for the foreseeable future. We also work in partnership with IoTA consortium member, Buntra, as well as with TKnP Ltd; RMS Training Ltd and Fenland First Aid Services.
We offer a wide range of approved 7 hours of training / one day courses for vocational drivers' to attend to gain their DSA registration for undertaking five modules before a Driver Qualification Card (DQC) is issued to them.
All our training courses are presented by qualified by examination instructors and our training is monitored and has been audited by JAUPT and an independent auditor.
Although it is perfectly acceptable and legal in this country for drivers' to undertake as many or as few modules of periodic training in one year as and when they like, Truck UK have consistently recommended that operators implement a training plan from the outset that puts in place an annual refresher type procedure. This is already providing tangible benefits to long term clients who have put their drivers forward for four or more courses since September 2008, when we provided courses for passenger transport drivers and from September 2009 onwards, for commercial vehicle drivers.
However, the unfortunate reality is that a significant percentage of both types of vocational drivers have still not undertaken one course of approved training, even though we are well past the half way mark for existing vocational drivers to gain their first Driver Qualification Card (DQC).
Remember, the requirement to undertake 5 modules (35 hours) of approved periodic training for existing goods vehicle drivers' was introduced in September 2008 (PCV) / September 2009 (LGV) and if it has not been adhered to by September 2013 (PCV) / September 2014 (HGV) it could lead to the prosecution of both the driver and the operator they are working for if they continue to drive commercially for a living after that date.
It's worth remembering that this is not a one off mandatory requirement that goes away in 2014 for truck drivers (and 2013 for the passenger transport sector). It is a lifelong learning commitment that vocational drivers' must comply with if they are to continue driving for a living and operators must support and look at positively . A regular complaint from UK based vocational drivers is that they are not treated as professionals. Well, this mandatory continuous professional development of knowledge and skill is seen as the first step in improving the standing of drivers, so if it is not given a positive response by the industry we must expect to continue to be treated as a necessary evil, rather than a professional service provider.
Our aim at Truck UK has always been to try and ensure that attendance at the mandatory training courses we offer is an opportunity to improve, rather than a nuisance that must be endured. It's worrying when we refer to vocational drivers as professionals and we are met with cynicism and/or laughter. No one is going to take this mandatory training seriously if the most important part of the haulage industry continues to be treated like nothing more than a necessary nuisance - the professional driver.
Driver CPC Periodic Training Courses 2013
So, to try and provide a better service to all vocational/professional drivers' we now provide regular 'open to all' courses at our two approved training centres in Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire. The maximum number of delegates that we book onto any one day open course is normally 20. If an operator requests that more than 20 delegates attend an in-house course we will provide an additional instructor, at no additional cost.
Please note that for delegates to be registered as having undertaken a module of approved periodic training they will be required to bring along with them their photo card and counterpart driving licences and be in attendance and partake in 7 hours of training. If any driver does not yet hold a photo-card driving licence they are required to bring along the original of their paper driving licence and some form of other identification, such as a valid passport.
Approved courses presently approved and available through Truck UK are as follows:-
One day courses
Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) - LGV & PCV
Customer Care - LGV & PCV
Operator Awareness - LGV & PCV
The Compliant Driver Modular Course - choose any two for a days approved course
Drivers' Hours & Record Keeping - LGV & PCV
Maintenance Standards - LGV & PCV
Manual Handling - LGV & PCV
Economic & Efficient Driving - LGV & PCV
Safe Loading - LGV
Site Awareness - LGV
Full course instructions will be if you e-mail drivercpc@truckuk.net.
TO DISCUSS YOUR COMPANIES TRAINING REQUIREMENTS FREEPHONE 0800 644 87 87