Ongoing Driver Training for HGV Drivers
If we take HGV drivers, for example, vocational licence holders they are required to do ongoing driver training in the form of a CPC, which stands for Driver Certificate of Professional Competence.
In brief, this is 35 hours of training, every 5 years, ongoing for a commercially operated vehicle.
Why Driver Training is so important
Driver training doesn’t just relate to making sure a driver can operate their vehicle to a high degree of competency.
It also helps with things like carrying out pre-use checks, which play an essential role in identifying potential defects on a vehicle.
It’s an offence to operate a vehicle on a highway with a defect that affects roadworthiness.
Pre-use checks are required in the O licence and HGV sector and are best practices in the car and LCV sector.
So, training your drivers on how to spot and report defects plays an essential role in your fleet processes and helps ensure your vehicles are safe and roadworthy.
Safe Loading Training
If your drivers are transporting heavy loads, vehicles have a limited amount of capacity they can carry and drivers need to be aware of what this is.
If a driver operates a vehicle that is overloaded, this can have catastrophic effects on the mechanical capabilities of the vehicle.
The brakes will not work as effectively, the steering can be compromised, and it increases the risk of a road traffic accident.
Towing Vehicles
There is a lot of legislation to adhere to when towing a trailer as well as training to ensure drivers know how to properly secure and tow a trailer.
You can only tow up to a certain weight with a car driving licence, and the amount a person can tow also depends on when they got their licence.
You’ll also need to know the weight of both the vehicle and the trailer, this is known as the ‘Maximum Authorised Mass’ (MAM).
If the weight is more than 3.5 tonnes, you may be in the O Licencing sector and need to install a tachograph machine.
Effective Driver Training Means Lower Fuel Costs
Effective driver training means more efficient drivers and lower fuel costs.
With the cost of fuel spiralling and also being one of the largest fleet-related costs, fleet operators can see huge savings over time by training their drivers to drive in a more mindful, and fuel-efficient way.
The knock-on effect is also savings on vehicle maintenance costs, driver retention, and some other areas.
If you would like any more information about driver training, please feel free to get in touch with a member of our team by using this form or calling our office on 01666 575900.
