subject: The Driver CPC - a year on and the majority still do nothing [print this page] Although I can only speak from experience within the United Kingdom, I find it of concern that what was envisaged as a breakthrough in ensuring every truck and bus driver was given regular and updated information throughout their career has been on the whole greeted with derision by not only drivers, but also professional operators of commercial vehicles.
Due to a failure of the relevant bodies to come up with a suitable package to promote the new mandatory training, while at the same time allaying the fears of the ageing pool of vocational drivers, the reaction across the board from drivers has been on the whole negative.
True, the larger goods vehicle operators within the market have not had the same difficulty in embracing the concept, as they are more than likely already providing some type of induction and refresher training. So, to put together and incorporate modules of approved Driver CPC periodic training into existing programmes is relatively straightforward.
In the same vein, their drivers are already accustomed to training and therefore they do not have the fear that there is a possibility that their ability to earn a living is to be taken away from them by this new and unknown qualification introduced via the European Parliament. Sadly, this is not the case for the majority of existing truck drivers who work in small enterprises.
Unfortunately, the majority of goods vehicle operators based within the UK are anything but large operators. In fact it is far more common for an operator to have between five to ten trucks and to drive one of those trucks his or her self. It is this sector of the market that is unhappy and feels burdened by this additional mandatory requirement.
So, if an operator is not happy and largely unsure of just what the Driver CPC actually is how must their drivers feel? I have visited operators whose drivers are seriously contemplating leaving the industry rather than face what they believe is an affront to their professionalism; an examination of their driving skills and knowledge.
However, once an operator and their drivers' are given a basic explanation of the requirements of an existing vocational driver to undertake some refresher training on a regular basis and an assurance that there is not an examination pass or fail element the mood changes dramatically.
I have read that larger operators are unhappy that there is not an examination to be passed as part of the Driver CPC periodic training, but sadly I believe that this position is arrived at as a result of both arrogance and ignorance on the part of middle-management within the multi-national organisations. They and their counterparts in the government agencies tasked with implementing the Driver CPC are cocooned in a world that is alien to the average worker and employer.
As stated earlier within this article, the minority sector of the haulage industry within the UK is large operators, who are in the fortunate position of having a monopoly on certain contracts and accounts that generate enough profit to enable them to look down from on high and preach to the mass of the smaller operators who have to struggle to earn 2% to 3% profits.
What is even more galling is that much of the sub-contracting carried out by the average operator is for the larger operators, at below market 'take it or leave it' prices. True, everyone has a choice as to whether to take a job or not, but reality is that many still work on the wrong belief that turning money over will eventually lead to some of it actually being profit!
This talk of large operator contracts and earnings may seem as though I am losing the thread for my topic of Driver CPC training, but I believe that there is a major error within the United Kingdom of basing all that is introduced on the very wrong assumption that those in this sector are all equal in what they can and cannot achieve. This is untrue and rather than consulting and meeting with the 'big boys' when coming up with strategies and plans it would be a more realistic approach if the 'average Joe' were consulted.
I can already hear the argument coming back that consultations and workshops are open to all, it is not the fault of those in power that the smaller operators do not attend. But, it is their fault when they do not sit and think about why the larger organisations and the trade associations that represent them turn up and put their point across, whereas the others, the majority, do not. Sadly it is down to money. Only those who can afford to send representatives up to London for the day get their voices heard. The majority are not able to commit time and expense, so they remain unheard. Until this clear discrimination against the majority of goods vehicle operators is addressed we will remain in the position that we are presently in. Good and commendable ideas such as the Driver CPC will be misunderstood and therefore mistrusted by the masses.
Come on DSA, come on JAUPT, come on Skills for Logistics, let's see a rethink and get out and meet the real majority within this industry, ask them what they need, not just continue to pander to the favoured few.
The Driver CPC - a year on and the majority still do nothing
