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F1 TT NG 14
Page 64
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Trucks require fitters, and apprentice fitters need a solid training
schedule. Tim Maughan sees how the rookies progress into
fully-fledged maintenance professionals.
Much attention is drawn to the chronic HGV driver shortage, but many British operators and service outfits suffer from a lack of fitters. Doncaster-based Pullman Fleet Services, though, benefits from a steady intake of apprentices who join its ranks every year.
Pullman, which has 46 depots across the UK, provides fitters for large fleets, as well as smaller road transport corn panies. Most of its work is generated by maintenance contracts with customers such as Tesco and Morrisons; the remainder of income comes from providing operators with fitters on an ad hoc basis.
The firm employs 600 fitters,65 of whom are apprentices. Students learn the basics of CV mechanics, before specialising in areas such as reefers, tail-lifts, air conditioning, and truckmounted cranes.
Total package
We look after the whole package," says Mick Allwood,business development manager, "anything from accident repairs to fleet refurbishments."
The IT revolution has impacted on the mechanical world, "A lot of potential apprentices would rather work with computers than get their hands dirty in a workshop," he says. Applicants are not jamming Pullman's telephone lines, but the firm can still afford to be choosey about who it takes on.Apprentices receive a wage, and are housed by the company. Mechanical and reefer students are trained at the Stephenson College in Coalville, Leicester; body repair apprentices undergo tuition at Thatcham College, Reading.
The apprentices come in two shapes, with the overwhelming proportion being 16-year-old school leavers.A small number (only five or six) over 25s are taken on every year.Typically, these people will have experience as plumbers, electricians, or in other"hands on" trades.
Usually applicants are expected to hold five GCSEs, grades C and above.The right attitude, though, is vital. Potential recruits may well have the right certificates, but they will not get in if they don't have the right outlook.
Allwood maintains that an applicant without the educational paperwork has a healthier chance of joining Pullman than someone whose attitude is lacking.
The training programme is thorough, and lasts for five years.Three of these are devoted to training for the BTEC certificate; the remaining two years give the apprentice an HNC (Higher National Certificate).All qualify as forklift and HGV drivers which gives flexibility.
"The drop-out rate is very low,! would say less than 10 people have dropped out of the Pullman Apprentice Programme since it started in 1996," ends Allwood. • I CONTACTS Pullman Fleet Services: 01302 346555 ReMIT: 0800 587 6042 Mercedes-Benz: 01788 552854