Good start for h.g.v.
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course
by Paul Brockington • An "overwhelming response" has been received to the h.g.v. driver-training course of S. Jones (Garages) Ltd., Anglian Road, Aldridge, Staffs, officially launched last week by Mr. L. Williamson, RTITB Midland regional manager.
A large number of Midland companies have entered drivers or have arranged to do so including Tarmac, Miles Druce, Charles Rickards, Turton's Transport, Swift Haulage, Hyde's Transport, Metal Sections, Collins Express and Marston Excelsior; Watford Express Carriers Services and the H. G. Barber company of Great Yarmouth have also booked drivers for the course.
Jones' drivers will go through the course (the company operates 85 vehicles and is an ERF distributor), the anticipated ratio of company drivers to other entrants being two to six (a total of eight) for some time to come. Offices will be opened later in Walsall and Wolverhampton. Although the course was planned to provide instruction for drivers seeking to qualify for h.g.v. licences, it will be expanded to cover tuition of private-car and light-van drivers and to cater for workshop apprentices and mechanics. The training of car drivers to handle rigids and of rigid drivers to handle articulated outfits will be covered, the more expert entrant being expected to qualify as an artic driver during a single course after starting as a car driver. Drivers are issued with appropriate certificates and detailed assessments of driving capabilities are sent to employers whether or not the course is passed.
Wolverhampton Corporation Transport is showing interest and a p.s.v. course will be started in two or three weeks' time following the acquisition of a double-decker.
Requests for information have been received from the Tube Investments Group and from Fodens. Rolls-Royce, Perkins and Cummins will be sending technical representatives to lecture on design and operation of power units and the project has full backing from ERF. The engine makers named will be supplying equipment for the lecture room, and other equipment will include bogies, gearboxes and so on.
Mr. E. Brock of Tube Investments will lecture on braking and the regulations, while RoSPA will be sending a representative to talk on road safety. The h.g.v. course covers a period of 5-t days and exclusive of accommodation and meals costs £65.
Mr. Ray Wilkes, the training officer, is assisted by two driving instr.uctors, Mr. Dick Jones and Mr. Derek Such, and two ERF /York articulated outfits of 24 tons and 32 tons gross rating are employed for instruction together with an Albion Reiver six-wheeler. The course covers 44 periods and is divided in the proportion of 19 in the classroom and 25 on the road. A two-hour "thinking-aloud" period is included in the driving instruction time which enables the instructor to judge the driver's reaction to changing conditions and potential hazards.