Independent Tests for New Drivers
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IMPARTIAL testing of new applicants 1 for positions as commercial-vehicle drivers has always presented a problem to operators, and to solve it the British School of Motoring includes what is termed a check test in its prospectus. Such is the popularity of the scheme that operators in the Manchester area. for example, send about five drivers a week for testing before they are accepted for regular employment.
To all intents and purposes, writes a representative of "The Commercial Motor" who was present at a recent check, it is conducted on the same lines as the Ministry of Transport driving test. The examiner also fills in a detailed report as the test proceeds.
All the general points arc checked, such as clutch control, use of the gearbox, vehicle positioning at road junctions and when turning, together with hand signals and the driver's reaction to the movement of other vehicles and
pedestrians. A test of his skill in rnanceuvring the vehicle in a confined space follows, and finally his knowledge of the Highway Code is reviewed.
At the conclusion of the test, the report, together with the examiner's remarks, is sent to the prospective employer. From this, he is in an excellent position to judge the driver's capabilities.
It is not only in the testing of potential employees that this scheme bears fruit. A large fleet operator sends any of his drivers who appear to be causing undue wear and tear to vehicles. Tyres may need replacing too frequently, or constant gearbox and clutch trouble may afflict the vehicle which that particular driver habitually handles. The report would in all probability reveal an inherent fault in the driver's technique, which neither he nor his employer realized existed.
It is claimed that by far the greatest number of drivers tested by the school is eminently satisfactory, but the odd man turns out to be below par.