CASE STUDY OPERATORS
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David Olle is operations manager (plant and vehicles) at Southampton-based SCA Recycling and responsible for 55 drivers. “We’ve always done annual driver training – refresher training and assessments – and new drivers are always assessed before their contracts are confirmed,” he says. “When the driver CPC came in, it was a natural progression to add that to our annual driver training.” Fraikin undertakes the firm’s driver training on site. Olle has chosen particular modules to address specific issues. “For 2010 we selected vehicle safety and driver checks because we had some issues with defect reporting.
“For 2011 we selected EU regs and the Working Time Directive. These are bespoke training modules tailored to our business needs. On the day we also include practical one-to-one driving training and use of our specialist equipment.” Olle adds: “Where we’ve recruited new drivers, we’ve given them a catch-up by giving them the other modules they’ve missed. Our biggest concern is with agency drivers.” World Duty Free is another Fraikin customer. Transport manager Clive Brydges is responsible for 35 fulland part-time drivers based at Heathrow, Birmingham and Glasgow airports. “The Driver CPC gave us the push to do vocational training,” he says.
“We have a big stock-check after Christmas, so we can get a large proportion of our drivers trained in one day. Fraikin does all the record-keeping and ensures drivers don’t do a course twice. The cost is between £90 and £130 per driver per day, depending on how many we send. I’ve heard some companies dock drivers £3 a week from their wages for training, and others make drivers take a day’s leave – but I don’t see the point in it.”