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NVO CASE STUDY Four years ago Cheshire-based general haulier S

23rd November 2006
Page 58
Page 58, 23rd November 2006 — NVO CASE STUDY Four years ago Cheshire-based general haulier S
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Cooper & Sons decided to review its training policy after it was forced to reject a string of drivers at #nterview.

The company's in-house trainer, Bernard Rowson, explains: "Originally it was because of the shortage of drivers. It was the type of driver we were getting at the time; a lot of them didn't have the proper training."

The firm approached training supplier Omnia Training, which introduced an NVQ for younger drivers to train them up to S Cooper's own standards. At first six drivers were put through the course and Rowson says two are still with the company.

"What you want are professional drivers who can handle a vehicle, know its contents, and know what's involved with the job," Rowson explains. "By training them individually you can raise them to your own standard, rather than getting someone in from outside."

The course is rigorous and can take up to four months to complete.

Training is both classroom-based and practical; subjects include: health and safety; roping and sheeting; tail-lift training; route planning; and getting provisional drivers through their LGV test.

"It's not all roses; it's hard work," says Rowson. "[The drivers] learn how to gain a licence, and how easy it is to lose it if they are foolish. The young lads have a lot more training then your average driver would do."

He also believes that in the long run it is cost-effective: "You [end up with] a good, polite person with good customer relations. At the end of the day your customers see if you have trained them correctly.

"We use the training now for our older drivers. We'll make sure they are customerfriendly, know the ins and outs of the job, and stay on the right side of the law."

Tags

People: Bernard Rowson
Locations: Cheshire

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