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P DRIVER TRAINING
Page 10
Page 11
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The Big Train roils out and CM made sure it was on board
The Big Train shunted into Warwick University on 12 September, and Truck & Driver editor Will. Shiers was one of 73 drivers to begin his Driver CPC training.
,cioicts Images: Will Shiers
CAN THINK OF a number of things I would rather do with my Saturday than spend it stuck in a classroom. But, like every other HGV licence holder in Europe, I have to do 35 hours of CPC training over the next live years. There's no time like the present, so that's exactly what I did. On 12 September, I signed up to the Big Train for my first seven hours.
My day at Warwick University kicked off at 9am with a driving licence check (both the plastic and paper parts), which is a vital requirement for the CPC.
They need to check you are who you say you are, then upload the licence details onto a Driver CPC database on the Driving Standards Agency's (DSA) website.
Along with 14 other drivers, I opted for the vehicle safety, control systems and fuel efficiency' module. On the day, there was a complete mix on the course, including employed, unemployed, agency, and owner-drivers.
When asked why they had chosen to take part in one of the earliest CPC courses, the reasons were many and varied.
• Some wanted to get as many of their courses out of the way early to avoid any potential "last-minute rush". Others said they wanted "to become a better driver"; "to help improve the image of the industry"; and "to make myself more employable". The drivers came from various sectors of the industry, and while some had their places paid for by their employers, others had found the .E99 fee themselves.
One driver explained that his employer was happy to pick up the entire bill for his CPC training, on condition that the cash was refunded in the event of him leaving his employment at any point in the next five years.
Sharing the knowledge
The Fraikin course instructors, Phil Knight and Dave Ramsbottom, were keen to get the audience involved in events, which started with a brief introduction.
As the drivers introduced themselves, one revealed that he moves expensive race horses across Europe in a £400,000 26-tonne Actros imagine carrying a cargo worth at least 1.5m isn't strapped down! It was clear that there was a lot of experience in the room, and I was worried the instructors might come across as condescending. But I needn't have worded.
The instructors successfully tapped into that knowledge for the benefit of everyone, encouraging group discussions, and ensuring all delegates could learn from each others' experiences.
As the day approached, I had been fearing 'death by PowerPoint', but that wasn't the case. Again, 1 had nothing to worry about.
The two morning sessions were broken up with numerous group tasks and videos. The daily walkaround exercise was useful, and involved studying a line drawing of a truck and pinpointing the areas that need to be checked. Then we viewed the VOSA daily check DVD, and compared our results with the guidelines.
After a fantastic buffet lunch, which sparked off comments such as "truck drivers aren't normally treated this well", we headed back to the classroom. The afternoon session got going with a shocking video that would put you off ever touching your mobile while behind the wheel. This sparked off a discussion on accidents. One driver told us about a collision he'd had with a car driver, who had veered into the lorry's path at 120mph, and died following the collision.
The fuel efficiency/safer driving segment was also informative, and sparked a heated debate among delegates. The result was an agreement that safe and efficient driving go hand-in-hand, • Since this first Big Train event was a success for all involved, more events are planned — stay tuned.