Parcel giant set GV standards
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• Several parcel delivery giants are joining forces to develop new driver qualifications which "will eventually be the equivalent of 0-Levels for the transport industry", says Royal Mail Parcels.
RMP is in the forefront of the initiative which is being developed with City and Guilds and the National Council of Vocational Qualifications. "In time all transport firms will recognise these new qualifications," RMP predicts.
Other transport finis are also investigating the idea of vocational examinations and the Road Transport Industry Training Board is currently talking with the Road Haulage Association about developing general driver qualifications.
"Once the qualification system is up and running the company will want all new drivers to take the exams," says RMP. "If they camiot pass then we may not want to continue using their services. All existing drivers will also be encouraged to sit the exams."
A Government push for more vocational qualifications within Britain's major industries led to the parcels training project two years ago. Royal Mail Parcels approached its major competitors such as Federal Express and Securicor, and an industry body was set up with the help of the British Securities Industries Association. This body has drawn up examination standards which have been approved by the NCVQ. "These standards have been defined for uniform recognition across the whole transport industry," says the RMP.
The qualifications for drivers will be based on four levels. The basic level will cover routine work "which requires no initiative", and the top level will be aimed at staff with some supervisory responsibilities. The parcel firms are considering extending the scheme to include managerial levels.
Similar schemes for nontransport staff are already in place in some parcel sites; from March these will be expanded for clerical and customer care staff. A date has yet to be set for the introduction of driver exams, which will dis tinguish between HGV drivers and other delivery drivers. But RNIP says the tests will include unloading and loading vehicles; parcel sorting; fuel monitoring; security; transport law; vehicle knowledge; driving techniques; documentation; health and safety; customer care skills, and company policy.
The company says the qualifications will probably be based on oral tests which will be marked by transport and traffic managers. City and Guilds will monitor each firm's policy.