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The Driver CPC has been devised by those a long way away from our trade
Page 17
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I READ WITH interest the article by David Harris, 'The clock's ticking.... (CM 6 November), but I doubt the demographics of the industry have changed since I've been in the business.
I remember going into haulage yards in the 1970s where most of the drivers were at least 40 plus, and there's a simple explanation for this it makes good sense.
To my mind, having groups such as Skills for Logistics going into schools shows a real lack of understanding for what the road haulage industry needs especially with regards to drivers Visit any truck show and you'll see plenty of examples of young people determined to be a commercial driver. ...,/ I was one of those ■ Dick Flu kids, barely caring what the vehicle was, only interested in if it would go, and preferring a different and longer-distance destination.
Unsociable hours... bring them on. The lack of facilities and/or money... bring them on.
For such minded individuals, truck driving was and probably still is an adventure.
It seems pointless to try to change the perception of the job. It isn't an easy job, it can often be demanding and that will 0.‘"`00$4.0.° never change.
Security
For a lot of drivers, the job is just that, a job. We have many people who want a secure job, even if it does involve repetitive duties. However, the beauty with driving being that, in detail at least, virtually every day is different in certain respects and it is quite a demanding discipline.
To appreciate the value of this requires a certain degree of wisdom and maturity.
te So, to expect kids to appreciate this is, well, barmy. Of course, we don't want disinterested youngsters in charge of 40-tonne trucks.
By and large, truck driving is a demanding grind, requiring a disciplined approach, and the dangers involved in such a career being only too obvious to those of a mature age.
'The demands of the job being much better appreciated if they are conducted by people with a considerable degree of life skills, learnt from experience. Having had a career, probably being a parent, and needing to pay a mortgage month in, month out.
Now, we have the Driver CPC. Only somebody utterly ignorant of the realities involved could've devised such an utter nonsense. You can't teach anybody anything if they don't want to learn. The Driver CPC has almost nothing in it of any value to appeal to a seasoned driver. Surely only an idiot could devise a system of 35 hours training with no tests, detailing all the subjects concerned and covered, without having a recognised certificate at the end.
Specialised field
It shows a complete disregard as to how the industry works. I've been driving commercially for nigh-on 40 years, but not one even slightly irresponsible firm would employ me to drive a chemical tanker, a fridge, car transporter etc.
All road transport is. to some extent, specialised much more so today, and current rules pretty much take care of most aspects.
Now don't get me wrong, I have no objection to better training for the job I'm doing a refresher course on the Highway Code might be welcome, but would 35 hours be needed?
The Driver CPC will almost certainly persuade me to give up my chosen career before I wanted to, along with many others. •