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Page 60
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Trans plant mastertrain conducts truck and forklift driver training — but that's just the tip of
the iceberg, as Tim Maughan discovers.
Trans plant mastertrain is located in what seems to be the biggest trading estate in the world. In our attempt to find its Exeter headquarters, we even consider following one of the firm's distinctive purple LGVs. But, as it could be heading away from base, we contact director Martyn Goldsworthy, who guides us in via telephone.
To our surprise,we find that trans plant mastertrain operates from the Exeter Livestock Centre.We wonder whether herds of farm animals get in the way of truck training. "Market days are on Fridays," explains Goldsworthy,"so training is done to the side of the site."
The firm has two offices here — one to house the trainees, the other for Goldsworthy and his administration team.
Goldsworthy started the company in 1992 with directors Geoff Fox and Leon Davey.We ask about the training fleet."We have five lorries: four rigids and one artic," says Goldsworthy, adding that the firm recently changed its livery from white."My wife suggested purple and lilac, but this isn't a man's colour," he jokes. -So we chose purple; we want to be more recognised."
Goldsworthy employs a dozen personnel. There are seven instructors (complemented by four subcontractors) and five support staff. The high number of office staff is necessary, he points out, because trans plant mastertrain takes care of students' paperwork.-Wc do an awful lot of behind-the-scenes care. We book candidates' theory and practical tests for them." One of the company's computers is dedicated to theory test tuition.
Trans plant mastertrain seems to be a clever play on words, but we wonder how the name came about. Goldsworthy explains that his firm trains people to use plant as well as drive trucks. In fact the truck/plant training is split 50:50.
On the plant side,Goldsworthy hires machinery.-On long-term hire,we have a 360° 3.5-tonne excavator. We also do training for machines above 10 tonnes." he reports.A dumper and road roller are on permanent hire.
Plant tuition is conducted at a site across town, about five miles from the trans plant mastertrain base.
DGSA and ADR courses are provided in addition to truck and plant training; in total, Goldsworthy tells us, the firm has "a throughput of approximately 1,500 candidates a year". More than 100 students are currently training with trans plant under the Young Drivers Scheme."It's going like wildfire," he reports. The powers that be are making money available for those seeking a job in road transport and construction."Both are extremely busy at the moment because of government funding," he says.
Goldsworthy says he is happy with the way the firm has developed.For training companies to he successful, he says, they have to adapt with the sector they serve."We flow with the industry's requirements, so we are forever changing. It's imperative that you don't sit still in training" There is more to this company than truck and plant training. Instructor BenThrner, who has been with the company for more than five years, meets us in the forklift training area. He points out that trans plant courses include lifting and slinging, and gantry crane tuition.
"We do a lot of training for the Devonport naval base — LGV, forklift, and overhead gantry."The students there are made up of both civilian and military personnel.
The firm's brochure lists yet more courses (see panel). Goldsworthy says:"We don't just cover road transport and plant; there are quarries and docks, and drainage services, and people who work on the roads."
Trans plant's motto, he proudly tells us, is 'a square dear.The firm's training charter stresses that trainees will be treatecl"impartially and respectfully", and that assessments and reports will be issued "promptly". In return, the charter states, students must be "honest and courteous", and willing to "receive instructions, directions and corrections graciously".
Goldsworthy has four vans at his disposal, used to get instructors to customers' sites. Half of all the firm's work is carried out at clients' premises."It is down to customers' requirements," he says. -We travel throughout the UK; we have instructors going up to Scotland."
The Exeter base, though, is the nucleus of the operation.And with that comes the weekly livestock herds," It's something you get accustomed to, I suppose,Goldsworthy quips, • CONTACTS
Trans plant mastertra in: 01392 426242 www.tra nsp la ntrn astertra n co . uk