Training update

Yodel wins award for driver training scheme
Yodel has made significant savings and reduced accidents over the past year using System Training’s safe and eco-driving techniques – and as a result has collected the Department for Transport-supported Corporate Safety Award at the National Courier Awards.
The training programme was initiated in May last year with drivers from Home Delivery Network, now trading as Yodel, and has resulted in significant cost savings in fuel and accident damage, and a 48 per cent reduction in the number of accidents.
System Training up-skilled 13 current members of staff to become Driver Training Instructors.
They then went on to deliver the SAFED training techniques to the other drivers within the fleet.
While less than ten per cent of its drivers have undergone the SAFED course so far, Yodel has calculated that over 12 months it saved £600,000 in fuel costs.
Brian Wheadon, support services director at Yodel, said: “The financial savings are outstanding – we knew that improving driving techniques and knowledge across our fleet would have benefits but we never thought it would be to this extent.
“System Training has integrated seamlessly with our business and training department and really gone that extra mile to ensure we, as a company, have received the best possible benefit from the training,” he said.
Apprenticeship scheme
SLB Logistics Apprenticeship Training Agency is offering logistics apprenticeships under a new government-funded scheme. Host employers get the benefit of having apprentices working in their business for 35 hours a week over a nine month period.
The ATA employs the apprentices throughout the duration of their training. Host employers can participate in the selection of their apprentices.
The ATA also manages the NVQ training and development process, giving the host employer regular updates on progress and achievements.
Details from SLB Logistics on 020 8681 0053 or email cherrie.pickard@southlondonbusiness.co.uk
Don’t leave it too late for Driver CPC
The new EU Driver CPC celebrated its first anniversary in September and, according to Dr Mick Jackson, chief executive of Skills for Logistics, has received a “mixed reception” so far.
“The last year has been tough for the economy and tough for the logistics sector,” he said. “For larger employers, driver training has continued as a regular and fundamental element of driver development, and has continued to add value to both the personal performance and job satisfaction of individual drivers, and to the benefit of company operations.”
He warned: “Failure to maximise the skills and efficiency of drivers through a continuous training process is a false economy, and a lost opportunity to improve the efficient and economic performance and productivity of any operation.”
The regulations require 35 hours of training to be taken at any time within the five year period, or spread throughout it.
l Driver Hire marked the first anniversary of the Driver CPC with the news that it has trained its 2,000th driver since launching its training offer earlier this year.
However, chief executive Chris Chidley said he was concerned that transport operators were missing one of the key points about the Driver CPC – its value to their business.
“We see the Driver CPC as much more than a box-ticking exercise. Well trained, fuel efficient and industry knowledgeable drivers add real value to your business. That’s why the Driver CPC is so important, because putting drivers through modules appropriate to their work will enhance their skills and their ability to do their job as efficiently as possible.”
Slow down, says Fuelcard chief
Fuel card reseller The Fuelcard Company is urging HGV drivers to slow down after shocking figures released by the Department for Transport reveal over 83 per cent exceed the 50mph speed limit on dual carriageways.
The survey, based on data from 36 speed monitoring sites across the country last year, also showed 75 per cent of HGV drivers exceed the 40mph limit on single carriageway non-built up roads.
As well as endangering other road users, it said, exceeding the speed limit increases fuel consumption by around 40 per cent making speeding both risky and expensive for fleet managers already facing increasingly tight budgets.