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One of the things that haulage companies must do if they want to maintain a competitive edge is ensure that their employees are all fully trained and aware of the changing rules and regulations as well as any new developments in the logistics industry. When training involves office staff, technicians, support services etc., it’s not so much of a problem. But when it comes to the on-going training of drivers – it’s a different kettle of fish entirely. Fitting in a Class on the Road A driver who is on the road for hours on end, day after day, doesn’t have time to start taking classes or courses. When he’s off the road, he wants to relax with his family and get ready for his next long haul. As an employer, however, you can’t afford to have your drivers off the road when they’re attending a course in today’s highly competitive market – however important it may be. And it’s not only drivers who face a time constraint. Other sectors in the haulage industry, including maritime operators and rail operators, also need to maximise working hours while finding a way to economically and efficiently fit in study time. Thankfully, the Freight Transport Association (FTA) has provided the perfect solution. E-learning - Study On-Line When It’s Convenient So far, the FTA has implemented two on-line courses: • Inter Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Training: IMDG Code training has been, since January 2010, compulsory for all employees and persons involved in the handling and transport of dangerous goods that are to be shipped by sea. This series of eight on-line courses comply with Amendment 37-14 of the IMDG code that came into force in January 2016. While the courses relate to the specific needs of maritime shipping, the subjects covered in the various courses can be relevant to haulage companies working in ports or involved in the delivery of loads containing dangerous goods to and from ports. • Online Operator Licence Compliance Complying with all the complexities of licensing regulations can be difficult. The aim of this course is to update all those involved in transport operations with current requirements so that they will be able to develop best practice procedures for their operations that will ensure optimum compliance. The course consists of five modules that can be completed on-line and on an individual basis. Final FTA certification requires completion of all five modules and an on-line assessment process. The modules are: 1. Operator Licensing 2. EU Drivers’ Hours and Working Time 3. Recording EU Drivers’ Hours 4. Vehicle Maintenance Systems 5. Driver Licensing The Benefits of E-Learning Haulage companies will be able to provide training programmes to a wide spectrum of employees and thus encourage uniformity across the organization. Your employees will be able to obtain certification and compliance at a fraction of the cost of regular classroom based courses. Participants have 12-months access to an extensive library of constantly updated on-line resources – available 24/7 and from any location. Managers and students can monitor progress to identify potential areas for improvement. Time away from the workplace is reduced along with the added costs that would result from a regular classroom based course. Staff can study at their own pace and when and where they want. Haulage companies will see a return on investment by measuring learning activity and the effect in the work environment. For more information about FTA e-leaning courses, visit the FTA’s E-Learning page. Norman Dulwich is a Correspondent for Haulage Exchange, the leading online trade network for the road transport industry. Connecting professionals across the UK and Europe through their website, Haulage Exchange provides services for matching haulage companies with jobs in road transport and haulage work. Over 4,000 transport exchange businesses are networked together through their website, trading jobs and capacity in a safe 'wholesale' environment.
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