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If you hold a role in the management sector of the transport industry, ensuring your drivers are well trained and compliant with legislation and industry standards is vitally important. With the need for HGV drivers to undergo regular training sessions every few years to maintain their license, knowing what courses are available will help to ensure every driver's credentials are up-to-date. Courses with the RHA The RHA (Road Haulage Association) runs an intensive programme of courses throughout the year, suitable for drivers who take on regular haulage jobs. During the summer, two of the courses offered include the very popular "Health and Safety for Drivers and Fuel Efficient Driving", and the "Driver First Assist". Health and Safety for Drivers and Fuel Efficient Driving Completion of this course provides the equivalence of seven of the hours required for the renewal/maintenance of the DCPC (Driver Certificate of Professional Competence). Designed to increase the participant's awareness of their responsibilities to create and maintain a safe working environment, it encompasses aspects of both on the road haulage jobs and work undertaken within a structured workplace (e.g. a depot or logistics centre).The course covers units relating to everything from fuel efficiency and health and safety, to policy and legislation and rules of the road. Practical modules include issues like manual handling, daily vehicle checks, fuel-efficient driving and gear box techniques, while classroom learning includes subjects like specific road markings, traffic accident procedures, driver fatigue and personal protective equipment. A full course outline can be obtained from the RHA Training Prospectus. Cost: Members of the RHA £69.00 +VAT; non-members: £84.00 + VAT. Dates: The course is scheduled for the following dates and sites: September 18th, Bradford, October 9th, Peterborough, October 18th, Livingston and October 19th, Antrim. Driver First Assist This one-day course (equivalent to seven hours DCPC) offers 'first assist' training for drivers, in the event of being first on the scene of a traffic accident. It covers the vital procedures required to take on the role of managing the site, and provides participants with the necessary skills and confidence to take charge in an emergency before help arrives. Actions taken in the first few minutes of a serious traffic accident can mean the difference between life and death, so this is a course any driver undertaking haulage jobs should consider. Modules include vital first response first-aid procedures as well as understanding the correct way to provide accurate information to emergency services, over the phone and at the scene. Once the course is successfully completed, participants will have the qualification of "DFA First Responder". Cost: Members of the RHA £1,195 + VAT for up to 12 people; non-members: £1,440.00 +VAT for up to 12 people. Dates: Open courses are held throughout the year at various sites around the UK. Please contact the RHA website for details. RHA Training: An Investment in your Drivers As well as being part of a compulsory commitment for compliancy, an investment in driver training is never a bad idea. Making sure your drivers have the skills and knowledge to carry out their haulage jobs in a safe, responsible and cost-effective manner is key to the bottom line of your business. For more information on these two courses and the full range offered by the RHA, you can download their course prospectus. Author Plate Norman Dulwich is a Correspondent for Haulage Exchange, the leading online trade network for the road transport industry. Connecting logistics professionals across the UK and Europe through their website, Haulage Exchange provides services for matching haulage jobs with available drivers. Over 4,500 transport exchange businesses are networked together through their website, trading jobs and capacity in a safe 'wholesale' environment.
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