Capital Equipment News November 2015

COMMENT

The challenges OF DRIVER TRAINING

T ruck driving or driving of any form of construction or materials handling equipment has a certain stigma at- tached to it and is regarded as a somewhat lowly job in most countries. However, the responsibilities the average driver faces on a daily basis, far exceed those of a busi- ness executive. The driver’s smallest mis- take could claim lives. So, the professional driver should be treated in the same way as middle management in industry and the pay scales should be commensurate with that responsibility. Performance bonuses should be based on fuel economy and presentation rather than the ability to stay awake for the longest periods of time. In order to achieve these levels of competence, more attention should be paid to training. Driver training is not something to be included only when new drivers are required. It should be part of the standard operation of every transport company so that long term employ- ees get regular performance checks. This is becoming increasingly important as technol- ogy changes and torque outputs demand a different driving style for the best results in

efficiency and fuel economy. When analysing the documented performance of drivers on a before and after basis the cost of the exercise is more than recouped by the reduction in op- erating costs. Interestingly, it is not only some transport op- erators that need to be aware of the benefits of driver training. The vehicle and transmis- sion manufacturers themselves constantly advocate the advantages of specific driving techniques for their products. But, as far as I am aware, only the major European man- ufacturers employ dedicated driver trainers. While some truck/equipment dealers may feel confident in the ability of truck sales- men to provide on-the-job instruction at the time of vehicle delivery, it’s my opinion that most salesmen are simply not much good themselves behind the wheel. Perhaps one of the criteria when employing salesmen is for them to have a heavy duty licence or, if not, well on the way to acquiring one. After all, most car salesmen are able to drive the vehicles they sell.

all aspects of the industry depends on compa- nies recognising the degrees of expertise re- quired and providing the right levels of training to achieve the desired results. It’s only when this expertise is recognised, along with per- sonal skills that we can expect the public to recognise driving as a profession and attract the right calibre of person. Making the job of being a professional transport driver more attractive will no doubt solve the recruitment shortage. Many of the larger truck manufacturers have invested in dedicated training facilities and personnel to provide driver training pro- grammes for their clients. Going one step further, these programmes now entail training the trainers who will ultimately be qualified to go into the field and pass on their expertise to current and aspiring drivers. We can only hope that the age of true professional drivers is not too far away so operators can enjoy the eco- nomic benefits of improved fuel consumption and minimal damage to their vehicles.

Pierre Sanson, Editor

The future of truck driving as a profession in

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