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Driver Shortages
A projected shortfall of up to 60,000 drivers could undermine the ability of Britain's businesses to move their goods around the country and into markets overseas.
There is a need to attract tens of thousands of new drivers into the nation's cabs and provide the necessary levels of training if a shortfall of qualified drivers is to be avoided.
TNT Express Services UK & Ireland began addressing the situation in February 2003 when it launched an innovative driver-training programme called Trailblazer.
The first intake of Trailblazer 'students' resulted in 83 loading bank operatives - individuals working at the company's nationwide network of depots placing parcels onto TNT vehicles - progressing onto collection and delivery driving duties in LGVs.
To date, TNT estimates it has successfully trained up to 150 new drivers under the programme, with each 'student' gaining a National Vocational Qualification.
TNT linked up with West Midlands-based, Kingswinford Industrial Training Services (KITS), and acquired funding worth up to £1200 per trainee via the Learning Skills Council.
The holistic training 'package' is specially tailored to the needs of TNT, with the obvious emphasis on driving ability, but achieved in tandem with interpersonal skills and a thorough appreciation of the need to deliver excellent customer service.
Trailblazer enables TNT to meet its future driving needs through succession planning. The programme can produce new LGV drivers and also enhance the skills of existing drivers. It acts as a massive motivation to the individual
Three days of intense theory work culminating with the Driving Standards Agency theory test is followed by a five-day practical driving course and LGV test - under the tuition of KITS.
The third and final element assesses the competence of the new LGV licence-holder against the National Standards Framework where the onus is on the individuals to collect evidence to prove they are conversant with routine operations such as vehicle checks and competent in the use of tachographs ensuring they adhere to driver working hours. Successful completion of this phase results in an NVQ Level 2 in Driving Goods Vehicles.
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