Fleet Driver Training

1 Stop Instruction is one of the very few training schools, in the UK, qualified to provide expert tuition in ALL vehicle categories, from the very small scooter/moped, to the much coveted Class 1 LGV license.

Holding such qualifications, matched with our vast experience as professional trainers, also places us in the very best position to assist companies with their Fleet driver training requirements.

Fleet training is a relatively new concept for UK businesses, but the absence of such training can have dire consequences for the business and it's owners.

Corporate Manslaughter Act

The background to the need for Fleet driver training revolves around the Corporate Manslaughter Act, which was passed in 2007 after 10 years of vigorous campaigning by road safety groups to make it easier to tackle companies, when the failures of senior management lead to a death. This could be viewed as an extension to the existing "duty of care legislation", but extending the responsibility for a breach of such "duty of care" from the driver of the vehicle, in such incident, to the business itself and onward to the actual owners of such business.

To add more weight to the need for such training, we only have to look at the first business convicted under the Act, at Winchester Crown Court in 2011, which received a fine of £385,000.

Further evidence for the need for businesses to address Fleet Driver training, is that many experts have concluded that 1 in 3 road traffic fatalities involve an individual driving for work.

But, aside from the very real need to protect itself from falling foul of the Corporate Manslaughter Act, businesses in the UK should welcome Fleet driver training as a valuable business tool which could result in significant financial savings to the business through better economical driving, less sick days, and less accidents.

We can tailor our training and development programmes to each businesses requirement covering, but not limited to, the following:

• License/Entitlement checks
• New driver assessments (pre/post employment)
• Existing driver development and assessments
• Specified risk assessment as required
• Eco-friendly driver training
• Accident prevention and management courses
• Refresher training on Highway Code issues

All of our training courses are "needs based", ensuring that your business, and drivers, gain maximum benefit aimed at providing real financial savings for the business and a better work environment for the staff.

Fleet Driver Training Questions & Answers

Does the Corporate Manslaughter Act affect my business?
If you have drivers that, as part of their job, drive for you, then the answer is almost certainly YES!. In fact, it could be argued that even if someone is driving their own vehicle, or a vehicle under a "sub-contract" arrangement, the business could be held liable for the actions of that driver.

What vehicles are covered by this legislation?
In view of the legislation not specifying any particular vehicle categories, it must be assumed that ALL vehicle categories are covered. This can extend from the small business that delivers fast food, with a small fleet of scooters, to the largest vehicles delivering the largest items, and everything in-between!

But I always check my driver's licenses when they work for me?
Sadly, many businesses assume this is adequate when it clearly is not. The driving license entitlements have changed constantly since 1997, and most people don't actually know how to properly check driver entitlements. On a recent exercise with a large company we discovered that just fewer than 40% of their drivers were driving vehicles they were not entitled to! Plus, businesses often change vehicles without re-checking their driver's licenses, leading to more problems in the future.

Ok, but what about the existing drivers?
Many businesses retain us to asses the suitability of new and existing drivers. With new drivers, typically, we carry out an assessment drive and report the findings back to management for a decision to be made. This can be viewed as an excellent preventative measure, before any relevant incidents occur.

For existing drivers, we carry out an assessment drive coupled with coaching, where required, to develop that driving skill to minimise risk to any third party which, as a by product, often leads to a less stressed driver, with reduced risk, using less fuel, and thus saving the business real money!

Are your trainers all properly qualified?
A question, which is often asked, rightly so, but always answered with a resounding YES! Our training school is registered with the Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), and we always ensure that all of our trainers hold the relevant qualification to provide such training.

We are rightly proud of being one of the very few training schools in the UK qualified to teach any vehicle category that is used on a public highway. So, if you want your small fleet of scooter riders assessed and developed, or your large number of van drivers, bus drivers or lorry drivers assessed and developed, we are the company for you!

How often does my business have to do these assesments?
Once again, the legislation makes no recommendations as to specific timeframes. We would suggest that, as an absolute minimum, yearly assesments are carried out for existing drivers and, as and when required for new drivers. Specific training for drivers, including "type training", where drivers are trained on new types of vehicles, can be arranged on request.

All sounds good, what next?
Since all Fleet training is designed specifically for each businesses needs, we would ask you to contact our offices to make an early appointment to discuss your specific needs. We are confident that you will benefit from the meeting, which is of course without cost or obligation, and the meeting may make a huge difference on the future of the business.