The great Bubble Wrap scandal of 2015.

Part one.

In the beginning were the words, and the words were.................. Health & safety!

Dateline October 2014. London. BBC News 24.

“…………and the last one was found in the Rhubarb pot. Now…. Over to our business correspondent, Hugh Jeffersitt. Hugh……”

“Thank you Clive, well the Footsie rose by 10 points overnight on news that the European commission on health & safety were planning draconian measures to eradicate accidents throughout the European community. Shares in Anglo-Irish Bubble wrap rose 25% amid rumours that the EU commissioners were debating on whether to legislate that all harmful products should be double wrapped in Bubble wrap. The commission is due to report later this year.

In other news, the euro was down 10c against the pound, making the euro worth 24.75P, this is as a result of non-agreement between the member states on the 23^rd bailout package for Greece, The European central bank …………………………….”

Dateline December 2014. Brussels. BBC News.

“………………….and of the 14 caught, only three were found to be wearing ladies tights. Now over to our Political correspondent in Brussels, Ian Afficts,………………. Ian”

“Thank you Mike, well breaking news here as the European commission on Health & Safety report is announced. It is believed that at least 3 states, including Germany, France and Italy used their veto to prevent the bill from reaching the statute books, but further meetings will take place over the Christmas holidays, to try and get this new H&S directive before the full commission in the New Year. The stumbling block is believed to be the insistence that all items deemed to be harmful to humans should be double wrapped in bubble wrap. Just what constitutes a harmful item is open to differing interpretations throughout the various EU states. For instance, many believe that Camembert is dangerous to humans in its uneaten state, while the French insist that all Italian drivers are a risk to humans. The Germans meanwhile are concerned about the cost implications for the bailout states, Greece, Spain, Portugal, Ireland, and Cyprus and also for the new states joining the EU on January 1^st, Ukraine, Turkey, Georgia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan.

 There would appear to be a long way to go before agreement is reached here in Brussels, and there will be much burning of the midnight oil. Ian Afficts, BBC News, Brussels.”

Dateline January 2015 London. BBC News

“Our top stories tonight. Agreement has finally been reached in Brussels over the new Health & safety Directive. The Queen visits Red Square on the latest round of her visit to Russia, and later, a hare, an adjustable spanner, and three beauty queens, what do they have in common?

But first our main story. EU leaders have ratified the new Health & Safety Directive EU 2015./ 01 /04 due to come into force on the 1^st of April.  After weeks of negotiation, agreement was reached in the early hours of this morning, speaking from Brussels, EU President Herman Van Rumpoy said “Finally we can wave good bye to all accidents within Europe. We will make sure that everybody is wrapped in a personal safety zone to ensure the progression of the master…………………….I mean European population”

Prime Minister Ed Milliband insisted that there must be protection for companies such as Anglo-Irish Bubble wrap, and the Stobart bubble wrap corporation. In a statement, he said “British manufacturers are world leaders in Bubble wrap technology, it is vital that we, the British Government do what is necessary to protect British jobs for our entire EU and immigrant workforce.” Meanwhile Nigel Farage, UKIP leader said “This is yet more utter madness from the grey suited merchant bankers in Brussels. How much longer must the British Public stand by and watch their national identity be destroyed by weak and feeble politicians from the Labour party? Surely now, it must be time for the long awaited Referendum promised by successive governments over the last 10 years”

The leader of the opposition, Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg said “This is another great step forward for the European dream”

No spokesman could be found for the Conservative Party, as his oyster card had run out, and he couldn’t afford the bus fare, however London Mayor Boris Johnson described the laws as yet more “mamby pamby mothering from Brussels, and stated there was no way he would wrap his wiff Waff bats in bubble wrap” Later, as he rode his bike away, he fell under a passing bus. His condition is said to be serious, but would have been much better had he been wearing a bubble wrap suit.

Janet & John do the DCPC

Janet and John go back to school.

This is Janet, say hello Janet. 

This is John, say hello john.

 

John is a driver, can you drive? John can.

This is Johns’ vehicle, john has a big one.

 

Janet is a driver too, this is Janet’s vehicle, see Janet drive.

 

Janet’s vehicle is very small; Janet says she prefers big ones.

John works for Mr Smith.

Mr Smith is a transport Manager.

Mr Smith tells john that this week he must learn his DCPC.

 Do you know what a DCPC is? John doesn’t.

Janet works for Acme Training Solutions Ltd.

Janet is a teacher, Janet teaches the DCPC.

See Janet teach the DCPC.

Janet shows John some driving Videos, John likes a good film, but these are not good films.

 John is Bored.

Janet uses PowerPoint to send John to sleep.

Janet shouts at John to wake up.

Janet tells john lots of things, some of which are right.

Janet tells John that after 6 hours he must take 30 minutes break.

John asks Janet “are you sure?”

Janet tells john that he will be fined for not winding his trailer legs up fully.

“Are you sure?” asks John.

Janet tells John to shut up, pay attention and of course she is sure, she has read a book on it.

John thinks that this will be a long week.

One week later.

John is in the yard near his lorry. John is wearing a shiny new plastic badge. Do you have a shiny new plastic badge? John does.

John is talking to his friend Dick. Dick is a driver too.

“Hello Dick” says John.

“Hello John” says Dick.

“That’s a nice shiny new plastic badge you are wearing, where did you get it from?” asks Dick.

“Janet gave it to me” Says John. “I was a good boy and listened to everything she told me”

“Janet told me all kinds of things about drivers hours, how to avoid police fines, how to put a bandage onto someone’s arm, how to lift an empty box,how to wear my hi viz jacket, what kind of food to eat so that I don’t get clogged arteries, and how to get a good night’s sleep when I get home”

John tells Dick that if he sits in a classroom for a week with Janet, she will give him one.

Dick thinks he would like to give Janet one.

John thinks he would like to give Dick one.

Mr Smith comes over to Dick and tells him

“Sorry Dick, even though you have worked for me for 20 years, and never had an accident, until you get a shiny new plastic card, you will have to leave”

Dick is very sad. See Dick cry, cry Dick cry.

Mr Smith hands the keys to a brand new motor to John.

“Here you are John, even though you have only been driving for 2 years, because you have a shiny plastic card, you can drive the firms top truck. There is a nice new double decker curtain sider loaded ready to go out, off you go John”

Can you get a 16’ trailer under a 13’9" bridge?

John can’t!

Drivers DCPC, an arguement against!

, I make no secret of the fact that I am anti DCPC in its current form. Not theoretically the initial training, which should in the ideal world, benefit new drivers entering the industry, however, the advantages gained by taking an initial DCPC course are more than wiped out by the Insurance industry insisting on 2 years’ experience, and over 25 years of age to insure anyone to drive a truck. What is the point of allowing young people to pay £2000 to train as C+E drivers at 18, if they have to wait 7 years to get a job?

As for the DCPC for experienced drivers, what is the one thing that is required of a driver? To get goods from A to B safely and securely. The drivers’ main skill is in driving, and yet there is no requirement for any practical assessment or training. You could be the worst driver in the country, who by good luck has managed to avoid any serious accidents, or getting caught by the police, so sitting in a classroom learning about RTD, which no one is bothering to police, or Manual handling, is not going to improve your driving or make the roads safer. An annual driving assessment with a qualified Assessor or instructor would at least identify you as a problem driver, and can ensure that any training you need is tailored to help you improve.

I am a moderator on a Truck drivers forum where we encourage drivers to keep us up to date with their experiences of DCPC courses, good or bad. The vast majority of comments are negative with drivers complaining about the cost, up to £100 for 7 hours, the subjects being offered, e.g. 7 hours on how to operate curtainsider trailers, the quality of trainers, non LGV drivers or instructors giving out incorrect information, and now we see a group of con men arranging DCPC courses, getting payment up front, then disappearing with the cash. The JAUPT is a government body who are supposed to monitor the training, but they do monitor the course content, so any incorrect information being given out by bad trainers is not being picked up.

There are already whispers about brown envelopes being passed in exchange for a Valid DQC, and between now and September 2014 these are likely to increase. I am not against continuation training for drivers, far from it, I encourage all drivers to try and improve their skills. I have signed up to my first 7 hour session next month. It is a course offered by a local authority with the aim of improving road safety by teaching LGV drivers about cyclist awareness, and they also run a similar course for cyclists to make them aware of LGV’s, a worthwhile course, that is offered free, except for the upload fee. If more organisations were to do something similar, then more drivers may take it up.

 I hear that, once again certain companies are advertising jobs in Eastern Europe before they advertise them in the UK. How much of an incentive is that to UK drivers to make an effort with the DCPC? Maybe we should push for Ukraine or Turkey to join the EU, or maybe even China, that would solve our driver shortages, until the next time.

Example:-

Driver A/ A Professional, Drives safely, keeps to legislation and obeys the law, learns daily and listens to others to improve his abilities, respects his employer. He/She takes on the 35 hours training with an objective to learn even more, so explores the market of Training Providers to ensure he gets the best.

Driver B/ The Cowboy Driver, could not care less attitude, breaks every rule in the book to make more money, safety comes second to profit. He/She explores the market of Training Providers to find the cheapest, learns nothing and falls asleep for seven hours in the classroom.

Both Drivers will be recognised as equal by JAUPT as they have both have done 35 hours Training and received their DQC Card.

How is this method of implementing the Driver CPC ever going to improve or benefit the Industry or our profession?

Below is the main points of corespondence between myself and the DSA, with the stock answers from the DSA, and my replys in RED.

Thank you for your email  about driver certificate of professional competence (CPC).

This is a European Union (EU) Directive which means that it is being implemented across all EU Countries.  I must stress that as this is European legislation, the United Kingdom does not have the choice to opt out of implementing it.  If we did so, sanctions would be levied against us and it would affect our competitiveness in Europe.

Is it not true, that each member state, although they have to comply, can actually specify how training is to be delivered and to who has to undertake the training? For example, the Dutch have given an exemption to Drivers who were born before 1955, as they believe that they will already have sufficient training and experience.

The driver CPC is intended to improve road safety and reduce casualties through better qualified drivers.  Drivers will develop defensive driving techniques which the industry is anticipating will make significant savings in fuel consumption.

How will a driver develop defensive driving techniques when all he/she has to do is attend a course. It is not even a requirement for the driver to remain awake during the lessons! There is no pass or fail, so there is no onus on the driver to pay attention to anything said. By just attending the driver has the DCPC.

It should also bring an improved professional and positive image to these industries, encouraging younger people to consider driving as a career.  Both the Goods Vehicle and Public Transport sectors have informed us that there is a great shortage of drivers at present.

Who is going to pay for the increased costs of achieving a C+E licence for young people? In the current economic climate, it is difficult enough for a young family to earn sufficient to live, how are they going to find the extra expense required to complete, not only the theory test, and the practical test, but also the DCPC? Anyone who knows this business, will know that jobs are almost impossible to get without experience. Who is going to invest a such a substantial amount of the family’s savings, on the off chance that they will get a job? The DCPC will not make any difference to this situation, new drivers will always be at the bottom of the pecking order for jobs.

A survey of the industry has shown that the majority of professional drivers get very little refresher training throughout their careers, especially those that work for small firms.  The new legislation ensures that all drivers will take part in approved training courses.

I don’t know who carried out this survey, or who they asked, but I can assure you that there is an awful lot of training being carried out within the industry. I personally conduct training on behalf of agencies for DHL, mainly updating the H&S issues, and carrying out a practical driver assessment on an annual basis. This ensures that training is tailored to meet the needs of the individual driver, and companies gain by being able to fit training to the needs of their business. Most companies that wish to compete in the business are required under existing UK H&S laws to provide sufficient training to ensure that their workforce is competent to perform the tasks asked of them. Any employer who fails to provide this, should be legislated against under the H&S laws.

How much refresher training will be carried out on a driver who is perfectly entitled to fall asleep during the course?

What formal training qualifications are required to train the DCPC? As an FTA accredited assessor, a DSA RLGV instructor, as well as having various other training and instructional qualifications, why am I still required to attend a training course led by someone who may never even have driven a truck?

Much of the feedback from drivers who have completed parts of the DCPC is that the standard of training and more specifically trainers, is appalling. The amount of incorrect information that is being given out is quite frankly , frightening. I understand that courses are checked by the JAUPT and DSA, but is the actual content checked for accuracy? Is the individual trainer checked for competence?

I should explain that it is not necessary to attend periodic training all in one go.  Courses can be as short as 7 hours and you have five years to complete the full 35 hours required.

I assure you that the directive applies to drivers in all European member states and also to drivers from other countries who are working in the EU.  British drivers will not be disadvantaged in any way.  On the contrary, they will now have more opportunities to work in the EU.

It may well be so, but as stated above, some member states use their own interpretation of the laws to allow certain categories of driver exemptions. The UK does not, therefore  UK drivers are disadvantaged.

Now that the legislation has been implemented all professional drivers must comply with it. If you do not have driver CPC, you will not be able to drive for a living in the European Union.  I cannot advise on payment for training courses.  This is a matter between you and your employer.

So the EU have the power to remove employment from any member of the population by simply introducing a new law without any consultation. What next? Will Doctors have to take a first aid course if they want to keep their licence for open heart surgery? I believe this to be an infringement of my right to work, the UK/EU should have implemented this for new drivers only, as when the HGV licences first appeared, anyone currently driving an HGV was given grandfather rights, and did not have to take a new test.

Anyone who drives professionally as a bus, coach or lorry driver will require Driver CPC.  The number of hours work undertaken is not taken into account, therefore part time drivers of these vehicles will be treated in the same way as full time drivers.

Anyone of the many part time drivers who fulfil a vital role of covering busy times, school bus runs, weekend work etc., will be required to take this training. How many of these will think it is not worth the cost? Many I think

I appreciate your comments about the financial cost of CPC. 

As the main beneficiaries of the DCPC training are likely to be the employers, through reduced fuel and damage bills, surely it should follow that the employers should bear the cost of training?

Many companies already invest in training for their staff and Driver CPC effectively ensures that the whole of the industry adopts this good practice.  However it is the responsibility of the driver to ensure that they hold Driver CPC & complete their periodic training, which includes meeting any training costs.

Much of the company training already being carried out, is far superior to the courses offered for the DCPC, and yet it cannot be counted towards the drivers CPC. surely Practical driving assessments carried out during the day to day job would be a far better system of offering refresher training, rather than sit in a classroom listening to someone who is talking rubbish.

There may be public funding available for vocational driver training but requests will compete with other claims on those funds.  Unfortunately we do not have any control over this.  I suggest that you contact either The Department for Work and Pensions or the nearest local Job Centre direct who may be able to assist you further in this matter.

I am sorry that you feel that driver CPC is unnecessary; however I hope I have clarified the issue and explained that this is not the case.

In my original email, I stated that I was in favour of refresher training if it was appropriate, I never stated that I considered it to be unnecessary. Nothing that you have said has convinced me that the DCPC in its current form is of use or benefit to anyone except the bank accounts of the training organisations, and the various government bodies that will gain revenue from the scheme, It certainly does not benefit either the road users or the professional drivers.

Four Yorkshire truckers

Four Yorkshire truckers!

With apologies to Monty Python!
Imagine the scene, a truck stop somewhere in the north of England. It is a warm summers evening and four road weary, “old timers” are sitting around a table outside, quaffing the odd beer and swapping trucking stories.
Obediah: “well that were a right ot’en today wern’t it?”
Gessiah:” aye, yer can say that again, i said yer can say that again”
Jerimiah: “thank the lord we got that new fangled air con in us trucks now”
Alf: (sadly) “ I ain’t got air con in my old crate”
O: “I remember when they were nowt like that in any truck”
G: “aye, no air con, and no heating, I said no heating”
J: aye, we used to sweat our nuts off in’t summer, and freeze em off in’t winter”
A: “no night heater too, we used to af to rub Horse liniment on to keep warm at night”
O:” Used to wake up in’t morning with 3 inches of ice on’t inside o’ windscreen”
G: “Aye, used to freeze your bum to your bunk, i say bum to bunk”
J: “Sleeper cab?”
G:”aye I said aye”
J:” you were lucky, we used to sleep on a plank between seats”
O: “ our plank had rusty nails through it”
A: “Luxury! We used to dream of having a plank wi’ rusty nails in”
J:” well when i say a plank, it were two pencils tied together with barbed wire, but it were a plank to us!”
G:”we were evicted from our plank!”
Mutters of concern......
G: “course in them days we used to drive 18 hours aday wi’out a break, I said 18 ours!”
J:” and more, when we were up in Norway, we used to run all night, and in winter that were six months!”
O: “Course we ad it tough. On’t Moscow route it were minus 50 at night and we used to wrap oursen’ in ice blocks to keep warm, we ad to drive for six weeks with just one day off, and lick truck clean with us tongues!”
A:”Right.....when we were down t’ middle east, it were 200 degrees in shade. We used to drive for 27 weeks with just 2 minutes rest every 5 days to stretch our legs, and natives would catch us, strip us, stake us out in the midday sun, smear honey all over us, and leave us for the ants to eat until we were dead!”
G:” But you try and tell the young people today that... and they won't believe ya'.
ALL:” nope, nope!”