New FTA courses to enhance van operators safety and efficiency

Story: COLIN DAWSON

The FTA van operator courses cover a broad range of subjects including vehicle maintenance systems, administration, driver licensing, securing of loads, behaviour and competence

Van operators who want to ensure they are operating legally, safely and efficiently can benefit from two new training courses on offer from the The Freight Transport Association.

One is for individuals managing or supervising freight van fleets; the FTA course us for those managing or supervising passenger van fleets. Both are aimed at raising standards across van operations.

The courses – the Certificate of Excellence for Van Operators and the Certificate of Excellence for Passenger Van Operators – are based on the guidelines contained in the FTA’s Van Excellence Code.

This code was written with advice and support from many of the UK’s best van fleets operators and represents an ideal basis for the safe and legal operation of vans and light commercial vehicles.

The courses cover areas such as vehicle maintenance systems, vehicle administration, driver licensing, securing of loads, speed limits/limiters, towing equipment and driver identification, behaviour and competence.

All company van operators taking part will undertake an assessment at the end of the course, and on successful completion will be issued with an FTA Certificate of Excellence, valid for a period of three years.

The FTA’s Van Excellence scheme was launched in 2010 to promote high standards of van operation and driving by accrediting operators against an industry code of good practice.

Mark Cartwright, FTA’s Head of Vans and LCVs, told Business Vans: “Any organisation operating vehicles as part of its business activity must ensure the safety of drivers and the public, as failure to do so can have serious consequences. These courses will provide business van operators with a wealth of best-practice guidance for operating safely, legally and efficiently and are designed to help raise the standards of business van management across operations.”

Further information on the Certificate of Excellence in Van Operations and the Van Excellence scheme can be found at www.vanexcellence.co.uk.