• by Jennifer Hal Transfrigorcute UK, the body representing the
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temperature controlled sector, is set to follow its Dutch counterpart by offering its members specialist reefer driver training in a bid to boost its image.
At a conference last week marking the groups 21st anniversary, Jacqueline de Auk, President of Transfrigoroute International, reported on the situation in the Netherlands.
She explained that, unlike their UK counterparts, Dutch reefer drivers have to take formal training. As a result, Dutch truckers have earned an excellent reputation.
Rob Swindells, former president of Transfrigoroute UK and commercial director of Langdon Industries, likens truckers to airline pilots: "Both are mobile servants between fixed points and working tight schedule, but if trut are late they are told to g the back of the queue. would never happen to a pi landing time would be ged as they are treated 'ar greater respect." znsfrigoroute is looking at prospect of offering its
members "cold chain morJular training" in a similar way to the current ADR requirements.
It hopes this will encourage people to obtain HGV licences and reverse the current decline in applicants in the face of a predicted UK shortage of 80,000 drivers.
De Riik also warned that the Working Time Directive will have an enormous impact on the temperature-controlled sector. She says a 48-hour week will force operators to double-man trucks just to get loads delivered on time.
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