Joint training scheme set up
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A NATIONAL network for training within the road haulage industry has been established and includes the technical backing of the Road Transport Industry Training Board, the expertise and facilities of the Group Training Associations and co-ordination, and the communication and promotional activities of the Road Haulage Association.
Announcing the new scheme Victor Clements, chairman, of the RHA Education and Training Committee, said that the main reasons for setting out the arrangement are: • A clear need for an increase in the level of management training, with particular emphasis on the Certificate of Professional Competence; • The GTAs' continuing need to develop their training facilities — with over 2,000 RHA members, their joint potential is considerable.
• The RHA has the means to promote and publicise; the GTAs have the expertise to carry out the training, and it has been agreed that the RHA will not in future run its own independent courses, but base them on the GTAs'. The senior management residential course at Ashridge will, however, continue; • Opportunities to develop and use the considerable range of material available from the RTITB; • A unified and co-ordinated road haulage training network.
Victor Clements said that the RHA has worked with the GTAs and the RTITB to achieve a number of changes. It was the RHA who persuaded the Minister to place TOPS driver training with the GTAs and it has continually made strong representations about the poaching of drivers.
"The RHA is supporting the moves to achieve financial stability of the GTAs so that they can concentrate on their vital training role but it will not be dictating on how the courses should be ran.
"The Association will also continue its discussions with Government about such matters as short-term courses and careers for young people, all of which will be based on the GTAs activities," said a spokesman.
It is understood that substantial progress has already been made in developing joint co-operation between the GTAs and the further education colleges in connection with the associated knowledges section of the Young Driver Scheme.
Some 50 GTAs have indicated serious interest in par ticipating in the new scheme and so far 41 have formally done so.
The GTA Group chairmen have suggested a fee of £100 to be payable on joining which will be the first year fee. This is to cover the cost of supporting the courses, as well as compensating the RHA for the loss of income from courses which it had previously run and which would now be covered by the GTAs.