“Food and Drink Businesses – What is your Driver CPC Training Missing?”, asks RTITB

According to RTITB, the UK’s largest Driver CPC Consortium, many lorry drivers in the food and drink retail and logistics sectors are missing out on appropriate, relevant Driver CPC Periodic training.

“As an employer, delivering generic Driver CPC modules from a training provider might tick a compliance box, but it falls short in terms of addressing the particular needs of the food and drink industry,” says Laura Nelson, Managing Director of RTITB, which has just launched a new Food and Drink logistics module for Driver CPC Periodic Training to help meet these challenges.

The new training module, available to members of the RTITB Master Driver CPC Consortium, has been developed to include a wide range of topics specific to food and drink sector drivers.

For example, topics focused on both chilled and frozen refrigeration equip drivers with an understanding of vehicles with trailer fridge units, temperature and food hygiene requirements, as well as the relevant PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) required when working in harsh environments.

Sector specific delivery methods, such as the use of skids and bear pits in drayman operations, or sack trucks for drinks operations, are also covered in the RTITB training material.

There are also safety focused topics included, such as manual handling, which is important when handling the non-uniform loads commonly found in drinks logistics. Plus, training around the security of high value loads, such as alcohol, is also included.

“LGV drivers in the food and drink sector are often required to interact with the general public, as well as onsite retail management teams and internal logistics contacts,” added Laura. “To support this, there are topics on Customer Service/Company Representation in our training library.”

Professional Driver Conduct is another option within the expansive range of Driver CPC Periodic Training topics available from RTITB. This can help food and drink employers to educate drivers in their legal, professional and social responsibilities, assisting their career development and ensuring they feel valued.

For even greater relevance to their operations, RTITB Master Driver CPC Consortium members also have the option to tailor existing training materials to their own values, culture, processes and practices.

“Rather than deliver the same training topics year in, year out, we encourage businesses to ask, ‘What is our training missing?’,” said Laura. “By aligning training with business needs, we have found that there can be great benefits for both drivers and employers.”

“With our new module, we hope that employers will be able to heighten safety in food and drinks logistics operations, while also experiencing a greater return on their investment in training,” Laura added.

The new Food and Drink Logistics module from RTITB includes topics on: Food Safety Regulations; Food Handling and Hygiene; Refrigeration – Chilled and Frozen; Multi-drop; Drinks Logistics; Drayman Operations; and Milk Tankers.

To find out more about Driver CPC Periodic Training from RTITB and how it can help ensure operations are carried out in line with your business needs, visit www.rtitb.co.uk