Shropshire driver training company and housing trust collaborate
A Shropshire driver training company and The Wrekin Housing Trust have been praised for their collaborative “top gear” approach in developing and delivering a tailor made trailer towing course.
TTC Automotive deliver a broad range of corporate driver training from courses for company car drivers to HGV professionals including mandatory driver CPC training for PCV and LGV drivers operating vehicles over 3.5 tonnes.
The firm based in Hadley Park, Telford is part of the TTC Group, praised for its nationwide driver education courses aimed at reducing the accident toll on the nation’s roads.
The Trust have previously used TTC to deliver on the road driver training to some its younger workers, before handing over the keys to a company vehicle. When the Trust bought a trailer for use on one of its external maintenance contracts, TTC Automotive was “an ideal partner” to work with in putting together a bespoke training course to meet the needs of the business and the individuals, said a spokesman.
Building on the success of an earlier national award for its innovative design and delivery of health and safety training, the Trust wanted to develop a bespoke training course to ensure that Trust employees knew all safety aspects of using a trailer on the road, including pre-use checks, loading and unloading, hitching the trailer to the towing vehicle and also the specific requirements in the Highway Code for vehicle towing.
Tim Munro, the Trust’s Health and Safety Manager, said that even though many people had years of driving experience it did not mean they had the necessary skills to safely tow a trailer.
People passing their driving test nowadays do not have automatic approval to tow a trailer and the skill was not “second nature” to most drivers.
“We have all seen trailers and caravans involved in accidents, even overturned at the side of the road, in many cases because the driver of the vehicle did not have some of this basic skill and knowledge,” said Mr Munro.
Mr Munro said he could not find a driving course to suit their specific needs so contacted TTC Automotive to work with them to develop and deliver the course to meet the needs of The Wrekin Housing Trust.
“We are really pleased with the result,” he added.
TTC Automotive director Simon Baugh said: “It is a fine example of how companies are encouraged to train staff and then have difficulties finding the right courses. We have great working relationships with Wrekin Housing Trust which is a training led organisation.
“We always have positive feedback from our trainers and Wrekin staff which proves the courses have hit the mark. We find that businesses are requesting more tailored training specific to their needs which we are always happy to do.”
The Wrekin Housing Trust employees will use the trailer to deliver materials to a site and remove rubbish at the end of a job, to cut the time taken to complete works and help to get properties quickly ready for letting.
