Your on-site LGV Driver Assessor could be employed in a full-time role or sub-contracted for the needs of the business. Whichever is best suited, they can add significant value to your transport and logistics operation.
RTITB Academy Manager, Simon Docherty, gives his insight into the top six benefits of having a trained, professional LGV Driver Assessor.
1. Supporting the recruitment process
Most employers will conduct a pre-employment driving assessment to ensure potential employees’ skills are up to standard. As part of this process, Driver Assessors will create a findings report by checking practical skill, attitude, behaviour and compliance of candidates. In their role they will also conduct licence checks and administration to ensure the driver is legally able to take a vehicle onto a highway, freeing up transport management time. These essential skills will help an organisation to avoid disruption, particularly during peak recruitment times, such as Christmas. In addition, rather than using an Instructor, an Assessor can conduct assessments rather than the business putting pressure on the training team. The Assessor should be the first contact a candidate has with the organisation, so it’s important that they are correctly trained with outstanding communication skills and exceptional driving standards.
2. Maintaining driving standards
Each year, Assessors will evaluate the current skills of the organisations drivers. By conducting annual driving assessments the assessor can identify good practice or areas of improvement. The role also covers assessing job functions such as company delivery paperwork, loading and unloading or specific vehicle characteristics. It is important to note that Assessor’s should not provide remedial instruction, initial instruction or advise on employment opportunities – this is the LGV Instructors role.
3. Provide links between drivers and management
Assessors may provide information for compliance or help to plan training schemes. When dealing with colleagues, they must possess the requisite knowledge, confidence and enthusiasm.
4. Assisting with incident management
Assessors must be trained to recognise best practice as well as reinforcing safe driving – this can prove invaluable for incident management. Following an incident, the Assessor can evaluate drivers who may be exposed to similar risk criteria and through this analysis, accident causes can be identified and resolved. Whilst dealing with the evaluation, an Assessor may also mentor drivers who have been involved in an incident by offering support and helping to build confidence.
5. Assessing training effectiveness
Assessors will also conduct ongoing assessments after a driver has been trained to check correct techniques have been taught, are being used and are working towards reducing risks. Whilst organisations are increasingly under pressure to prove return on investment of training programmes, an Assessor can evaluate the benefits of the training delivered and collate useful written reports for sharing with the management team.
6. Providing career progression
As you can see, an LGV Driving Assessor provides many benefits to your organisation, giving you the opportunity to reward exceptional drivers with potential career progression. Given the chance to upskill, drivers can benefit from professional development, whilst employers experience greater staff retention. Having an Assessor as part of your organisation proves to be highly effective and can be seen as a mentor figure to colleagues.
To find out more information about LGV Driving Assessor courses to meet your business needs, contact the RTITB Academy on +44 (0) 1952 520214 or visit www.rtitb.co.uk/academy.