D. G. S. A. Consultancy Ltd.

As Rode Training the company offers Training for prospective DGSAs where a company requires their own ‘Internal' post. The term DGSA means Dangerous Goods Safety Advisor and is a legal requirement for all companies involved in the transport, loading, unloading and packing of dangerous goods.

The DGSA qualification is for individuals who wish to act as a DGSA for their company. Advice can be given on the suitability of a candidate and the pitfalls of the training. Please do not believe anything that suggests that the exam is easy. The pass rate over the years has been as low as 25% but these days that has risen because of the quality of the candidate. In 2008 Rode Training are proud to admit to a 100% first time pass rate.

There are National exams held at a number of centres around the UK on four occasions each year. The exams are run by the awarding Body SQA and details of their examinations can be found on their web site with details on where the exams are to be held as they change at each exam. The dates of the exams also vary slightly each year but basically the exams are held on a Thursday in the months of March, June, September and December

 

A course is held leading up to each exam date usually on the previous Thursday and Friday followed by work at home over the weekend then the main push on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday leading up to the exam on the Thursday.

These days are not set in stone. Numbers for this course are low and so it is possible to adapt the days to suit any prospective candidate given sufficient notice.

To do the course the candidate must have a copy of the current ADR together with the current CDG Regulations which are available from the Stationary Office certain other suppliers or possibly from Rode Training. Please ask. The cost of the publications is in the region of £125.00.

It is the candidates responsibility to apply for the exam and to pay the fees direct to the SQA.

 

Persons employed by the participants referred to in Chapter 1.4, whose duties concern the carriage of dangerous goods, shall receive training in the requirements governing the carriage of such goods appropriate to their responsibilities and duties. Training requirements specific to security of dangerous goods in Chapter 1.10 shall also be addressed.

This training is not ADR training which is required by drivers moving dangerous goods that are considered ‘in scope' of the ADR regulations but the Training of persons other than the drivers holding a certificate involved in the carriage of dangerous goods by road

“Persons whose duties concern the carriage of dangerous goods by road shall have received training in the requirements governing the carriage of such goods appropriate to their responsibilities and duties according to Chapter 1.3. This requirement shall apply to individuals such as personnel who are employed by the road vehicle operator or the consignor, personnel who load or unload dangerous goods, personnel in freight forwarding or shipping agencies and drivers of vehicles other than drivers holding a certificate in accordance with 8.2.1, involved in the carriage of dangerous goods by road.”

The various roles referred to include *
* Warehouse personnel
* Packers
* Fillers
* Loaders and unloaders
* Consignors & Consignees.
* Operator/Carrier

Please note that it is a requirement that The training shall be effected before taking on responsibilities concerning the carriage of dangerous goods.

This is usually a bespoke Dangerous Goods Awareness courses for staff associated with the transport of dangerous goods in line with Chapters 1.3 and 1.4 of ADR. The course includes training on

General awareness training (to include the requirements of the provisions for the carriage of Dangerous Goods by road.)

Function Specific Training (to include the candidates' duties and responsibilities concerning the carriage of Dangerous Goods.)

Safety Training commensurate with the degree of risk or exposure arising from an incident including the handling of dangerous goods.

And can be delivered on client's premises and thus made relevant to the clients need

 

The future is digital...

Digital Tachographs are being fitted to all new vehicles. These new tachographs require smart-cards, which drivers and companies should be applying for now!

It is important that all staff are aware of the new technology. It is not just drivers who will have to use them, but fleet managers, fitters and anyone working in the transport office will need to know how the new tachograph works, how to store the information, and how to record information if the smart-card is lost or the tachograph breaks down.

Rode Training is one of the few companies who has a tutor (Mike) qualified to City & Guilds standard to train transport personnel in the use and management of the digital tachograph.

The introduction of these systems and the associated smart-cards are complex with new rules and penalties. They are far more than simply digital replacements for the existing tachographs. The EU has viewed the change over as an opportunity to expand the way tachographs are used and tightened the legislation that governs them.

Companies will need to be familiar with both traditional analogue and digital systems and how to integrate them to avoid falling foul of the new regulations. Drivers must be able to operate both types of tachograph as new vehicles come into use, and understand how to integrate the records from both.

Rode Training has designed a whole new suite of digital tachograph training courses to suit everyone's needs...

1. Digital Tachographs and The Driver

This is a half day course covering the basics of the new Technology giving ‘Hands on' training in a classroom environment.

2. Digital Tachographs and the Manager

This is a one day course covering the basics of the Driver knowledge and abilities together with an in depth look at the managers requirements and what has to be done to remain legal.

3. Digital Tachographs and the Driver Trainer.

This is a two day course covering all aspects of the legislation and giving considerable time to operating the technology. Assistance is given in the understanding of what is required and back up services and training aids are available to assist the company trainer.

Although on the surface the dearest option because of the cost of the course this is our recommendation for any company because it places an ‘Expert' in your company available on site for on-going training for the driver who may struggle to take in new concepts. It is also invaluable when a new driver starts and does not have the required digital skills because he can be trained immediately instead of sourcing a course at some point in the future.

All of these courses can be delivered on site or at our premises in Trowbridge however where ever the course is run the number of attendees is restricted to give adequate hands on experience.

Driver's Hours

This is a half day course which could complement the Driver Digital Tachograph Training.

The course explores all the Driver's hours regulations, together with working time directive requirements, includes analogue tachograph systems and looks at ways that the driver can fall foul of the regulations.

Together with the Digital Tachograph training, Record keeping and effective maintenance Rode Training have registered the course as four half day training modules that can be combined to suit the client to comply with the Driver CPC requirements.

As a follow up service Chartcheck offer Tachograph Analysis to ensure compliance with the regulations.

 

The Driver Certificate of Professional Competence has been introduced to the UK through EU Directive 2009/59. It is a new qualification that all lorry, coach and bus drivers will need if they wish to drive professionally for a living. It has been introduced to improve the skills and knowledge of professional drivers. The directive has targeted certain areas for development, which include:

Improving road safety

Recognising, underpinning and developing the knowledge and skills that are needed for a professional driver to undertake his / her duties.

Keeping drivers up to date with new legislation applicable to them (i.e. drivers' hours, digital tachographs etc)

Raising the profile and professionalism within the transport industry.

The Driver CPC should not be confused with the Transport Manager's qualification required for operator licencing .  The two are mutually exclusive.  The Transport Manager's qualification is still currently valid ‘for life' while the Driver's CPC requires periodic training equating to 35 hours in every five year period.  Thus a Transport Manager with a CPC who also holds an LGV licence, and wishes to keep it, will have to undertake the same 35 hours training as his / her drivers.

The Driver CPC is split into two areas, Initial and Periodic Training.

Initial Training came into effect for new PCV Drivers on 10 September 2008 and will affect new LGV Drivers from 10 September 2009. Thus any driver who passes his / her PCV / LGV licence after these dates will already hold a Driver CPC.

Rode Training is a member of the Driver CPC Consortium in order to deliver Driver CPC periodic training. We will NOT be offering Initial Training.

Periodic Training covers drivers who currently hold a PCV / LGV licence and takes effect five years after the inception date of the new regulations — 10 September 2013 and 10 September 2014 respectively. Existing drivers must have completed 35 hours training by these dates to retain their vocational driving entitlement. This can be undertaken in multiples of 7 hour blocks.

We will be offering courses of 35 hours over a five day week and a day release (7 hours) option either in our own right or through our fellow Consortium Members.  We will also be able to offer bespoke modules to meet specific client's needs.

Once drivers have attended an approved Driver CPC course, his / her details are recorded on the DSA database. As soon as 35 hours training have been completed the driver will receive his / her Driver CPC licence directly from DSA. It is a legal requirement that the driver must have the original driver CPC qualification available at all times when driving a vehicle covered by the regulations. Failure to produce the certificate at the roadside could result in a fine of up to £1,000.

Bespoke Courses

We recognise that some of our clients may require specialist training to be included within their drivers' periodic requalification. In many cases they will also employ suitably qualified personnel to deliver such training. It is our intention to work in partnership with our clients to deliver whatever training they require.

To this end we envisage that Rode Training would register the client's specialist training course and (if necessary) trainer with JAUPT (rather than the client having to register its own approval) and carry out all the administration functions for the course on behalf of the client if the Consortium do not have the resources to offer the required option. This training could then be dovetailed with Rode Training's ‘off the shelf' packages to complete the drivers' training within the five year period.

This will allow our clients to manage their drivers' training in the most cost effective manner.

The DSA (Driving Standards Agency) is responsible for the implementation of the Driver CPC within the UK, and the courses offered by Rode Training will be delivered in accordance with the syllabus and approval of the DSA.

The range of topics is still being developed and will be included on this site in the near future but in the meantime please feel free to talk to us about your requirements