As a bus driver for 18 years, Alfred Crofts prides himself on delivering relevant, engaging and convenient Driver CPC training to the PCV industry
On paper, the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (DCPC) sounds ideal: “A qualification for professional coach, bus and lorry drivers introduced across Europe with the aim of improving road safety and maintaining high standards of driving.”
However, in reality, it could be said that the scheme is fundamentally flawed, with the requisite periodic 35 hours of training every five years stirring up a lot of discontent among both drivers and operators.
This is down to a number of reasons, not least because drivers are able to repeat modules, some courses not being relevant to coach or bus drivers and because of some trainers’ lack of experience in the coach and bus world.
One man taking matters into his own hands is Alfred Crofts. As a bus driver for 18 years, he knows only too well the inconvenience and tediousness DCPC training can be.
Trainer types
Throughout his career Alfred has encountered three type of trainers, he says.
“The first are the ones who stand in front of the projector reading the slides out loud. There’s nothing creative about it. When there’s no energy coming from the trainer, you’re not going to get any from the drivers.
“The second are the professional training companies. They’ve got a very slick presentation, which looks excellent, but often when you ask the trainer a question, they don’t know the answer. Some of these trainers have never driven a coach or bus before, let alone been on one.
“Then there’s the third type – the good ones. You can tell they’ve done the job because you can exchange experiences and have the banter. It’s friendly, fun and engaging.”
Done differently
With some bad experiences in mind, Alfred decided to become a JAUPT-approved DCPC trainer and set up Headway Training earlier this year.
“I got some back pay and I thought ‘what can I do with this that is positive?’ I bought the necessary equipment, paid the relevant fees, got the courses and thought I’d give training a go.”
Based in Matlock, Derbyshire, Alfred’s aim is to offer coach and bus drivers and operators engaging and relevant DCPC training anytime, anywhere.
He says: “It’s not easy for operators to take drivers off the road to do training, so I make myself available 24/7.
“There are few people who will deliver the training on evenings and weekends and that is why Headway is different.”
Training can be held at the Eyam Mechanics Institute in the Derbyshire Dales or Alfred can travel to an operator’s premises.
He runs six different courses – with topics ranging from safeguarding children and customer care, to driver welfare and health and safety – with a view to expanding his repertoire in the future and welcomes any course suggestions.
Make it memorable
As Alfred has experienced first-hand how tedious a full day’s training can be, he works hard to ensure his courses are engaging.
“It’s the little things that make the training a bit different and gets people interested,” he says.
“How do you make talking about which foods are more calorific exciting? There are ways.
What I do is put cards numbered one-four at one end of the room and give drivers cards with different food groups on. They’ve then got one minute to run to the end and put the food cards onto the numbers in order of calories.
“You think they won’t do it, but they do. They get involved and it’s a laugh, so the information is more memorable.
“I also do role playing with them by giving them scenarios with different kinds of passengers and they really go for it.”
For Alfred, the trainer’s delivery also plays an important part.
He says: “Rather than standing at the front of the room reading from PowerPoint slides, I sit down with the drivers so that I am on their level and part of the discussion, which is how I feel it should be.”
Do it properly
Does Alfred think the DCPC is worthwhile?
“Personally, in its current form, I think it’s a waste of time. But if you have to do it you might as well do it properly,” he says.
“The fact that drivers are able to get their 35 hours of periodic training by doing the same course five times in one week is nuts.
“If DCPC training is going to be beneficial it shouldn’t be about getting your hours, it should be about learning. That is why I have set up Headway Training with the aim of doing things a bit differently and hopefully making the training worthwhile for drivers and operators.
“I don’t think the system has been properly thought through and has been devised, I suspect, by people that have had nothing to do with the transport industry.
“Training companies are audited by JAUPT, but essentially anyone with the money can become a trainer.
“I’m not saying I am better than other trainers, but I have been driving for 18 years. I’ve worked with passengers, I have seen how they react and I can write courses based on my experience.”
