Specialist Driver CPC Training for Bus and Coach Drivers

Dulson Training launches bespoke training programme to meet
the needs of coach and haulage operators across the country
A new bespoke bus, coach and HGV driver training programme has been launched
to meet the specific needs of coach and haulage operators across the country.
The programme is the brainchild of driver training specialist Dulson Training and the
pilot project has seen the company’s trainers spend time at Shropshire-based
Lakeside Coaches to develop a course structured to meet the leading coach
operator’s needs.
The new service centres on Driver CPC, a legal obligation which requires bus, coach
and HGV drivers to complete 35 hours training over a five-year period, and the
success of the pilot project has now seen Dulson Training roll out the programme to
other operators who are already recognising the benefits.
Dulson Training has centres in Shrewsbury, Telford, Ludlow and Wrexham and
between Telford and Gailey. Lakeside Coaches has bases in Ellesmere,
Shrewsbury, Wem and Malpas.
Steve Dulson, of Dulson Training, said: “We are now providing specifically-built
bespoke driver training for coach and haulage operators. It is the first time we have
done it and there is nothing out there like it.
“The training covers in-depth customer service, equality, diversity, mobility, mental
health and safeguarding - a full day’s training specifically designed to assist drivers
in the industry. It is a hand-built course working with Lakeside Coaches to make
sure, as the training provider, that the course is built correctly, with the correct
delivery, but also looking at it from the large coach operator’s perspective.
“It takes into account all their needs and the most valuable use of their drivers’ time
in undertaking this training. The course is registered for Driver CPC hours which all
professional drivers, bus and lorry, must undertake.
“Instead of being a generic off-the-shelf course the new module is designed to be a
really useful training tool for drivers. It gains them their hours of Driver CPC but it’s
not just a case of sit and watch - it’s something that really does improve the service
of the bus operator.
“It’s a new service we can offer to other operators, both coach and lorry, which
meets their specific needs and addresses specific difficulties within their business.
Bespoke three and a half or seven hour courses designed with them to get the most
out of the compulsory training drivers have to sit.

“Our first collaboration, with Lakeside Coaches, saw our trainers spend time within
the operator’s business, learning the operation and making sure the course was
structured around their needs. It has proved very successful and resulted in us
rolling it out to a lot of other operators who are starting to see the benefits of this
module and finding it very effective.”
Neal Hall, of Lakeside Coaches, said: “We are really pleased to work with Dulson
Training and combine our expertise to create really valuable content that is industry
specific and not generic.
“Driver CPC training is compulsory for all professional bus and lorry drivers and
instead of just ticking the box we are making the most of the sessions and upskilling
our drivers to make them safer, more professional and keep up to date with the latest
legislation.”
Dulson Training is a national register of instructors, training and exam centre, which
delivers driver training and qualifications for Driver CPC to the highest standard. All
its Driver CPC modules can be delivered at its centres, a customer’s site anywhere
in the country or remotely online.
“Drivers have to complete their 35 hours within a five-year period and we
recommend they do seven hours a year rather than doing it all in one go as their
deadline nears,” Mr Dulson added. “CPC for bus drivers was launched in 2008 and
for lorry drivers a year later. This means the second five-year cycle for bus drivers is
up in 2023 and it's going to be very busy fitting in all those drivers who have left their
CPC training to the last minute.
“In addition to the new module, it’s important to say that we also still offer the full
range of off-the-shelf training courses towards Driver CPC - these include courses in:
Digital Tachograph and Working Time Directive; On-road Occurrences and Traffic
Law; Vulnerable Road Users and Site Health and Safety; Bridge Strikes and Safe
Loading and Unloading; and Emergency First Aid at Work, which can also be
accredited as a formal First Aid qualification.
“All these courses have been built by us to be as good as they can be through our
expert trainers and experience.”
For more information about the courses provided by Dulson Training, call:
Telford 01952 770659, Shrewsbury 01743 709611, Wrexham 01978 805868, or visit
the website at https://www.dulsontraining.co.uk/
For more about Lakeside Coaches, visit https://lakesidecoaches.co.uk/