At last! The days of the infamous greasy spoon caff filled with overweight truckers, all driving noisy, smelly lorries are behind us.
Those truckers of old have, thankfully, been replaced by the professional, courteous and often uniformed driver, in charge of an environmentally friendly and speed-limited large goods vehicle. In days gone by they may have been tempted to 'bend the rules' to get an extra delivery in just because their bonus was at stake. But not any more. Now they'll be aiming for the 'conscientious driver of the month award' by driving as efficiently and safely as possible.
Today's truck drivers are second only to commercial airline pilots in the amount of legislation and regulations that they have to comply with once they get behind the wheel.
As soon as they enter the operating centre where the truck is parked, they have come within the remit of the European Community Drivers Hours Regulations. Their every movement and task has to be recorded and the completed record kept and available for inspection for a minimum of 12 months.
Before they even get into their cabs and behind the wheel, they must carry out a full vehicle check, including making sure all the tyres are in good condition, the lights are operating correctly, the brakes are effective and so on. They must record each check on a daily inspection form and of course sign to the effect that everything has been checked. These records must be kept and made available for inspection by the authorities for at least 15 months. Once out on the road, today's professional truck drivers are seen as ambassadors for the companies they work for. Regardless of the size of transport operation, in many instances the driver is often the only employee that ever meets the customer face to face. Therefore they are trained to not only drive, but also to interact and promote their firms.
However, despite a decline in scruffy truckers, despite a more professional attitude, despite a keen interest in training and skill building, transport is generally seen as predominantly "a man's job". Today, more than ever before, this is no longer the case. Women are at last being recognised for the contribution that they, too, are making.

Today's Professional truck drivers are seen as ambassadors for the companies they work for

Every single role within the industry currently carried out by a man is also being undertaken by women. Drivers, mechanics, technicians and, of course management, at every level, whatever the sector, women are playing a vital part. With today's equal training and indeed re-training opportunities, there is no excuse for any discrimination whatsoever.
Professionalism is the key word in today's road transport industry. Why? Because today's road transport operator cannot afford for it not to be! The transport industry spends around £100m on training per annum, aimed solely at achieving the minimum requirements of regulation. It may be a vocational category driving licence, a certificate of professional competence, a hazardous chemical transportation certificate (ADR) or forklift truck driving certificate.
To make sure that standards are achieved and maintained, the haulage and distribution sector now has available a full range of accredited apprenticeships for employees from the age of 17 right through to 50-year-olds. In 2003, over £5m will be available for funding of the young drivers scheme, for 18 to 25-year-olds, as well as a fully funded Modern Apprenticeship scheme for people between the ages of 25 and 50.
The industry is actively pursuing a planned and professional approach to recruitment and training to ensure as many new entrants as possible are welcomed into haulage and distribution. This is essential as the average age of the haulage and distribution workforce is presently 55-years of age.
The present skills shortage is possibly the single most important factor in the threat to the UK's supply chain. This will become more apparent in 2005 when the Working Time Directive for drivers will be implemented, creating an overnight demand for more than 100,000 new drivers, in order to keep Britain's shelves filled and industry running. It is essential that at least 20,000 people are recruited into the industry each year, just to cover the natural wastage.
And, of course, career paths are now being developed to draw recruits into the industry.
There are over 240 different funding streams available to prospective employers and employees. In fact all 16 to 24-year-olds employed by haulage and distribution companies are eligible to be funded through the Modern Apprenticeship Scheme. One of the most useful is the NVQ Level 2 in Road Haulage and Distribution. There are three age bands; 16 to 18-years-old; 19 to 24 and over 24. The minimum level of funding is £3,500.

Every single role Within the industry currently carried out by a man is also being undertaken by women

In the last year, over 500 previously unemployed people have moved into the UK road transport industry very often supported by the European Social Fund.
In 2001, after recognising the need within the haulage industry for a national training provider, the Road Haulage Association launched its own training scheme; RHA National Training Services, offering quality training at a competitive price.
Among other things, the job of a trade association is to provide its members with advice and information. Now, with so many new directives and regulations emerging, the Road Haulage Association considered itself duty-bound, as the leading representative trade body for the UK haulage industry, to put together a specialist division of nationwide training providers. The range of courses now available is so wide that it now benefits not just RHA members; its benefits are invaluable to UK plc as a whole.
Courses currently include; Drivers Hours and Tachographs, Transport Law for Operational Staff, CPC, ADR, DGSA, Health & Safety - IOSH Managing Safely, Health & Safety - IOSH Working Safely, Risk Assessment, Manual Handling, Employment Law, Selling Skill, Aviation Security, Fork Lift, Driver Assessments and Working Time Directive. Plans are already underway to increase the range of courses available.
The Association will also be offering an assessment service whereby members can be given a fully personalised company appraisal of training needs.
The Road Haulage Association. The words on our badge say it all: Professional Distribution and Haulage.

By Kate Gibbs of the Road Haulage Association