LTB 472/21 - Royal Mail Driver Training Exigency Arrangements For New Recruit Light Commercial Vehicles(LCV)/Van Fleet Drivers

[POSTMAN]

https://www.cwu.org/ltb/ltb-472-21-roya ... t-drivers/

LTB 472/21 – Royal Mail Driver Training Exigency Arrangements For New Recruit Light Commercial Vehicles(LCV)/Van Fleet Drivers
No. 472/2021

10 November 2021

Our Ref: V4/21

To: All Branches

Dear Colleagues,

Royal Mail Driver Training Exigency Arrangements For New Recruit Light Commercial Vehicles(LCV)/Van Fleet Drivers

This is to update Branches, Area Safety Reps and Area Delivery Reps on interim arrangements that have been introduced by Royal Mail from this week as a short term driver training exigency across the business.

The Health, Safety and Environment Department were briefed on Friday 5 November by the Royal Mail Group National Road Safety Manager regarding an urgent and pressing situation facing the business with regards to the significant increase in recruitment for permanent drivers in Delivery Offices, leading, in turn, to a huge increase in driver training demand which has outstripped the ability of the training provider (Pertemps) to deliver the level being requested.

Whilst not ideal, after some discussion, I indicated no objection to the interim, short-term arrangements now proposed which are designed to alleviate the problem now facing Royal Mail. There will be a temporary relaxation to the Royal Mail Group policy which is set out in Royal Mail Group (Safety Health & Environment (SHE) Instruction 8.2) which requires that new recruits receive RMG driver training before they are permitted to drive Royal Mail Vans.

It was pointed out by Royal Mail that short term agency drivers do not receive in-cab training before driving Royal Mail Light Commercial Vehicles/Vans and this temporary arrangement would be similar in that respect.

The temporary interim arrangements will involve, as an exception, allowing new recruits to drive vans immediately on starting employment with Royal Mail subject to:

The new external recruit drivers meeting the minimum Royal Mail standards on recruitment and full driving licence check.
The new external recruit drivers undergoing an online assessment which includes testing of their driving knowledge, experience and hazard perception.
The Pertemps training has to have been booked for new recruit drivers.
They have received the ‘Driving for Operational Cover’ e-learning, (this is used for agency drivers and was what was used for new starters during the RMG Covid secure restrictions).
They have had a familiarisation of the vehicle session with a Manager or Workplace Coach.
Royal Mail stress the importance of compliance with these requirements, and will track training bookings against recruitment.

Attachment : https://www.cwu.org/wp-content/uploads/ ... l-Doc1.pdf

Copy communication from the Royal Mail Group National Road Safety Manager.
All enquiries should be addressed to the CWU/HQ Health, Safety & Environment Department.

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer