The National Register of LGV Instructors (NRI) has launched the first nationally recognised LGV Assessor qualification, acknowledging skill and providing new professional development opportunities.
The new qualification, which has been rolled out since May 2019, enables successful candidates to join the NRI’s LGV Assessor Register for 5 years. On qualifying, they are issued with an LGV Assessor ID card and added to the online register at the NRI website.
So far, more than 20 people have joined the NRI LGV Assessor register, and the NRI is seeing a continually high level of enquiries regarding the new Assessor examination. Carlisle-based SP Training trained one of the first assessors to be examined and qualify for their NRI Assessor card – Dave Stones of Yodel.
“It’s important that there is consistency across assessment and marking and providing standardisation that is transferrable across the industry will improve efficiency,” says Tony Higgins, Managing Director for SP Training. “One of SP Training’s key objectives is to help companies meet consistent safety standards so we welcome the Assessor qualification and the benefits it will bring to both individual operators and the industry as a whole.”
An LGV Assessor is typically responsible for conducting LGV driver assessments and monitoring driver performance. Assessments can be conducted for numerous reasons, such as following an incident, an extended period of leave or evaluating driver skills prior to offering employment. Assessors cannot conduct driver training or examinations and are often former, or current, LGV drivers on route to becoming an LGV Instructor.
“Before now, there was no formal recognition for the important role of LGV Assessor,” says Dave Cox, NRI Manager. “Although this is something brand new to the industry, it has already received a warm welcome as businesses want to ensure that those responsible for assessing LGV drivers are independently and professionally qualified.”
On joining the register, Assessors have access to free technical advice, exclusive professional development opportunities and discounts on selected products and services from NRI partner organisations. The qualification also enables Assessors to prove to employers that they have been independently examined, achieved the required levels of skill and knowledge and are committed to upholding high quality LGV driver assessment standards.
The addition of the new register means that two types of NRI membership are currently available – Assessor and Instructor, with a third category expected to be launched later in 2019. The DVSA (Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency), which endorses the NRI and has helped guide its development since launching in 2017, has welcomed the expansion of the examination process and register.
“DVSA shares the NRI’s mission to promote higher standards of LGV instruction, assessment and mentoring,” says Mark Winn, DVSA’s Chief Driving Examiner.
“DVSA’s priority is to help everyone through a lifetime of safe driving. By providing the haulage industry with a workforce of independently examined and registered driver instructors, NRI will help increase the competence of professional lorry drivers,” he continues. “The higher the standard of LGV instruction, assessment and mentoring, the better drivers will be and the safer our roads will be.”
The NRI Instructor register currently has 560 members and remains the only DVSA endorsed registered led by the industry, for the industry.
The NRI is operated by RTITB, the preferred regulatory body for workplace transport training, on a not-for-profit basis and is supported by the FTA (Freight Transport Association) and RHA (Road Haulage Association). It is regularly audited by a governance committee to reassure members of quality, standards and neutrality. The committee includes representatives of both large and small logistics, transport and training organisations alongside trade associations.
To apply to take the new Assessor qualification, or to find out more about joining the NRI Instructor register, call Dave Cox on 01952 520210 or email LGVinstructorregister@rtitb.com .
Employers can find details of NRI registered Instructors and Assessors, and more information, by visiting www.lgvinstructorregister.com .