In order for ASDA to meet its commitments under the legislation, Scania Driver Experience trainers will now deliver a bespoke training package to the company's team of Driver Training Instructors, thereby ensuring they will be fully versed in the requirements of Driver CPC Periodic Training comfortably ahead of the new legislation coming into force.

"We place a significant emphasis on in-cab, practical training solutions and when evaluating the most credible training partners, it became clear that Scania was the most appropriate training provider," says Chris Hall, Network Transport Manager for ASDA Central Logistics.  With over 90 percent of our total fleet provided by Scania, we are extremely confident that the technical and in-cab training from Scania will be second-to-none.  They know their trucks better than anyone else and we believe that gives us the best possible training package."

"In particular, ASDA's recognition that advanced planning is a vitally important part of the process is a lead we would strongly encourage all other operators to follow, as it will help avoid problems of driver-training availability further down the line – a real possibility if too many operators choose to leave their Driver CPC training until the last minute."

Chris Hall agrees:  "If operators are to be sure of meeting their obligations under the new legislation, early adoption of Driver CPC training is essential.  For us, our re-invigorated training programme started earlier this year to enable our newly selected and assessed Driver Training Instructors gain valuable experience and confidence ahead of the Driver CPC legislation coming into force. 

"We will complete NVQ level 2 assessments over most of this year and then dedicate our training to Driver CPC in late 2009/early 2010.  We have already agreed our first training module to roll-out and will start training at our biggest transport operation in September.  All Module 1 training will be completed for all of our 3,000 driver colleagues by the end of 2010, and then we will be ready to roll-out our next training module."