It’s been a period of transition at GRT over the past few months but now that the dust has settled, we have the opportunity to take stock of 2014 so far.
The most significant change to date this year is our relocation to Coatbridge Business Centre where we now have access to improved facilities and our own self-contained (and soon to be air-conditioned) training suite. Situated just a few miles from the M8/A8 motorway network at the Shawhead junction, our new location offers excellent public transport links with a number of bus options available and Coatdyke train station only a short 10 minute walk away.
The move has been particularly beneficial as we now have the scope to arrange a number of extra Driver CPC training sessions. Our temporary arrangement with Riddrie Masonic Hall was a great stopgap but with an existing and growing number of customers based in North Lanarkshire, it was important to return as soon as possible.
The impending September deadline for drivers to complete their periodic training has triggered high demand for courses; to put it in perspective, we have now (almost) presented as many sessions in the first half of 2014 as we did throughout the entire calendar year of 2013 and have now helped over 700 delegates complete their training requirement. Additionally, due to public demand, we will be running our first week long intensive training course in July with another lined up for mid-August depending on its success. With this however comes an increased workload and it is our intention to introduce at least one new member of staff in the coming months to help continue to provide a high level of service.
The advent of the newly formed DVSA has coincided with a number of operators looking for a little extra assistance with their compliance. With the Operator Compliance Risk Score (OCRS) system now in full swing, we have dealt with numerous DVSA investigations relating to tachograph management and vehicle maintenance. Many businesses are often unaware of the depth of legislation that is involved with vehicle operation and seeking advice* is a highly recommended course of action, considering the severity of the penalties involved.
We are also fast approaching our third year as contributors to the Transport News magazine which focuses on road transportation issues in the north of Britain. Our “Truck Advocate” column deals with various subjects relating to transport and the commercial vehicle industry. We are very grateful to Alistair Vallance and his team for allowing us the opportunity to write for the publication and hope that our compliance advice continues to be helpful to drivers and operators alike.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank our customers for their continued business and loyalty and assure them that this is something we never take for granted. We will be introducing a couple of new schemes and features in the coming months so make sure you check the website to stay on top of all news and developments. As always, we welcome all feedback – good and bad – and if you would like to share your thoughts on your experience with us, please feel free to get in touch.
Enjoy the summer!
*Your initial telephone advice and first consultation is free of charge.