Transaid and DHL Exel Supply Chain’s Alan Warnock and Adam Shearman have been helping to make road transport safer and more fuel efficient in Zambia, with the completion of a nine day course to train professional commercial vehicle driver trainers. The project has been funded by the Exel Foundation, which is in turn part-funded by DHL Exel Supply Chain and Global Forwarding, the world’s leading logistics company.

 

Alan, a Depot Driver Trainer from Rochdale and Adam, a Waltham Cross-based HGV driver have both completed training courses in the UK run by SAFED (the Department of Transport’s Safe and Fuel Efficient Driving programme), and took charge of practical assessments, helping Transaid Project Co-ordinator Gary Forster to facilitate classroom sessions.

 

The course’s first objective was to cement the professional driving skills of the nine students, covering subjects including vehicle roadworthiness, speed and engine control, route planning, hazard awareness and defensive driving.   Alan and Adam then delivered a specific training module on fuel efficiency and safe driving to bring the participants up to the SAFED standard.

 

With these stages completed, the course moved onto its ultimate aim, to create a group of skilled, professional driver trainers by sharing expertise on how to prepare training sessions, teach and use visual aids.

 

“We were in Zambia for two weeks of early starts and long days - developing lesson plans and implementing and evaluating the course,” says Alan. 

 

“It is rewarding to know that we’ve been able to share our skills and have helped to put in place a training programme which will be used to develop badly needed professional driver trainers in Zambia and beyond,” he adds.

 

The new course was attended by senior drivers and driver trainers from public and private sector organisations, including the Ministry of Health, BP and the Industrial Training Centre (ITC), Transaid’s Zambian partner.

 

Kennedy Mbao, an ITC Driver Trainer, explains: “It has had a significant impact on my own driving skills, especially with regards to hazard awareness. Simple actions such as these will really help to save lives in Zambia.”

 

Transaid’s Gary Forster said: “The course was designed to develop ambassadors for professional driving who can make a real difference nationwide.  They have each been equipped with a workplan of practical tasks which they can use to help advance professional driving standards.”

 

Helen Parker, Exel Foundation Manager, added: “We’re delighted to have encouraged DHL employees to play a role in the project, using their expertise to help develop the skills of commercial transport drivers and equip them with appropriate qualifications to recognised standards”.  

 

Gary will be visiting the participants after Christmas to find out how the workplans are being implemented, and to give advice on overcoming any difficulties encountered. This project forms part of a wider programme to develop driving standards recognised across Southern Africa and to grow a vibrant, competitive transport industry, improve trade and livelihood opportunities and reduce road deaths and injuries.

 

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Note to Editor:

Transaid (www.transaid.org) is an international development agency that aims to improve people’s quality of life in the developing world by making transport more available and affordable. It was founded by Save The Children and the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (UK) and works by sharing skills and knowledge with local people to enable them to put in place and manage efficient transport systems.

 

Transaid’s core work includes creating transport management systems for the public sector and assisting with the provision of professional driving qualification development and the training of driver trainers. It also assists with teaching preventive vehicle maintenance management and introducing local, low cost transport solutions including its innovative bicycle ambulance. Transaid also helps promote HIV, AIDS and road safety awareness and shares its specialist knowledge with the humanitarian aid sector.

 

Transaid enjoys strong backing from the transport and logistics industry and the active involvement of its patron, HRH The Princess Royal.

 

About DHL

DHL is the global market leader of the international express and logistics industry, specializing in providing innovative and customized solutions from a single source.

 

DHL offers expertise in express, air and ocean freight, overland transport, contract logistic solutions as well as international mail services, combined with worldwide coverage and an in-depth understanding of local markets. DHL's international network links more than 220 countries and territories worldwide. 285,000 employees are dedicated to providing fast and reliable services that exceed customers' expectations.

 

DHL is a Deutsche Post World Net brand. The group generated revenues of 45bn euros in 2005.

 

 

For further press information:

Caroline Beaumont at Transaid on +44 (0)20 7387 8136

James Keeler at Garnett Keeler on +44 (0)20 8399 1184

Helen Castro, Hill & Knowlton on behalf of DHL on +44 (0)20 7973 4427

TRAN/104/06