An independent survey commissioned by driver training company Fleet Source highlighted that fleet operators fear a supply crisis on driver CPC training in the wake of COVID-19, but believe that distance learning could offer a vital industry solution during the crisis, as well as for the future.
Commercial fleet companies across the UK, told the researchers that when travel restrictions are lifted, there would be greater demand for driver CPC than the specialist training industry could supply.
The Fleet Source survey, from more than 50 commercial fleet companies, revealed that:
- 94% of all booked driver training had already been or was due to be cancelled
- 57% said that their drivers would be behind with CPC training hours
- 47% feared that demand for driver training courses would be greater than supply
- 44% said they would not be prepared for cost increases
- 37% said that their drivers would be unable to work as they wouldn’t have their Driver Qualification card
- 31% thought they would struggle to schedule in courses
Fleet Source CEO, Nick Caesari, said, “More than half the fleet managers we spoke to were worried that their drivers would fall behind with their CPC training and over a third said that their drivers wouldn’t be able to work as they wouldn’t have their Driver Qualification Card.
“One operator told us that they anticipated a major bottleneck on driver training as operators played catch-up on CPC hours. Another wondered how many training providers would still be in business to satisfy the post-crisis demand.
“Almost half the fleet managers we spoke to, said they wouldn’t be prepared for cost increases as one of the knock-on effects of the impact of the supply issues and as training providers attempt to recoup their losses.”
