Home > News > December 2005 > 13-Dec-2005

Delivery drivers' qualification launched

Stationer Office Depot is one of the first national employers to enrol drivers on a new qualification for delivery drivers.

The new qualification from Skills for Logistics, the Sector Skills Council (SSC) for the freight logistics industries, was developed in partnership with Awards UK and is entitled 'Carry & Deliver Goods'.

According to Skills for Logistics, staff are trained to develop good customer service skills, complete pre and post-delivery routines and plan routes and timings for journeys as part of the new vocational qualification.

Jo Cocks, senior learning and development officer at Office Depot, said: "Industry has been crying out for these sorts of 'skill' specific qualifications. Any form of vocational training that improves our ability to operate in a global market place has to make good business sense. We would wholeheartedly recommend this training to any company involved in the delivery of goods by light vehicles whose job role involves multi-drop deliveries, customer interaction and dealing with financial transactions."

Following take-up at its Newcastle location, Office Depot is now in talks with Skills for Logistics and local training providers to roll out the new qualification to staff nationwide.

Ian Hetherington, Chief Executive of Skills for Logistics, said: "With just under two million light vans on the road, this sector is crucial to the UK economy and therefore it is critical that we challenge and dispel the tag of the 'white van man'. It has become a very unfair and prejudatory tag - underestimating the actual skills involved in doing this economically important job successfully. We are delighted to be working closely with Office Depot in this pursuit."

The new 'Carry & Deliver Goods' qualification is joined by two further qualifications developed by Skills for Logistics and Awards UK - 'Traffic Office' and 'Storage & Warehousing'.

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Skills for Logistics

Awards UK

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