F&I Management & Training

Milton Keynes, 01 July 2013 - ŠKODA has announced a range of temptingly attractive summer offers on models across the ŠKODA range, with a strong focus on low monthly payments and 0% APR Representative.

Customers can take home a variety of models from the Czech brand's fuel-efficient and practical line-up for as little as £69 per month, yet still pay no interest over three years and benefit from up to three years' free servicing.

The award-winning Citigo SE 1.0 MPI 60PS is a fantastic example of what customers can expect. At only £69 per month, the mid-trim city car is fuel efficient with 62.8mpg combined as well as packed with air-conditioning and many Simply Clever solutions as standard.

For benchmark levels of leg room, customers can drive away in a new Octavia hatch S 1.2 TSI 105PS for a low monthly payment of £149. As well as 590 litres of boot space, the all-new Octavia comes equipped with DAB radio, ‘Bolero' touchscreen infotainment system and Bluetooth.

The summer sales initiative is based around the Solutions Personal Contract Plan (PCP) from ŠKODA Finance. Agreements feature a fully flexible structure to suit individual needs, and are designed to make signing on the dotted line as easy as possible for every customer.

Alasdair Stewart, Brand Director for ŠKODA UK commented: "Our customers can benefit from excellent low monthly payments on models in each of our car lines. The classic ŠKODA value for money continues with the additional 0% interest offer. On top of that, customers can travel at ease with up to three years free servicing."

DATED: 01.07.13

FEED: HA

Kia Motors (UK) Limited has unveiled a range of competitive offers for the third quarter of 2013 including a year's insurance for £99, low rate finance deals and customer savings.

There are customer savings of up to £2,000 available on selected models across the Kia range.  The popular Picanto city car has up to £1,250 off the retail price, there's up to £1,400 off the Rio hatchback and up to £1,600 off the Venga B-segment MPV, whilst the new Sorento SUV has a customer saving of £2,000 off across all versions. 

Savings on the New cee'd and New cee'd Sportswagon are generous too with up to a £1,000 discount for new customers whilst existing Kia customers are entitled to a loyalty reward of up to £3,000 in lieu of all other offers.

To make getting into a new Kia even easier there's 4.9 per cent PCP from Kia Access, as well as 4.9 per cent Conditional Sale finance, across the entire range and even zero per cent finance available on Venga and Soul models.  Further enhancing the Kia Access PCP promotion, the entire cee'd family range, including the new pro_cee'd GT are eligible for a £1,000 deposit contribution.

Just launched is the new high performance 3-door pro_cee'd GT for drivers who want to experience the performance of a hot hatch with the refinement of everyday driving, available in three specifications ‘GT', ‘GT Tech' and a limited number of 50 ‘GT 1^st Editions' with a turbocharged GDi petrol engine with 201bhp and acceleration from 0-60mph in 7.4 seconds. With pricing starting from £19,995 the pro_cee'd GT is the perfect combination of refinement, design and value.

A year's insurance is available for just £99 on selected Picanto, Rio and cee'd models - an offer that can be combined with the other savings and finance deals on offer.  Unlike similar insurance offers this promotion is open to all parts of the United Kingdom - including both Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands.  The Picanto 3-door ‘City', Picanto 5-door ‘1 Air', Rio ‘2' models, New cee'd ‘1' and New cee'd Sportswagon ‘1' are all eligible for the insurance offer.

The popular Picanto 5-door ‘1 Air' is now available from just £8,495 - after a £350 saving - with a year's insurance for just £99 and the low rate 4.9 per cent Kia Access or Conditional Sale finance offers. The well specified Picanto 3-door ‘City' is also available for just £8,995 with a £1,250 saving and the £99 insurance offer. Kia's all-inclusive servicing plan, Care-3, is available on all Picantos and covers the first three services for just £299, helping to keep running costs even lower.

Rio, in ‘2' specification, comes with a £1,400 saving - meaning that a Rio ‘2' starts from just £10,495 - as well as a year's insurance for £99 and 4.9 per cent Kia Access PCP or Conditional Sale finance offers are available.  Kia's all-inclusive servicing plan, Care-3, is available on all Rios and covers the first three services for just £299.

The newly launched Carens 7-seat MPV is available with a range of customer offers; with a £1,000 customer saving and all derivatives are available with 4.9 per cent Kia Access PCP and Conditional Sale finance offers. Current Kia owners can get £2,500 of the Carens ‘1' and ‘2' grades and £3,000 off the top spec ‘3' models meaning that the Carens is available from just £15,395.

Finally, the New cee'd and New cee'd Sportswagon in ‘1' specification are both eligible for a £900 saving resulting in prices from £13,500 for the cee'd ‘1' 1.4-litre petrol and £15,995 for the cee'd Sportswagon ‘1' 1.4-litre CRDi diesel.  Both variants are eligible for the 4.9 per cent Kia Access PCP with £1,000 deposit contribution, or 4.9% finance offer, as well as the year's insurance for £99 offer.

New to the cee'd Sportswagon line-up is the 1.6 CRDi ‘3' automatic derivative priced at £21,200 including a £1,000 customer saving, the model is available in dealerships from late July.

The entire cee'd range is available with the Care-3 all-inclusive servicing plan that offers the first three services for a fixed £329 and, as with every new Kia, the cee'd range comes with Kia's industry-leading seven year warranty.

For further details on all Kia offers please visit www.kia.co.uk

DATED: 01.07.13

FEED: HA

Used car business is at last matching the strong performance seen in this year's new car market, according to the latest research by CAP Automotive, the used car information experts.

Independent used car specialists - who are the true ‘barometer' of the second-hand market - are now enjoying an upswing in sales and expecting even more to come.

Each month CAP questions a 'Dealer Insight Panel' of more than 100 independent used car dealers. It is part of the research process for Black Book Live, the unique real time used car trade valuation and trending tool.

This year has seen the new car market take off as manufacturers get behind their franchise dealer networks to drive sales harder with a wide range of finance incentives. In contrast, independent used car specialists were reporting a challenging market until May. But then a sharp improvement saw the most positive change in trading results betweenany April and May since the survey began 4 years ago.

Not only did independents report a substantial improvement in May compared with April, sales results were reportedly significantly ahead of the same point last year.

Comparing May with April, 61 out of 104 dealers surveyed said their retail sales had increased, while a further 33 recorded no change. That left only 10 whose car sales apparently slipped on the previous month.

The mood is positive among independents with 84% of the dealer panel describing the current business climate as ‘stable', ‘good' or ‘very good'.

They also expect good times to continue, with only 3 of the panel forecasting a decline in trading conditions.

CAP's Mike Hind said: "Despite the UK economy struggling to make any kind of meaningful recovery this year, motorists are clearly in the market to replace their vehicles.

"We are seeing the strongest new car market in years as manufacturers promote the most attractive new car deals anyone at CAP has seen since our business started in 1979. But, although this means a lot of potential used car customers being tempted into new cars, good independent used car specialists are also winning motorists over with their own high quality, good value offerings.

"For the cost-conscious motorist this is a great time to consider changing cars because there has never been a more competitive market than we are seeing today."

DATED: 01.07.13

FEED: HA

The past twelve months has seen some incredible new cars hit the market and CarSite.co.uk is delighted to announce the winners of its first annual Car of the Year Awards 2013.

The CarSite Car of the Year awards celebrate the very best cars in each market segment. The winners were chosen by a panel of judges and the cars were judged on a number of criteria, ranging from price to performance and from practicality to desirability. The judging process also took into account the amount of interest the cars have generated in terms of internet traffic on the New Car and Reviews sections of CarSite.co.uk.

The Volvo V40 took home the award for Car of the Year 2013, finishing first in the 'Medium Family Car' category as well. The judges were particularly impressed with the Volvo's impressive safety credentials and frugal diesel engines.

Kia wins the award for Best Manufacturer.

Other winners include the Volkswagen up!, which takes the award for Best City Car, the Peugeot 208 which wins in the Supermini category and the Skoda Superb, which takes home the award for Best Large Family Car.

BMW's brilliant 3 Series beat off its rivals to take the honours in the Best Compact Executive category, while the Jaguar XF proves that it's still king of the big execs, winning the gong for Best Large Executive Car.

Mercedes-Benz's timeless S-Class wins in the Luxury category, an impressive achievement considering its imminent replacement.

The Ford B-MAX and the Vauxhall Zafira Tourer take home the trophies for Best Small MPV and Best Large MPV, respectively, and the award for Best Estate goes to the practical but blisteringly-fast Audi RS4 Avant.

The Dacia Duster wins the award for Best Small 4x4, while the all-new Range Rover takes the honours in the Best Large 4x4 category. The Nissan Qashqai wins the award for Best Crossover and the award for Green Car of the Year 2013 is the sporty Honda CR-Z.

Turning to performance, the Toyota GT86 is a deserved winner in the Best Coupe category and the Renaultsport Megane 265 Cup impressed us enough to take home the trophy in the Hot Hatch group. Best Convertible was won by the legendary Mazda MX-5.

The full list of winners can be found at www.carsite.co.uk/news/article/the-carsite-car-of-the-year-awards-2013-/13600

About CarSite.co.uk

CarSite.co.uk is one of the UK's leading independent websites for car buyers looking for new and used cars. Formerly BuyYourCar.co.uk, the site was rebranded in March 2013 and offers information on MOT and Servicing, as well as leasing deals. The site also has an extensive news and reviews section and a huge range of motoring-themed videos.

DATED: 01.07.13

FEED: HA

2012 was an exceptional year for UK automotive, with industry generating its highest ever turnover, increasing production and export volumes and attracting further investment, all while continuing to reduce the environmental impact of its products and processes.

These are just some of the findings outlined in a comprehensive report published today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), demonstrating the significant progress industry has made against a series of economic, environmental and social performance indicators.

Commenting on the 14^th Automotive Sustainability Report, SMMT's Interim Chief Executive, Mike Baunton said, "UK automotive continues to support the country's economic recovery, with rising turnover, increased manufacturing output and record export volumes providing further proof of industry's ability to compete on a global scale.

"It is clear that our future is bright and that the environmentally-focussed approach that vehicle manufacturers have taken to improve manufacturing processes and products will support our continued economic success. However to capitalise on the sector's potential it is vital that government uses its upcoming Automotive Sector Strategy to commit to measures that will strengthen the automotive supply chain and drive further R&D activity."

Industry's latest Automotive Sustainability Report is more in-depth than ever before and for the first time includes wide-ranging analysis of the UK's expanding automotive supply chain. For every vehicle that is produced, more than 800,000 separate components and sub-components are needed, so ensuring that UK suppliers can access that demand is fundamental to the future prosperity whole industry.

The report also shows that employment in automotive manufacturing rose 2% to 146,000 in 2012, reflecting the recovery in manufacturing volumes and recent investment announcements. Attracting new talent and developing long-term training plans for current staff is at the heart of the UK motor industry's future plans. Through SMMT and the Automotive Council, industry is working hard to address skills gaps throughout the sector to maintain our global competitiveness, particularly in roles that support new technology development. 

To access SMMT's 14th Automotive Sustainability Report, visit www.smmt.co.uk/sustainability. To read the latest announcements on investment, plant expansion, new vehicle models and employment within the UK's automotive sector, go to www.smmt.co.uk/investment.

DATED: 01.07.13

FEED: HA

Renault will boast the largest range of electric vehicles exempt from paying London's revised Congestion Charge, which changes today. In fact, by running one of its four 100% electric vehicles, users could be better off to the tune of £2,500 per year, given the new system (*based on £10 per weekday charge).

A new Ultra Low Emission Discount (ULED) will replace the existing Greener Vehicle Discount and Electric Vehicle Discount as it comes into effect from today, 1st July 2013.

The move ensures that only the greenest zero and ultra-low emission vehicles driving into the capital will not have to pay the £10 per day charge, meaning that even formerly eligible vehicles such as some well-known hybrids, small capacity petrol and diesel-engined vehicles, will no longer qualify. It's estimated that more than 20,000 drivers who were previously well within the guidelines, will now have to pay, unless they alter their means of transport.

Renault has four vehicles all packed with Va Va Voom qualifying for the exemption, starting with the jazzy urban two-seater Twizy and rising up through the innovative range to the 100% electric supermini ZOE, family saloon Fluence Z.E. and commercial favourite Kangoo Van Z.E. The latter will shortly be joined by potentially one of the most striking vans in the English capital, the new Twizy Cargo.

Matthew Pencharz, the Mayor of London's advisor on the Environment, said: "These changes are in line with the Mayor's aim to improve air quality in London by reducing emissions from private vehicles and promoting the further development of low emission vehicles. 

"We want to encourage the continued development of these technologies, while also protecting the benefits to traffic flow in the centre of London that the charge provides."

To qualify for the discount, vehicles will have to emit 75g/km or less of CO₂ and meet the Euro 5 emission standard for air quality.

This means all petrol and diesel cars, plus most hybrids, will no longer qualify for an exemption after a "sunset period" of three years, introduced to soften the blow of those customers already registered for the discount under the old scheme.

The Renault Fluence Z.E. is a first-class carbon footprint-reducing family saloon car, Twizy is the first-ever fully electric urban compact,  perfect for city life now as either a two-seater, or one-seater van with a 180-litre boot, while the multi award-winning Kangoo Van Z.E. is Renault's answer to those business customers looking for lower overheads from their light commercial vehicle fleet while reinforcing their green credentials.

The full range is available from all Renault dealers in and around London - click onwww.renault.co.uk/contact/dealerlocator.aspx to find the nearest. Prices, including the Government Plug-In Car Grant for electric vehicles start from £13,995 for ZOE, £17,845 for Fluence Z.E. and £12,995 (excluding  VAT) for the Kangoo Van Z.E. Twizy costs from £6,895 on-the-road, with its Cargo sibling at £6,241 (excluding VAT).

Other changes to London's scheme, which first came into effect in February 2003, include the removal of the option to pay the charge in shops and an increase in the level of penalty charge from £120 to £130.

Visit www.tfl.gov.uk for more information on the congestion charge, and www.renault.co.uk for the more on the exciting and innovative Renault electric range and more on its ‘Drive the change' campaign.

DATED: 01.07.13

FEED: HA

Subaru UK has announced today a mouth-watering £2,300 price reduction on the Subaru XV, making one of the most robust and economical compact crossovers even more affordable.

The price reduction, which has been possible due to a more favourable exchange rate between Pound Sterling and the Japanese Yen, applies to every model in the Subaru XV range, and allows motorists to drive away in a new XV from just £18,995.

With much more than just school-run appeal, the XV is noted for its robust practicality, performance and excellent fuel economy and was named ‘SUV of the Year' by the judges on 4x4 Magazine and has won industry recognition for its design and safety in Japan and the USA. In Europe, it was Switzerland's best selling car in August last year, toppling the VW Golf from top spot.

The Subaru XV is unusual in benefiting from permanent All-Wheel Drive as standard. Despite this, the 2.0D returns a very competitive 50.4mpg (combined cycle) and 146g/km CO₂.  Its high ground clearance contributes to the car's genuine off-road ability, while Subaru's trademark low centre of gravity aids the car's sporty handling on all roads. 

Standard specification is generous across the range with all cars being fitted with front, side, curtain and knee airbags, front passenger airbag auto-disable, 17-inch alloy wheels, daytime running lights, heated front seats, wiper de-icers, CD player and a comprehensive  Multi-Function Display. The popular SE model also gets cruise control, folding door mirrors, dual-zone air conditioning, rear view safety camera, Bluetooth, and rear privacy glass.

The XV's five-star Euro NCAP crash safety rating combines with 90% rating for child occupant protection - the best in its segment -  as well as the highest possible rating in the USA's demanding Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) tests.  A five-year, 100,000 mile warranty completes the package for buyers.

Haydn Davies, Marketing Director, Subaru UK, said: "Compared to rivals, the XV is one of the most robust and most economical cars available. We have taken the first opportunity to re-price the model given the changes to exchange rates and believe the  price reduction now gives customers the greatest value for their money."

New pricing for the Subaru XV by model is as follows:

To find out more about the Subaru XV, visit www.subaru.co.uk.

DATED: 01.07.13

FEED: HA

The new Golf Estate opens for ordering tomorrow (2 July), with prices starting at just £17,915 on the road - only £765 more than the equivalent Golf hatchback.

Like the multi-award-winning Golf hatchback, the Golf Estate is available in S, SE and GT trim levels, with the same high levels of equipment, refinement and safety.

At the business end, the Golf Estate's loadspace volume has been expanded from the 505 litres of its predecessor to 605 litres (loaded up to the back seat backrest), versus the 380 litre of the Golf hatchback.  Loaded up to the front seat backrests and under the roof, the new Golf Estate offers an impressive cargo volume of no less than 1,620 litres (versus the 1,495 litres of the Golf Estate Mk VI).  The rear-seat backrests can be folded remotely via a release in the boot.

With a payload capacity of 600-611 kg (depending on engine), and a loadspace that is up to 1,831 mm long and a minimum of 1,003 mm wide, the new Golf Estate is exceptionally versatile.  Making the most of the loadspace is a standard multi-level cargo floor, which ensures a flat load area, and offers somewhere to store items out of sight, while a roller-blind loadspace cover with net partition keeps items secure, and can also be stored under the boot floor when not needed. 

If the cargo area isn't big enough, standard equipment on all Golf Estates includes roof rails (black on S and SE, anodised silver on GT), while the towing capacity is up to 1,600 kg (for a braked trailer, up to 12 per cent incline).

Four petrol engines are available: a 1.2-litre TSI 85 PS with five-speed manual gearbox, plus a 1.2-litre TSI 105 PS, a 1.4-litre TSI 122 PS and a 1.4-litre TSI ACT 140 PS with cylinder deactivation, all with either six-speed manual or seven-speed DSG gearboxes.

The three diesel engines are a 1.6-litre TDI 90 PS with five-speed manual gearbox, a 1.6-litre TDI 105 PS with five-speed manual or seven-speed DSG gearbox and a 2.0-litre TDI 150 PS with either six-speed manual or six-speed DSG gearbox.

All Golf Mk VII models feature BlueMotion Technology - a Stop/Start system and battery regeneration - and for the first time the Golf Estate will also be available as a ‘full' BlueMotion model (with other modifications including revised aerodynamics).  This model uses a 1.6-litre diesel engine producing 110 PS, has a six-speed manual gearbox, and is expected to achieve a combined fuel consumption of just 85.6 mpg (equivalent to 87 g/km of CO₂).  It will go on sale before the end of the year.

All models include Bluetooth, DAB digital radio with 5.8-inch colour touchscreen, iPod connector, seven airbags, XDS electronic differential and an automatic post-collision braking system.  SE models gain ADC automatic distance control with Front Assist and City Emergency Braking, 16-inch alloy wheels, rear map-reading lights, automatic lights and wipers, a Driver Alert System, driver profile selection, and the Pre-Crash preventive occupant protection system.  GT adds 17-inch alloy wheels, sports suspension, 65 per cent tinted rear windows, Discover navigation system, electrically folding door mirrors and parking sensors, among other items.  All UK Golf Estates (except BlueMotion) will come with a standard space-saver spare tyre.

Like the Golf hatchback, the new Golf Estate is based on the MQB platform (both have the same wheelbase).  This innovative platform uses new production techniques which help make the new model up to 105 kg lighter than its predecessor, and also allows greater access to new technologies (for safety, comfort and convenience).

Golf Estate model line-up and pricing

Golf Estate BlueMotion pricing will be announced closer to the UK launch date.

DATED: 01.07.13

FEED: HA

Hundreds of Nissan LEAF drivers will continue to make their way around the nation's capital from today (July 1), safe in the knowledge their 100 per cent electric car remains unaffected by the London Congestion Charge.

While other vehicles - including hybrids - have been stopped in their tracks by a tightening of the C Charge emissions rules and the scrapping of the Greener Vehicle Discount (GVD), the British-built LEAF, the world's bestselling all electric car, can still enjoy the freedom of the city with a charge of £10 per year rather than £10 per day.

Happily for the ever-growing army of switched-on Londoners and commuters, both the trailblazing original LEAF and the newly-launched second generation model qualify for a new Ultra Low-Emission Discount and continued total exemption from the congestion charge.

But there is some good news for drivers - the Nissan LEAF is now available from just £189 per month - less than the cost of four weeks' C Charge payments.

And as the groundbreaking LEAF costs just two pence per mile to run, drivers making the switch can cover up to 500 miles - more than four complete circuits of the M25 - for the price of a single day's C Charge payment.

What's more, parking and charging the all-electric LEAF in London is a breeze. As the city now has more than 1,300 on-street charging points - the largest network in Europe.

Nissan UK Sales Director, Jon Pollock, said: "The changes to the London Congestion Charge introduced today clearly make the Nissan LEAF the number one option for motorists who regularly drive into central London.

"Importantly though, the LEAF is not a compromise. It's a practical everyday family car that can come with everything from a state-of-the-art sound system to leather seats.

"It's great fun to drive too."

Just launched in the UK, the second generation LEAF features more than 100 improvements on its predecessor and is now even more appealing, practical and affordable than ever.

Among the improvements is an increased range - 124 miles compared to 109 miles - and quicker charging times. The new LEAF can be fully charged in as little as four hours when using a specialist charging point.

What's more, the model now comes in three distinct trim levels for greater choice, while a new battery leasing option makes financing more flexible and an enhanced battery warranty gives added peace of mind.

For more information about the Nissan LEAF or to arrange a test drive, visit /www.nissan.co.uk to find your local dealer.

DATED: 01.07.13

FEED: HA

15 year old Rebecca Still from Otley, whose brother Jamie Still was run over and killed age 16 by a drink driver, has gathered more than 13,000 signatures calling for justice for families bereaved or injured by drink drivers, supported by Brake, the road safety charity. Jamie was walking back from a local take-away with friends on New Year's Eve 2010 when drink driver Max McRae mounted the pavement and ended Jamie's life. His sister set up The Jamie Still Campaign, calling for tougher laws, longer sentences for drink drivers, and for drivers who kill to not be allowed to continue driving while awaiting trial.

Today Rebecca, alongside mum Karen Strong and granddad Peter Strong, are handing the petition to Downing Street. Their MP Greg Mulholland, who has supported the campaign from the start, will be making a speech on the floor of the House, urging the government to listen to their calls.

Rebecca was just 13 years old when she created the campaign. She had been outraged that her brother's killer was allowed to keep his licence and continue to drive in the eight month run up to his trial.

Rebecca's mother Karen Strong got in touch with local MP Greg Mulholland. Working alongside the family, he asked the Prime Minister to change the law so drivers charged with death by dangerous or careless driving have their driving licence suspended as a bail condition, to which David Cameron responded by agreeing it was an issue for consideration. Greg took Rebecca, Karen and Peter to meet with Justice Minister Crispin Blunt and secured a debate in parliament to persuade the government to include provisions on bail conditions for those charged with dangerous or careless driving. The Minister responded by saying guidance for courts was being reviewed and would be published for consultation later in the year. He said he expected it will recommend a no-drive bail condition if a defendant is considered a danger to other road users.

Meanwhile the Strong family have rallied widespread support for Rebecca's petition, and calling for a range of measures to tackle drink driving and bring justice for those bereaved and injured, attending numerous events and appearing on local and national TV to urge support.

Visit the campaign webpage www.jamiestillcampaign.co.uk. Visit the online version of the petition (many more signatures were collected on paper, bringing the total signatures to 13,000).

Brake has been supporting their calls, while also working to raise awareness of the dangers of driving on any amount of alcohol, and calling for zero tolerance on drink driving, through its ‘not a drop' campaign. Read more about Brake's campaigns on drink driving and justice for road crash victims.

Jamie's mum, Karen Strong, said: "Rebecca's determination has been incredible. We are all so proud of her. She started this campaign by herself, from her bedroom, and we only found out when she told us she was getting so much support on the internet. We knew immediately we had to do everything we could to support her. Jamie's death has been absolutely devastating for all of us. Everyone thinks their child is special, but Jamie really was. He was gentle and kind, and as perfect a son as any mum could hope for. We all miss him terribly, including Rebecca, but we're all determined his death won't be in vain. The campaign doesn't end here. We want to know the government will get tough with drink drivers, because no other family should have to go what we've been through."

DATED: 01.07.13

FEED: HA

Mandatory training for working truck drivers can and should be improved, says the Road Haulage Association.

The RHA has launched a review of the Driver CPC, an EU-wide mandatory training requirement that came into force almost four years ago. It is clear that the industry itself can make more positive use of the legal requirement and also that it needs to be better informed as to how firms can work within the Directive; and that UK regulators can also improve the way the existing Directive (2003/59/EC) is implemented here.

In the medium term, the UK has an opportunity to help lead the debate about how the EU Directive can be improved so that it is better suited to the industry and uses modern training technology.

Speaking at the RHA Training National Conference at Warwick University, RHA director of policy Jack Semple said that continuous professional development for drivers is by its nature evolving. We should accept that and take a progressive approach to improving the Driver CPC, he said.

The RHA's review will highlight examples of progressive implementation by hauliers; and how UK regulators can help hauliers and trainers to take a flexible, targeted approach to Driver CPC training. The RHA is also considering strong calls from members for new regulation around the idea of requiring annual training - something the RHA pressed for unsuccessfully when the new rules were introduced - and to stop drivers doing the same course up to five times, as a "tick-box" exercise.
The RHA is engaging with the Department for Transport and its agencies on Driver CPC issues. Its Driver CPC review, to be published later this year, will also promote a positive image of the industry - one of the main objectives of the Directive.

DATED: 01.07.13

FEED: HA