The Experts

Far removed are the days when a truck driver just needed a HGV licence to operate a lorry of any kind. These days, there are various courses that must be taken in order to be allowed drive a vehicle.

Haulage operators undertake courses where they must pass an exam and be awarded a certificate, which allows them to drive specialised trucks.
One such company that provides this service is Frank Daly and Associates, which has been teaching the drivers of the midlands since the mid-nineties.

Eugene O’Neill has been working alongside Frank since the business was first established and he spoke to Irish Trucker about the service they provide and what the courses entail.
Frank is based in Longford, while Eugene is located in Mullingar and he admitted that they have been busy running training courses for a number of years now.

“We run CPC, ADR and DGSA courses for owner drivers and haulage drivers in the midlands region. A Certificate of Professional competence (CPC) is required by all those who are nominated as a Transport Manager in an application for a Road Transport Operator's Licence. The course combines national and international requirements for professional competence into a single course,” said Eugene.
The Certificate is proof that the candidate is professionally competent to act as a transport manager. The course meets the requirements of Council Directive 98/76 on admission to the occupation of road haulage operator and road passenger operator and the right to freedom of establishment in national and international transport operations

In April 2002, The Health and Safety Authority became the competent authority for administering the examinations for the ADR Driver Training Certificate, required by drivers who transport dangerous goods by road, for all ADR Classes except Class 1 and 7. This covers a wide range of good being transported from drivers operating oil lorries to someone transporting tins of paint.
The Health and Safety authority then appointed the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport as the Examining Agent for ADR Driver training certificate examinations.

For Class 1 (Explosives) and Class 7 (Radioactive) dangerous goods the competent authorities for examinations are the Minister for Justice and Law Reform and the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland, respectively.
Eugene revealed the procedures that applicants must go through in order to take the course and hopefully receive the necessary certificate to operate a vehicle.
“Following an application, candidates will be notified by post of the venue, date and time when they should present themselves for examination. Candidates should bring their notification letter to the exam together with photographic identification (e.g. driving licence/passport).

“A candidate who fails an examination will receive a written notification by post indicating the areas that need to be addressed by them together with instructions for arranging a repeat exam. Candidates who achieve a passing grade will have their certificates issued to them by post in due course (usually within 10 working days). Exam results will not be given out by phone.”
Each examination paper consists of 36 multiple -choice questions. Candidates taking both the Basic and Tanker papers at one sitting are deemed to have failed the whole exam if they do not achieve a passing grade in the Basic paper and will be required to repeat and pass both papers to obtain a driver training certificate which includes Tankers.
“A Driver Training Certificate may be renewed at any time in the final year of the certificate for an additional 5 years extension of validity. It is recommended that candidates attend the refresher course and examination as early as possible in the 12 months prior to the expiry of their current certificate so as to allow adequate time for repeat examinations and courses if necessary.
“We hold courses at different venues, usually in the likes of Ballymahon, Tullamore or Carrick-on-Shannon, somewhere fairly central so that drivers don’t have far too travel.”

Eugene admitted that their client list varies from private owners to big companies, who send employees to Frank Daly and Associates for training.
“I suppose the majority would be from companies, but you would have a fair share of private owners coming to do the courses as well. We have courses coming up in the near future.
“There is a CPC course being held in Ballymahon on April 5th, while on March 22nd, there will be an ADR course held at the same venue and places are still available for both of these.”
Frank Daly and Associates has many years experience to ensure an efficient training procedure that is easy for participants to grasp and both men take their time explaining the details to each driver and enhance the chances of passing the test the first time around.
“Courses for tankers are held over five days as there is a lot of stuff to go through, while other courses may only last three days, but all receive the same attention to detail.”

Both Frank and Eugene are also DGSA advisors and have helped any potential trainers on what must be taught in each of the courses as they work closely with the HSA.
“We are approved by the Health and Safety Authority as DGSA advisors and this allows us to train course holders in that specific area of the industry.”
No doubt, Frank Daly and Associates are leaders in their field of expertise and with so much experience in the industry; they continue to provide a top quality service to its vast customer base.