An increase in home deliveries in Manchester, including night delivery services in London, means new challenges for delivery drivers. Almost half road casualties & collisions happen when it's dark, indicating that delivery drivers may not be receiving the training they need.

Online shopping and home delivery is great but has resulted in big changes for couriers and delivery drivers, who are increasingly required to make deliveries to homes in major cities such as Manchester, London, and Birmingham, rather than warehouses or depots. 

This is where driver raining becomes vital for ensuring professionalism, safety, and efficiency.

With an increase in parcel delivery, drivers are experiencing as much pressure as the depots picking the items and must also handle the pressures of time-critical deliveries.

Despite these challenges, these key aspects of the job are often overlooked when it comes to training. 

Route Planning can help couriers with timekeeping, enabling them to plan ahead and make their journey efficient as possible. Sat-navs cannot always direct drivers effectively, but effective route planning can help to navigate around built-up areas in Manchester, which pose additional obstacles. Vehicle limitations are important to understand, particularly as they can change throughout a shift.

Narrow streets, cul-de-sacs and one-way systems, especially in London can be a nightmare, even in smaller, VW Caddy, Mercedes Sprinter or award-winning, Ford Transit vans. Transport managers could implement training that improves and develops their drivers’ awareness of their vehicle and, where possible, provide a refresh on all vehicle types they may be expected to drive.

Night deliveries are becoming more and more common. With the correct training, driving in the dark should not present any significant challenges. However, training is important for helping drivers understand how to minimise disruption from the noise and light of the truck in the residential areas of Birmingham.

Roadside delivery services means vehicles need to be unloaded or loaded in a public area, presenting different problems. Firstly, drivers need to have the knowledge with which to assess the best place to park.

Drivers also need to be aware of pedestrians and other vehicles when operating tail lifts on vehicles such as Luton vans or 18-tonne vehicles, as well as considering the safety implications of the load when it has been removed.

Manual Handling incidents are still a great issue within the industry, primarily because employees aren’t given sufficient training. 

Dealing with a customer is very different to dealing with a warehouse manager. As with any customer facing role, appropriate training must be provided so that drivers are equipped and comfortable to interact with customers.