Delivering the Petroleum Driver Passport
Sep 11, 2013
The creation of the UK's first Petroleum Driver Passport has moved a step closer with hauliers and training providers being invited to come forward to be approved to deliver PDP training and assessment.
The UK Downstream Oil Distribution Forum (DODF) recently announced that the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) has been appointed as Scheme Manager for PDP. From September 1st 2013, hauliers and training providers will be able to apply to SQA to become approved as PDP centres, enabling them to carry out some or all of the training and assessment required by the PDP scheme.
PDP will be open for driver training from January 2014. During the calendar year 2014 all drivers will need to be trained and to pass the associated assessments, which leads to the issuance of the PDP card. Terminals will begin mandating the PDP from January 2015.
The PDP will give assurance to fuel terminal operators, customers and the wider public that all tanker drivers have a common core of tested knowledge and competence in the loading, driving and off-loading of fuel tankers. It has been designed to sit alongside existing industry regulation, with a five year renewal cycle, in line with ADR, and annual refresher requirements that can be aligned to Driver CPC. The PDP consists of both classroom and practical elements.
Training providers can register to undertake all activities, classroom and practical, on a five year and annual refresher basis. Others, for example those who use external providers for the five year ADR refresher, may opt to conduct their own annual refresher, practical or classroom training. Some operators may wish to leave the classroom elements of PDP to third party providers, but may wish to undertake the practical assessments for themselves and others.
Brian Worrall, DODF Independent Chair, said: "The implementation of the PDP is progressing well and we are inviting companies to register with SQA as training providers from September 2013 so that we are in a position to begin driver training in January 2014. By implementing PDP, the industry can have confidence that drivers have been trained to a consistently high, externally verified standard in all aspects of tanker driving, from pre-vehicle checks to loading, driving and discharging."
Secretary of State Edward Davey added: "Government is supporting the Petroleum Driver Passport scheme which will improve standards and the quality of training across the industry. We would encourage all training providers to sign up to delivering this new qualification."
Sue Macfarlane, Head of Specialist Awards and Services at SQA, said: "We are delighted to be working with the DODF. I believe SQA's considerable experience of developing, assessing and quality assuring qualifications relating to the transport of dangerous goods means we can be trusted by the industry to help demonstrate drivers' skills and knowledge of relevant safety procedures to terminal operators, customers and the public."
