Pictured: Grahame McKay, the Council's fleet driver trainer

The new training vehicle will enable the Council’s qualified driver trainer to provide Heavy Goods Vehicle instruction directly to staff. This move is expected to not only improve driving standards across the board but also give employees the opportunity to upskill while ensuring the continued delivery of vital services across the area.

Key benefits of the HGV training vehicle Include:

• In-house training - by delivering HGV training internally, the Council will reduce its reliance on external training providers, leading to significant cost savings
• Staff upskilling - existing employees will have the opportunity to broaden their skill sets
• Improved driving standards - high-quality, consistent training will improve the safety and efficiency of the fleet, ensuring best practice in heavy vehicle operations.
• Collaborative opportunities - the introduction of in-house HGV training creates new opportunities to provide training with neighbouring authorities and partnerships with private companies and individuals.

This new initiative complements the already comprehensive suite of training programmes offered internally which includes forklift training, MIDAS (Minibus Driver Awareness Scheme), and manual handling training.

Cllr Paul Garner, Depute Leader, said:

“This is an exciting step forward for Falkirk Council. By investing in our own HGV training vehicle, we’re not only ensuring that our staff have access to the best possible training and development opportunities, but we’re also leading the way in delivering cost-effective and high-quality services across the board.”