Three men went to tow

Published by Jo Gadsby for Wrekin Housing Trust Ltd in Housing

The Wrekin Housing Trust has joined forces with Shropshire driver training company TTC Automotive to develop and deliver a tailor-made trailer towing course for employees.

The bespoke training course ensures that Trust employees who need to work with this equipment know all safety aspects of using a trailer on the road, including pre-use checks, loading and unloading, hitching the trailer to the towing vehicle and also the specific requirements in the Highway Code for vehicle towing.

Tim Munro, the Trust’s Health and Safety Manager, said that even though many people had years of driving experience it did not mean they had the necessary skills to safely tow a trailer.

People passing their driving test nowadays do not have automatic approval to tow a trailer and the skill was not “second nature” to most drivers.

“We have all seen trailers and caravans involved in accidents, even overturned at the side of the road, in many cases because the driver of the vehicle did not have some of this basic skill and knowledge,” he said.

Having not been able to find a course to suit the Trust’s specific needs, Tim contacted TTC Automotive to develop and implement a specific programme.

The Trust has previously used TTC to deliver on the road driver training to some of its younger employees.  So when the Trust purchased a trailer for use on one of its external maintenance contracts, TTC Automotive was a natural partner.

TTC Automotive director Simon Baugh said: “It is a fine example of how companies are encouraged to train staff and then have difficulties finding the right courses. We are finding that businesses are requesting more tailored training specific to their needs, which we are always happy to do.

“We have great working relationships with The Wrekin Housing Trust who are a training led organisation. We always have positive feedback from our trainers and Wrekin employees, which proves the courses have hit the mark.”

For more information about the Trust please visit www.wrekinhousingtrust.org.uk

For course information visit TTC Automotive at www.ttcautomotive.co.uk or call 0333 8000 222 or email driver.training@ttcautomotive.co.uk