Time
For those of us who run our own businesses the old adage of ‘time is money’ couldn’t be more apt. One minute we’re spending every spare hour trying to get our business off the ground and then a few years down the line, those hours are spent out on the road doing the job and bringing home the daily bread. Look, the general point to make here is that the word ‘training’ covers a multitude of sins and doesn’t always have to mean a week long intensive course.
It would be completely impractical for me to say that it’s easy for every chauffeur, employed or self employed, to take significant time off to do a comprehensive course of any description but neither do I believe lack of time alone is continually a valid excuse. Many chauffeurs won’t think twice about finding at least one week every year to go on holiday, indeed some think of it as an absolute must and no doubt richly deserved.
Suggest that a one day basic first aid course would be a real advantage to them as a chauffeur and you might has well have just threatened to murder their mother!
Training is knowledge and a little is a lot better than none. I fully accept that a whole week, even if it’s only every few years is a big ask for busy chauffeurs but before you dismiss the opportunity to learn, improve, or refine those skills you really should have to do your job to the best of your ability, explore all of the options available.
If you’re unable to take on a full advanced driving course, look at doing a few drives with an organisation such as your local ROSPA group for instance because it’s virtually free and you will learn so much from the very first outing. Another excellent opportunity is the manufacturers chauffeurs’ days you sometimes get offered by dealerships who are obviously trying to sell you a car, but I’ve received some fantastic training on these jollies over the years.
Track, skid-pan, defensive, it’s all available on a plate just because you’ve showed an interest in one of their motors, so my advice would be to grasp this kind of thing with both hands. Same goes if you’ve been pinged for speeding and have elected to go on a speed awareness course, view it as a days training and if it’s cost you ninety quid it’s worth treating it as such. When it comes to time, those with a positive attitude towards learning will go out of their way to find opportunities to gain a little extra knowledge.
