FleetCheck and RED Driver Training have signed a new affinity partnership in response to the increasing demand for HGV driver training.

As part of the arrangement, FleetCheck customers will be offered a free consultation to  identify the best type of driver training to help with their issues.

Peter Golding (pictured right), managing director at the fleet management software company, explained that his company’s customer base was looking to new ways of tackling the current driver shortage.

He said: “We are hearing from transport manager that there are a number of issues arising around risk management best practice as a result of the driver crisis.

“Some are telling us they continue to use drivers who, in times when there was less of an recruitment problem in this area, they would perhaps want to let go. These are people who meet all legal requirements but are only performing well enough instead of excelling.

“Similarly, there is a suspicion that a larger proportion than usual of the drivers who are now looking for work might not have been considered good enough elsewhere, that the quality of those available is far from aspirational.

“In both these instances, there is a widespread understanding that training can have a positive impact, helping existing drivers to improve their performance and also through pre-recruitment assessments on new candidates.”

FleetCheck will use the data it collects from a fleet to help transport managers gain an understanding of which drivers may potentially benefit from training. RED Driver Training will then show the types of solutions available and the best course of action.

Golding added: “We’re big believers in driver training as a risk management tool because we see its positive effects over time across our user base, and we are delighted to be able to negotiate this arrangement and confident that RED will deliver for our users.”

Ian McIntosh (pictured left), CEO, RED Driver Training, said: “FleetCheck has a very wide range of customers, covering everything from cars to the largest and most specialised commercial vehicles, and we are well-placed to deliver services to meet all of their needs. Like us, they are a company with a genuine commitment to a risk management culture, and we are very pleased to have arrived at this new agreement.”

FleetCheck now has affinity agreements in place with five major service providers, ranging from auction services to driver training and maintenance to MoT tests. It is in the process of finalising further affinity deals, which will be announced in the near future.