NEW IN STOCK - FRESNEL LENSES16.12.09
A Fresnel lens is a small sheet of flexible plastic, about the size of an A4 piece of paper, with a moulded optical lens. The lens sticks flat to glass and can provide drivers with a view that covers the blind spot immediately next to the passenger side of their vehicle. They can be pealed off and stuck back to the glass as often as needed to get the positioning right and the lens does not impede the drivers view through the passenger-side window. Due to a blind spot, drivers of HGVs cannot see smaller vehicles which are immediately next to the passenger side of their vehicle. These smaller vehicles, usually cars but often cyclists, could be hit if the vehicle changed lanes in their direction. These are known as side-swiping incidents. Side swipes occur frequently with LHD vehicles and after 40,000 Fresnel lenses were given out free in the South East the number of incidents decreased by 59%. Fresnel lenses can also be fitted to the passenger windows of right hand drive vehicles to improve the drivers view below the level of the glass. This allows a better views of cyclists, pedestrians and other vulnerable road users when the vehicle is manoeuvering at junctions. Drivers and operators can help to save lives by fitting their vehicle with a Fresnel Lens. Order from our on line shop using PayPal or call 01329 280280.

DRIVER CPC COURSE 21ST DECEMBER 2009
A great opportunity to attend a quality JAUPT approved 7 hour course presented by Jim Gant, CMIOSH, Chartered Safety & Health Practitioner. Entitled "Essential Health & Safety in Transport - What Every Driver Should Know", the course will increase safety awareness with group exercise work, discussion and role play exercises. Sections to include accident/incident reporting, emergency procedures, needs of passengers, trafficking in illegal immigrants, importance of physical and mental ability and the effects of stress. Applicable to both HGV and PSV drivers. Refreshments and lunch included. Call to book your place today - discounts for group bookings. This course is also available at your premises for groups of 8+ drivers.

DRIVER CPC COURSE 24.09.09 BOOKINGS TAKEN NOW21.05.09
BOOKINGS ARE NOW BEING TAKEN FOR A DRIVER CPC COURSE SUITABLE FOR BOTH HGV /PSV ON 24TH SEPTEMBER 2009 AT SEGENSWORTH (JUNCTION 9, M27). PLACES ARE LIMITED AND GOING FAST SO CALL NOW IF YOU ARE INTERESTED. SPEAK TO GILL 01329 280280. FURTHER COURSES TO BE HELD AT REGULAR INTERVALS.

DRIVER CPC - HGV DRIVERS17.03.09
HGV DRIVERS BE READY FOR SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR WHEN THE DRIVER CPC PERIODIC TRAINING REQUIREMENT STARTS. WE ARE TAKING NAMES FOR OUR FIRST COURSES - PLEASE CALL WITH YOUR DETAILS OR EMAIL TO drivercpc@wardint.co.uk. WE CAN TRAIN AT YOUR PREMISES IF YOU HAVE SUITABLE FACILITIES AND CAN PROVIDE AT LEAST 10 DRIVERS. WE ANTICIPATE A RUSH FOR BOOKINGS IN SEPTEMBER SO WHY NOT ACT NOW?

DRIVER CPC COURSES NOW RUNNING13.10.08
ATTENDEES AT THE PSV DRIVER CPC COURSE RUN ON 22.09.08 WERE AMONGST THE FIRST IN THE COUNTRY TO EMBARK ON THE 35 HOURS TRAINING EXISTING DRIVERS ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE BY SEPTEMBER 2013. THE COURSE WAS A GREAT SUCCESS WITH EXCELLENT FEEDBACK! BOOKINGS NOW TAKEN FOR OCTOBER HALF TERM AND REGULAR DATES THEREAFTER - CALL FOR FULL DETAILS.

FIRST APPROVED DRIVER CPC COURSE01.07.08
THE FIRST JAUPT APPROVED DRIVER CPC COURSE WILL BE HELD ON 22ND SEPTEMBER 2008 AT FAREHAM, HANTS. ENTITLED "UNDERSTANDING CURRENT LEGISLATION AND OPERATING REQUIREMENTS" THE COURSE PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY TO UPDATE YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF THE LAW AND O LICENCE UNDERTAKINGS WHILST FULFILLING THE REQUIREMENTS OF DRIVER CPC TRAINING. BOOKINGS BEING TAKEN NOW. CALL GILL ON 01329 280280

Now supplying Digital Tachograph Rolls16.01.08
We are now able to supply you with digital tachograph rolls suitable for any type approved machine. The rolls come in packs of three and cost £6.95 + VAT. Please call to order.

CHANGES TO TACHO LEGISLATION18.01.08
As from 01.01.08 drivers using analogue tachographs must be able to produce at the roadside the chart for that day togehter with the charts for the previous 28 calendar days (this used to be the current week and last 15 calendar days). Drivers using both analogue and digital tachographs must be able to produce both charts and the digital smart card.

Ward International to be approved centre for Driver CPC16.01.08
The Driver CPC comes into being for PSV drivers this September. For existing drivers there is no initial test to pass. Instead, existing drivers will have ‘acquired rights’ and will be required to complete 35 hours of approved training within a five year period to gain their Drivers CPC. This is referred to as ‘periodic training’. All drivers will then need to continue to complete 35 hours of approved training every five years to retain their qualification and to drive professionally. Only approved centres can offer periodic training with approved courses. We will be offering courses based at our Head Office in Fareham or at operators premises. For more information contact the office at any time.

IFMA 2007Paper09-11-07
paper4.pdf
Paper supporting a Presentation made by keven Ward to IFMA Conference in New Olreans, USA in October 2007

Smartcards: Have you got yours?04/09/2006
Digital tachos became mandatory on 1st may 2006 adn the DVLA has now issued around 100,000 digital tacho cards in the UK. This may sound a lot but it is a tiny percentage of the approx. 1.4 million licensed HGV / PCV drivers. Even if you do not intend to purchase or drive vehicles with digital tachos, you need to be ready. Cards are issued by the DVLA, last for 5 years and cost £38.00. Before you order your card you need to make several decisions to determine when you will need them: Ask yourself ......................when am I going to start using vehicles equipped with digital tachos? Am I likely to replace any vehicles within the forseeable future and will the replacements have digital tachographs? Am I likely to lease or hire vehicles fitted with digital tachos? Have I got the electronic infrastructure to support digital tachos within my fleet (downloading equipment, storage facilities etc) and how and when will I train my drivers?.

CPC - Get Qualified, Stay Qualified04/09/2006
A new qualification for professional bus, coach and lorry drivers - the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) - has been given the go-ahead by Government. This means that in the future holding just a vocational driving licence will not be enough. CPC will endable young people to enter transport in a safe and professional manner from the age of 18 for lorry and bus drivers and 20 for coach drivers. The qualification will be introduced in September 2008 for bus and coach drivers and September 2009 for lorry drivers. The penalties for non-compliance will be the same as driving without a licence and will be enforced from day one. New entrants to professional driving will be given the opportunity to acquire the CPC at the same time as they obtain their vocational driving licence. Existing professional drivers will gain their initial CPC by acquired rights. All drivers will have to keep their certificate valie by completing 35 hours of periodic training every 5 years. There will not be an additional test.

Changes in Tachograph Rules17/08/2006
Drivers are now required to produce up to 22 days worth of analogue tachographs (and a drivers smart card if one is held) following rule changes in May. Under the new rules drivers must be able to produce the charts used, and any manual records or printouts made, in the current week plus those used or made in the previous 15 days. The previous 15 days refers to charts used in the 15 consecutive calendar days prior to 0000hrs on the Monday of the current week.

Wearing Seat Belts on Buses and Coaches14/08/2006
The Department of Transport has announced changes in seat belt wearing regulations from 18th September 2006. The Motor Vehicles (Wearing of Seat Belts) (Amendment) Regulations 2006 apply to all buses and coaches having more than 8 passenger seats, including minibuses. Seated rear passengers aged 14 years and over will be required to use a seat belt if one is fitted. Current Regulations already require the vehicle driver and front passengers seated paralled to the driver to use seat belts where fitted. The new Regulations also require operators of buses or coaches with belts fitted to take reasonable steps to notify passengers of the need to use belts by either an official announcement, audio-visual presentation or sign prominently displayed at each seat fitted with a belt. More information can be found at www.dft.gov.uk.

VOSA STARTS MOVIING O LICENSING TO LEEDS03/08/2006
7TH AUGUST 2006 WILL SEE THE START OF CENTRALISATION OF O LICENSING AT LEEDS WITH THE TRANSFER OF WORK FROM THE SCOTTISH AND WESTERN TRAFFIC AREAS. VOSA SAYS THAT CENTRALISATION OF ALL OPERATOR LICENSING BY 2007 WILL ALLOW IT TO DELIVER A MORE CONSISTENT HANDLING OF APPLICATIONS AND AN IMPROVED OVERALL SERVICE WITH ONE ADDRESS USED FOR ALL CORRESPONDENCE. O LICENCES WILL CONTINUE TO BE ISSUED BY TRAFFIC COMMISSIONERS WITH THE CENTRAL UNIT PROCESSING APPLICATIONS FOR LICENCES UNDER DELEGATED AUTHORITY. TRAFFIC AREA BOUNDARIES REMAIN UNCHANGED AND PUBLIC INQUIRIES WILL CONTINUE TO BE HELD IN THE AREA OF EACH TRAFFIC COMMISSIONER.

"WORKING TIME DIRECTIVE COMES OF AGE"01/04/2005
The Road Transport (Working Time) Regulations have come into effect within the UK as of 4th April 2004. It is now on the statute and as such all those affected need to understand its impact. Why have the Regs been brought in? The Regs harmonise the UK with the rest of the EU. Whilst it imposes changes to the way we will have to operate our businesses, it is untimately necessary for the benefit of everyone who uses our roads. These regulations have been in place within other EU states for sometime and the UK has until now deferred its introduction. The Basic Principles. The Regs introduce limits on weekly working time (excluding breaks and periods of availability) and a limit on the amount of work that can be done at night. They also specify how much continuous work can be done before taking a break. It is now illegal to operate vehicles without taking account of these Regs. Their enforcement will become part of the normal duties of VOSA , Road Traffic Police and Transport Inspectors. Support and Training from Ward International We have for many years successfully provided guidance to the industry on all parts of its regulations and as part of our ongoing support to our customers we have available for purchase a selection of documents to ensure that you and your drivers are in compliance with the Regs. For large fleets we have developed a simple computer based tool to capture and record the yearly working time record for each driver. We also offer bespoke training at low cost to individuals and teams of drivers and owners. Training covers: Scopf of the Regs, What records are necessary, How to complete records, Interpreting the Regs for your business, preparing for an audit. Contact us for more details and to discuss your specific requirements.