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We’re seeing more and more smart motorways across the UK, updating the way we commute on main routes up and down the country. But many people are still learning about what’s involved with driving on a smart motorway – so what are our top tips for driving safely on a smart motorway?

Never drive in a lane with a red X above it – the lane is temporarily closed for safety reasons, so make sure you change lanes immediately.

Solid white lines indicate a hard shoulder – these lanes should be used as a traditional hard shoulder unless signs indicate otherwise.

Keep the speed limit – The speed limit can vary and will be indicated by signs, so be aware of any changes at all times. If not speed is shown drive at the national speed limit.

The emergency refuge areas are for emergencies only. They must not be used as general parking or stopping areas.

Smart motorways are improving road safety. Highways England statistics show that journey reliability has improved by 22% and personal injury accidents have reduced by half.

For more information about our CPC courses, call Rue on 07720 737482 or email rue@wetraincpc.co.uk. to find out more and book your place.

Christmas is coming  Companies across the country are recruiting right now for driving staff ahead of the Christmas and January sales rush. It’s vital that consumers get their parcels right on time – so how can you make it as a successful Christmas delivery driver?

Stay hydrated! Whilst it may feel like the delivery’s will never end, it’s vital that you eat and drink as you need to keep yourself fit and healthy on the road.

Get organised. It’s vital that you plan the most direct route for your deliveries each day and keep abreast of the road traffic news – road accidents must be avoided at all costs!

Keep your torch handy. With a vehicle full of boxes it can get pretty dark in the back – a torch can provide a simple and effective way to make sure you unload the correct package.

Where should you be? Making a note of where you should be at each point in your day may seem pointless, but as you go about your deliveries you can keep checking it to make sure you’re on track.

Stay safe! Although the pressure is on, you must stay safe at all times.

For more information about our CPC courses, call Rue on 07720 737482 or email rue@wetraincpc.co.uk. to find out more and book your place.

HGV drivers do a hugely important job to ensure the smooth running of many supply chains. Driving for long periods over large distances can however take its toll – and there a limits in place when it comes to driving to ensure your safety and the safety of other road users.

Put simply, here are the limits for commercial driving:

You can drive for a maximum of 9 hours a day. This can be extended to 10 hours twice a week as required.

You can drive a maximum of 56 hours a week, and a maximum of 90 hours in a fortnight.

After 4 and a half hours of driving you must take at least 45 minutes rest.

These limits follow EU rules, despite the UK leaving the EU. Employers are also required to keep a record of driving hours to ensure everyone is taking the safety breaks they need.

If you break the rules when it comes to driving you could be prosecuted or fined. So make sure you follow the rules at all times!

For more information about our CPC courses, call Rue on 07720 737482 or email rue@wetraincpc.co.uk. to find out more and book your place.

There has been much discussion about 20 mph zones across the country. Many communities have campaigned for the use of 20 mph zones, but blanket use of the speed limit can cause problems. The government is currently reviewing guidance.

There have been many incidents of blanket use of 20 mph zones in certain areas – this can cause problems for traffic flow, particularly at peak times. Safety of course must be everyone’s top priority, but the government is reviewing current practices to make sure 20 mph zones are used much more effectively to protect pedestrians and drivers whilst ensuring a steady flow of traffic.

Putting 20 mph limits on roads that do not accommodate other road users such as pedestrians can lead to an unnecessary disruption of traffic flow. With road use demand growing, efficiency and safety must work hand in hand.

Recent figures show that the number of deaths on Britain’s roads caused by accidents rose by 10% last year, so action clearly must be taken to ensure safety.

What do you think about 20 mph zones?

For more information about our CPC courses, call Rue on 07720 737482 or email rue@wetraincpc.co.uk. to find out more and book your place.

As well as offering tailored CPC training for organisations, we also hold CPC training days – and we’ve got new training dates up and coming!

Based at our training offices in Milton Keynes, we’re offering drivers an opportunity to complete CPC training as part of their five year requirement.

We’re holding a full week’s worth of training, your full 35 hours, taking place week commencing Monday 30^th October. Why not book your training in early and save the hassle and bother of trying to complete your training last minute before next year’s deadline?

You can book your training with us for £60 per module, inclusive of VAT and DVSA upload. We have limited spaces available on each course, so don’t delay – we book on a first come, first served basis!

What are you waiting for? Book your place today! Call Rue on 07720 737482 or email rue@wetraincpc.co.uk. to find out more and book your place.

A good service station can make all the difference to a long distance drive. These hubs are vital if you drive for a living and the difference between a good service station and a bad one has an impact – but what makes a good service station?

Cleanliness is top priority. A clean toilet and clean facilities can make or break a service station and after a long trip on the road clean services are the least drivers expect. We’ve all got a horror story of a service station toilet…

Variety is a must. The best service stations are the ones that provide a variety or services and food outlets. This is particularly important if you’re driving a regular route and use the same service station regularly.

Accessibility is key. We can predict what time we’ll need a stop so service stations open 24/7 offering full service and flexibility around the clock make all the difference.

It’s got to be good value for money! Some service stations are certainly more reasonable than others when it comes to price… and affordable, decent services are exactly what drivers are looking for after a long time on the road.

Which service station is your favourite?

Call Rue on 07720 737482 or email rue@wetraincpc.co.uk. to find out more and book your CPC training.

As a long-distance driver, it’s likely you’ll be required to drive in other countries during your career. Seems simple enough but it’s vital you prepare properly for driving in a new country. Here’s our top tips.

Are you on the “right” side of the road? It may seem obvious but if you’re having to drive on a different side of the road than you are used to it can be strange and disorientating. Make sure you concentrate and take extra care when having to overtake other vehicles if appropriate.

What are the rules? Don’t assume that the country you’re driving in follows the same rules as the UK – make sure you’ve checked the relevant highway code and you’re aware of any differences in road rules that you should be aware of.

Plan in advance. Consider your journey in advance and have a think about any stops you might need to make in your route. Whether it be to re-fuel or take a rest, it’s best to plan your stops in advance when in an unfamiliar environment.

Call Rue on 07720 737482 or email rue@wetraincpc.co.uk. to find out more and book your CPC training.

As well as offering tailored CPC training for organisations, we also hold CPC training days – and we’ve got a new training date for your diary coming up!

Based at our training offices in Milton Keynes, we’re offering drivers an opportunity to complete CPC training as part of their five year requirement.

Join us on Saturday 10^th June and Saturday 15th July for our next training sessions – Get 14 hours of CPC training in now!

On Saturday 10^th June we’ll be covering Health and Safety and Fuel Efficient Driving. On Saturday 15th July we’ll be covering Accident Procedures & Speed Awareness and Fitness to Drive. All very important!

You can book your training with us for £60 per module, inclusive of VAT and DVSA upload.

We have ten spaces available on each course, so don’t delay – we book on a first come, first served basis!

What are you waiting for? Book your place today! Call Rue on 07720 737482 or email rue@wetraincpc.co.uk. to find out more and book your place.

A good haulage company for any business is vital. Consumer demand is on the rise and having a haulage company you can trust in is incredibly important. So what should you look for when sourcing a new haulage company?

Flexibility is key. More and more companies are having to work in a more agile way than ever before, and it’s crucial that your haulage provider can quickly adapt to the needs of your business and your customers.

Do they have the experience? Have they worked with organisations similar to yours before? In addition, do they hold of the legal paperwork required for the sort of haulage you are seeking? Do your research and thoroughly investigate any potential haulage partners to ensure they can meet your needs.

Is it cost effective? It may seem obvious but it’s worth interrogating the numbers to make sure a haulage company can provide you with a cost effective solution to haulage. What are the costs and benefits to hauling internally or externally? Make sure you’ve crunched those numbers!

Call Rue on 07720 737482 or email rue@wetraincpc.co.uk. to find out more and book your CPC training.

The logistics industry is changing; many companies are starting to invest in new vehicles run on electricity. Although petrol and diesel vehicles won’t be retired just yet, it’s clear that there are plenty of benefits to using electrical vehicles and companies need to start thinking about investing. So what are the benefits?

They’re cheaper to run. OK, so the initial cost of an electric vehicle may be higher than a standard vehicle, however electric vehicles are much cheaper to run, with electric costing nowhere near as much as petrol or diesel.

They’re cheaper to repair. Given the design of an electric vehicle, they have fewer moving parts and as such are easier and cheaper to maintain.

You’re saving the planet! One of the biggest benefits of electric vehicles is that they are friendly to the environment. OK so this may not seem important, but global warming is an issue and companies must take responsibility.

They’re safer. Given the fact that electric vehicles aren’t carrying traditional fuel, should there be a collision, there’s a reduced risk of fire or explosion.

Electric is the future!

Call Rue on 07720 737482 or email rue@wetraincpc.co.uk. to find out more and book your CPC training.