TIP has partnered with BPW, the UK’s leading axle and suspension system provider, to formally train and re-train hundreds of its trailer technicians.

The joint initiative is aimed at updating and further improving the skill levels of TIP’s technicians to drive compliance and improve safety and reliability. More than 150 TIP trailer technicians from across the nation will be trained on the latest BPW technologies to ensure that they are right up-to-date with all aspects of servicing, maintaining, repairing, and the fitment of BPW equipment to its managed fleet of trailers, the majority of which have BPW products fitted.

Training courses commenced in April and are taking place every other week at BPW’s fully equipped training centre in Leicester. Equipment in scope for the training includes heavy axles, drum and disc braking technologies, and suspension systems. Courses have a practical emphasis, with trainees invited to put their skills into practice by stripping and re-building hub assemblies.

Upon successful completion of the course, technicians receive a ‘BPW Approved Maintenance Technician’ certificate, valid for three years.

In addition to training TIP’s own workshop technicians, training is also offered to TIP’s nationwide network of authorised service providers to ensure comprehensive skills coverage in order to support TIP customers, irrespective of their location.

Courses will be held on an ongoing basis, and it is expected that more than 300 technicians will be trained annually, making TIP the largest employer of BPW trained technicians in the country.

In addition, TIP’s network of workshops are recognised ‘BPW Approved Maintenance Network & Service Stations’, following a programme of training on axles and brake maintenance techniques over a period of nine months. Thirty TIP locations now have BPW approval.

Mike Furnival, managing director of TIP, commented: “The ongoing training and upskilling of our mechanics is a priority for TIP. We have just commenced training of ‘budding’ technicians at our brand new mechanic academy in Nuneaton, and we are delighted to embark on the BPW training scheme to sit nicely alongside that. Both initiatives demonstrate TIP’s commitment to providing the best possible training for our technicians, who are vital to the success of our business.”

Michael Stayman, aftermarket and maintenance network manager at BPW Limited, commented: “This is a significant training effort by both BPW and TIP, and one that will ensure fleet operators using BPW running gear can enjoy ongoing reliability, safety, and compliance, thanks to the ‘upskilling’ of hundreds of mechanics. There is no official legislation in place for the training of trailer technicians, so in recent years we have worked hard to establish a high standard of service and maintenance training that is now well recognised within the industry. We are delighted to be working with TIP to support their training requirements”.

Mike Furnival added: “Since embarking on our training partnership with BPW, our fleet has benefitted from a reduction in breakdowns, which means a decrease in ‘downtime’ for our customers’ transport operations, and we feel confident that safety levels have improved further, in addition to the levels of compliance experienced.”