http://www.iopdc.com/
Institute of Professional Drivers and Chauffeurs (IoPDC) Formed to Represent 250,000 professional drivers and chauffeurs
• There are around 250,000 professional licenced drivers and chauffeurs operating in the UK
• They travel an astonishing 19.5 billion miles every year
• They carry over one billion fares annually
The Institute of Professional Drivers and Chauffeurs has been founded to represent this significant body of people, IoPDC’s director Adrian Seymour explaining that, ‘Our primary focus is directed at those running executive car services and chauffeurs. However, we also aim to provide full support for professional drivers in all sectors with the principle aim of improving the professionalism of the service they offer to their customers.’
The non-profit IoPDC also has a considerable number of important additional goals:
• To further members’ relationships with customers, regulatory bodies and government agencies.
• To aid the flow of information between professional drivers, car manufacturers and regulatory bodies.
And the IoPDC is also a one-stop shop for the professional driver, who has not previously been able to enjoy such a facility.
Services include:
• Driver training, and training to heighten professionalism
• Test drives and evaluation events supported by major manufacturers
• Access to jobs via the IoPDC website
• Guidelines on working time regulations
• Traffic information
• Legal advice
• Tailored insurance at favourable rates
• Preferential terms for vehicle purchase
• Conferences
Raising Professional Standards
The IoPDC aims to improve the standards of its members by providing access to a wide variety of courses, from advanced driving to chauffeur training and training on various aspects of security. Providing information on industry licensing and regulation is another important component of the service, particularly as regulation is growing at local, regional, national and European Union levels.
Furthering Relationships with Customers, Regulatory Bodies and Government Agencies
Customers will be reassured by a licenced operator’s membership of the IoPDC, which can provide visible confirmation of its high professional standards. And in an era of increasing regulation the IoPDC provides a much-needed voice for licenced operators. It will represent their views, and provide guidance to legislators drawing up rules that may affect the livelihoods of professional drivers and chauffeurs.
Sharing Information Between Professional Drivers, Car Manufacturers and Regulatory Bodies
Professional drivers have particular needs, not only from the legal framework that they operate within but also from the vehicles that are their tools. Promoting a better understanding of these needs is another goal of the IoPDC, which has established positive links with manufacturers such as Mercedes-Benz. Aware of the high interest in the brand by independent chauffeurs/drivers and fleets alike, Mercedes-Benz Retail Corporate Sales already provides an extensive chauffeur programme. Its specialist sales team has experience and knowledge of the demands of the customer, and is available to build long-term business relationships. It has an understanding of what chauffeur fleets require to make a successful business, and its team is keen to listen to the sector and of the many factors that influence or burden the industry to develop that understanding so that its future offer grows.
A One-Stop Shop
The IoPDC not only raises standards and provides a voice, but offers an array of services and facilities that will enhance the daily lives of professional drivers. From instant on-line links to real-time travel information, from driver training to legal advice and vehicle purchase information, the IoPDC can provide swift and instant links to services and information that are absolutely essential to the professional driver and licenced operator via its website. The Institute’s website also offers preferential rates on an extensive selection of essential services such as insurance.
All these IoPDC services are designed to enhance and improve the climate within the professional driver and chauffeur industry, besides promoting better standards. The Institute’s existence is seen as a positive step by a number of important bodies.
Andrew Howard, the Automobile Association’s Head of Road Safety, says: ‘We welcome the birth of the IoPDC. Driving professionally can bring its own particular pressures in respect of schedules and working hours, and the AA would encourage any body that raises standards in this area.’
Mercedes-Benz’s Steve Hanifan, sales manager for Mercedes-Benz Retail Corporate Sales in London said, ‘The creation of the IoPDC provides an appropriate industry body for us to forge a strong relationship with, to support our many chauffeur fleet partners and strengthen our professional participation in the chauffeur sector. We believe we can create some strong opportunities to present to the IoPDC members, in terms of improved two-way communication and, of course, sales and after sales. We now have a platform for a range of mutually beneficial business activities and have a forum to develop very specific programmes in the future.’
For more information, please contact:
www.iopdc.com
Adrian Seymour
Operations & Communications Director
Institute of Professional
Drivers and Chauffeurs
Regus House
Victory Way
Admirals Park
Crossways
Dartford
Kent
DA2 6QD
t: 01322 303450
m: 07876 656099
e:
adrian@iopdc.com
w:
www.iopdc.com
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