ESTA’s new European Trailer Operator Licence (ETOL) for Modular Hydraulically Suspended Trailers – such as SPMTs – has taken an important step forward following the latest round of discussions between users and manufacturers.
The in-depth discussions held by ESTA’s specialist MHST working group earlier this month focussed on the design of the trailer operator training and the related documents on engineering levels and transport categories.
The meetings also wanted to ensure that small companies and new market entrants would have an efficient route to acquire suitably trained operators.
As a result, the decision was taken to approve an additional training path. This means there will now be two training paths – one institute-based and another workplace oriented (see tables below).
At the end of the training, both routes will lead to the same examination and qualification, a European Trailer Operator Licence.
The amended training set up was given the go-ahead last week by the European Crane and Transport Operators’ Licence (ECTOL) Expert Committee. ECTOL is the body that oversees the operation of both ESTA’s European crane licence scheme (ECOL), as well as the new transport licence project (ETOL).
ECTOL General Manager and ESTA Director Ton Klijn said: “It is especially pleasing that throughout the detailed discussions, all sides of the industry believe that this is the right thing to be doing in principle – so as we come across obstacles, there is a commitment to deal with them.
“This is hugely important work that we hope will significantly improve safety and standards on wide range of projects. With the use of SPMTs becoming ever more widespread, it is clearly essential that an internationally recognised training standard for operators is developed and accepted as soon as possible.”
The next steps for ESTA’s expert team will involve working on a glossary of definitions across multiple languages to ensure common understanding, and developing the item bank – that is the list of questions for the examinations and the answers to go with them to ensure that an operator is fully competent.
When issued, an ETOL licence will be valid for 5 years. Renewal will take into account:
- relevant and recent work experience
- proof of relevant re-training or theoretical test containing the latest developments in modular trailer technique and regulations
- medical fitness
The experts on ESTA’s specialist MHST working group also concluded that the large variance in complexity of SPMT projects would require transports to be categorised and that these transport categories, the engineering levels and the operator training should be aligned. Further details will be published in a new best practice guide in due course.
ETOL SPMT Operator training - Institute based learning path Name Duration Results in: 1 Introduction 1 day Certificate level 1 2 Initial training 15 days Certificate level 2 3 Experience 150 days Completed task book 1+2 4 Secondary training 20 days Certificate level 3
ETOL SPMT Operator training - Workplace oriented learning path
Name Duration Results in:
1 Introduction 1 day Certificate level 1
2 Initial experience 60 days Completed task book 1
3 Initial training 6 days Certificate level 2
4 Extended experience 120 days Completed task book 2
5 Secondary training 5 days Certificate level 3