Improving the safety of emergency roadside work

CVW hears more about the work the NTDA has done over the past 14 years to help improve the safety of emergency roadside work.

The National Tyre Distributors Association (NTDA) is celebrating a monumental achievement in the professional development of tyre technicians, with the announcement that over 16,000 technicians have been trained, assessed as competent, and now proudly hold a valid professional licence. Among the standout successes, is the Roadside Emergency Action Concerning Technicians (REACT) Licence to work safely at the roadside which continues to lead the charge, with an impressive 11,336 licensed technicians across the UK and ROI.

The NTDA REACT

Licence was introduced in 2011, primarily to improve the safety of commercial tyre technicians working at the roadside. This was a direct response to several tragic incidents where technicians were injured or killed while working on vehicles at the side of the road. The licence equips technicians with the knowledge and skills to work safely in these challenging environments. The tyre industry recognised that roadside tyre work is inherently dangerous. As technicians are often called out in all weather conditions, and at any hour, to work near or on the edge of busy roadways.

The REACT initiative is supported by leading tyre manufacturers, distributors, and National Highways, solidifying its importance as the de facto safety standard for the industry.

Close behind, the Licensed Commercial Tyre Technician (LCTT), a more tyre fitting skills focussed programme, boasts a strong community of 3,563 licence holders. But that’s not all, as other specialised licenses issued under the NTDA scheme are rapidly gaining ground.

The Licensed Retail Tyre Technician (LRTT), Licensed Mobile Tyre Technician (LMTT), Licensed Electric Vehicle Tyre Technician (LEVTT), and Responsible Tyre Repair Technician (RTRT) collectively account for an additional 909 licences, marking a surge in independently assessed expertise across diverse areas of tyre technology.

Commenting on the success of the scheme NTDA CEO Stefan Hay said: “This remarkable milestone not only showcases the dedication to quality training by our members and other leading tyre distributors but also highlights the growing recognition of distinct areas of skills specialisation, ensuring that tyre technicians are better equipped than ever to work safely and efficiently across all sub-sectors of the tyre trade. The future of the trade is looking brighter and more skilled than ever!”

Who is involved?

The NTDA is the licensing and certification body for Tyre Technician Professional Development Scheme (TTPDS), with an impressive network of approved training providers, carrying out the training and assessment. The current training providers are:

Autotech Training, ContiAcademy Training Centre, Delphi Academy, DM Training Solutions (NI) Ltd, Engage Training Academy Ltd, Michelin Training and Information Centre, PFTP Ltd, Pirelli Performance Centre, Rema Tip Top Automotive (UK) Ltd, RWC Training, Leading Edge and the Irish Tyre Industry Association for the ROI.

In addition, several NTDA tyre distributor members, including ATS Euromaster, Central Tyre, Halfords Commercial Fleet Services, Kwik Fit and TrucTyre, have become approved centres, delivering a significant number of internal training and assessment programmes to enhance the skill sets of their employees.

These leading company commitments to professional development are also helping to strengthen the workforce and elevate industry standards across the board. Stefan Hay continued: “The TTPDS is continuously evolving to meet the needs of the trade. In early March, a pivotal meeting took place at the Michelin Training and

Information Centre, where several key objectives were discussed to further refine and expand the programme, namely:

● Formalising the TTPDS as a central framework, with standardised training, assessment protocols, terminology, and ongoing CPD criteria.

● Developing a new set of criteria for a Licensed Specialist Tyre Technician (LSTT), specifically tailored to the OTR sector. and

● Creating the framework for a new Licensed Tyre Centre Manager (LTCM) scheme.

Looking ahead, a major long-term goal for the NTDA and its network of approved training providers is to secure industry-wide support from employers, as well as to lobby the Department for Education and bodies such as IfATE to obtain funding for learners based on the centralised TTPDS framework. This initiative aims to ensure that future generations of tyre technicians have access to world-class training while contributing to the ongoing growth and professionalism of the industry.”