4 ways to automate in-house driving for work training

#1 - Simple training log

Who it's for: Managers who know the driving-for-work controls and want to brief staff, with a record it happened.

What it is: In-house driving for work training is a short session a manager delivers to staff. This version is a checklist of the points to cover, checking the vehicle before driving, valid licence and insurance, planning the journey, no phone use, managing fatigue, and reporting defects and incidents, plus a field for who was trained.

Available on: Basic.

In practice: A manager runs a new delivery driver through the walk-round vehicle check, leaving the phone in the glovebox, and building in a break on the long run, and lists who attended. Fifteen minutes, and a record the team was trained.

Why it works: The points sit on the canvas, so the session covers the same ground every time. Listing who was trained up front means the record works whether you train one person or the whole team.

Steps included:

• 1 checklist (6 driving for work points to cover)
• 1 field for who was trained (names)

When to upgrade:

1. The manager delivering it wants the detail to hand
2. You need to show staff understood, not just attended
3. You run several sites and need a signed record per session

#2 - With guidance

Who it's for: Managers who want the actual content for each point so the session is consistent.

What it is: The simple log with guidance panels: the vehicle check, licence and insurance, journey planning, the no-phone rule, and managing fatigue. Any manager can deliver the same session whether or not they know it cold.

Available on: Standard.

What it adds to the previous template:

1. The vehicle check and the phone and fatigue rules are on screen, not in the manager's memory
2. Every session covers the same material
3. A new manager can deliver it from day one

Why it works: The guidance carries the content, so the session doesn't depend on the trainer remembering the detail.

Steps included:

• 1 guidance note (the content for each point)
• 1 checklist (6 driving for work points)
• 1 field for who was trained

When to upgrade: When you need to show staff understood (Driving Training #3), or a signed record per session (Driving Training #4).

#3 - With check of understanding

Who it's for: Operations that need to show the training landed, not just that a session ran.

What it is: The guided session plus a short check of understanding: the trainer ticks what each trainee was able to show, doing a pre-drive vehicle check, the no-phone rule, and the fatigue and breaks rule.

Available on: Standard.

What it adds to the previous template:

1. The session records that staff could show the basics, not just watch
2. The record means more to an inspector than attendance alone
3. It flags who might need another run-through

Why it works: Attendance proves someone was in the room; a check of understanding proves they can do it.

Steps included:

• 1 guidance note (the content for each point)
• 1 checklist (6 driving for work points)
• 1 field for who was trained
• 1 check of understanding (3 competence items)

When to upgrade: When you need a signed, evidenced record per session for a multi-site standard (Driving Training #4).

#4 - With photo and sign-off

Who it's for: Multi-site groups that need a signed training record for every session.

What it is: The checked session plus a photo of the session or the staff trained, and a single trainer signature confirming delivery to the staff named. One signature covers the session, however many attended.

Available on: Standard.

What it adds to the previous template:

1. A photo of the session as proof it happened
2. A single trainer signature confirming delivery to the named staff
3. A complete, dated training record per session, comparable across sites

Why it works: The trainer signature plus the names captured up front is the record, without needing a signature from every attendee.

Steps included:

• 1 guidance note (the content for each point)
• 1 checklist (6 driving for work points)
• 1 field for who was trained
• 1 check of understanding
• 1 photo of the session
• 1 trainer signature

When to upgrade: When you want Poppi to track who's due a refresher, or roll every site's sessions into one training report. Those versions are coming in the next post update.

How to pick the right version

You don't need to know our product to choose. Just answer three questions.

Does the manager delivering it know the driving-for-work controls well?

If they do and just want a record, a plain log is enough. If not, the content needs to be on the screen. If the trainer knows it cold, #1 is fine. Otherwise start at #2.

Do you need to show staff understood, or just attended?

An attendance log shows a session ran; a check of understanding shows staff could do the basics. If attendance is enough, stop at #2. If you need to show it landed, #3 adds the check.

Do you need a signed record?

In one site, the log speaks for itself. Across sites, you want a signed, comparable record. If no sign-off is needed, #3 is enough. If you run more than one site, #4 adds a photo and a trainer signature.

Related reading

• Driving risk assessment - the assessment behind this training
• In-house working outside training - off-site work risks
• In-house first aid training - for incidents on the road

Frequently asked questions

Does driving for work need managing?

Yes. If staff drive for work, even in their own car, you have a duty to manage the risk, the same as any work activity. The driving risk assessment sets the controls; this session trains drivers on them.

What should a vehicle check cover?

A quick walk-round: lights, indicators, tyres and pressures, fluid levels, mirrors, and that the load is secure. Plus valid licence, insurance, and MOT. The training makes it a habit.

How do I record who was trained when numbers vary?

List the names up front and the trainer signs off once to confirm delivery to those staff.

Where to go next

In-house driving for work training turns vehicle checks and safe driving habits into a short repeatable session with a record it happened and landed. The versions above move from a simple log to a signed, checked record.

Five more versions are coming in the next refresh that bring AI into the training. Poppi can track who's due a refresher and roll every site's sessions into one report. Those need more review time and will land separately.

→ Build your own in-house driving for work training on Pilla. The Basic plan unlocks the simple log today.