The Road Patrol Training for Excellence 2018 took place from 25 to 28 September 2018 in Vienna, Austria and was hosted by the Österreichischer Automobil-, Motorrad- Und Touring Club (ÖAMTC).
For the second year in a row, Koninklijke Nederlandse Toeristenbond (ANWB) was awarded the title of Road Patrol Team of the Year by FIA Region I and ARC Europe Group following three days of intensive training and competition at the annual Road Patrol Training for Excellence. In second place were The Automobile Association UK (AA) and Avto-moto zveza Slovenija (AMZS).
FIA Region I President, Mr Thomas Møller Thomsen said: “Breakdown assistance remains a core business of many Clubs. The event brings Clubs together and gives them a chance to learn from each other. Patrolteams receive training from some of the best experts here and in the end this benefits members who get the highest quality assistance when they need us.’’
Stefano Sarti, Managing Director of ARC Europe Group, said: “ARC Europe Group proudly recognize the hard work and commitment of our road patrols, it’s due to their day to day efforts, that we are known for high-quality services in roadside assistance. The Road Patrol Training for Excellence it’s instrumental for us, we strongly value our patrol men and we would like to honor them with this prize and fulfill our goal, to become the best mobility partner for our customers, in addition to developing new business lines and getting motorists back on the road.”
FIA Region I and ARC Europe Group are the main organisers of the event where 19 road patrol teams from across Europe come together to learn the latest techniques and best practice for roadside assistance to help get motorists back on the road. This year, trainers came from two clubs Österreichischer Automobil-, Motorrad- Und Touring Club (ÖAMTC) and the Touring Club de Suisse (TCS), as well as two companies Club Logistic Services (CLS) and ProLux.
This year’s Road Patrol Training for Excellence will take place in Vienna, Austria, from 25-28 September 2018, upon the kind invitation of ÖAMTC. More information and registration coming soon.
The Road Patrol Training for Excellence is an annual event that aims to provide better training to road patrolmen and to improve their theoretical and practical knowledge and abilities to identify and solve/repair technical failures, starting problems and vehicle opening. The event also provides an excellent platform for learning and exchange of subject related information and news.
See all the photos and download them on Flickr -
Tuesday, 25 September
For ANWB, ACI, STARTER, ÖAMTC regional teams
8:30-11:30 1st part of the training and contest
12:30-15:00 2nd part of the training and contest
11:00-18:00 Self-service lunch with Food truck
For all remaining teams, together with ANWB, ACI, STARTER and ÖAMTC regional teams
Until 14:00 Arrival of teams and check-in (Vienna SportHotel)
14:00-15:00 Placing of the cars at ÖAMTC headquarters
15:00-16:00 Group picture with road patrol cars and exhibition
(ÖAMTC headquarters)
16:00-17:00 Presentation of teams and road patrol cars / diagnostic tools
(ÖAMTC headquarters)
17:30-18:30 Free time
18:30-19:30 Welcome drink
19:30-21:00 Dinner
Wednesday, 26 September
8:30-12:30 1st part of the training and the contest
12:00-13:30 Lunch
13:00-17:00 2nd part of the training and the contest
17:15-18:00 Bus ride to ÖAMTC training centre Teesdorf
18:00-19:30 Social activity
19:30-21:00 Dinner
Thursday. 27 September
8:30-12:30 1st part of the training and the contest
12:00-13:30 Lunch
13:00-17:00 2nd part of the training and the contest
From 17:00 Free time
Friday, 28 September
9:00-11:30 Feedback and evaluation
12:00-13:00 Award ceremony
13:00-15:00 Lunch and farewell
Participation is limited to sixteen teams and registration is done on a first come, first serve basis. The event will include both training and assessment sessions. During the assessment, the participants are organised in Club teams and receive points based on performance. The teams are expected to identify the cause of breakdown on various vehicles and to repair them.
Criteria for evaluation
Number of participants
One team per Club with:
Patrol:
He/she should not have participated at least in the last edition of the Road Patrol Training for Excellence.
Patrol Trainer:
He/she should not have participated at least in the last edition of the Road Patrol Training for Excellence.
Exceptions:
Should an organisation have only one trainer among their employees, this trainer is entitled to enrol and to participate 2 years in a row in the RPTfE. However, it is up to the organisation committee to assess the enrolment case by case to make the final decision.
Interpreter:
The interpreter helps his/her team whenever the language is a barrier to understand the training knowledge and enables the communication with the trainers during the assessment. There is no restriction for the interpreters to participate in the RPTfE several times.
Please note that while the interpreter can be present during the assignments, only the team members (road patrol member and road patrol trainer) are strictly allowed to perform the assignments. The guests are not allowed to be present during the assignments. This means that neither the interpreter nor the guests are allowed to solve the assignments. Should a team not follow this rule, the organising committee might decide on disqualification. There will be a clear perimeter indicating the area that can only be accessed by the participants and 1 translator and that guests are not allowed to enter.
Technical coordination team (Trainers)
Languages
The training and assessment sessions will be in English. Translation into other languages will be provided for the highest requested languages and depending on possibilities on the spot. The teams who do not speak English are encouraged to come with their own interpreter.
Patrol Cars / Roadside Tools
Participants should come with their own fully equipped road patrol cars and diagnostic devices. The teams will be asked to use road patrol equipment during the assignments of the contest. Having own equipment might increase the chance of success. The host organisation ÖAMTC could, however, make available few provisional road patrol cars for the teams who are unable to bring their own. This should be requested by the Club and it will be up to the organisation committee to assess the request case by case to make the final decision.
All participants are required to bring their own diagnostics tool, even if they cannot come with their own road patrol car.
During the event, there will be an exhibit of the road patrol cars and the roadside assistance tools. This is a great opportunity to share best practices and to learn from each other.
Prize
The organisations who belong both to FIA Region I and to ARC Europe Group are eligible to be granted the “Road Patrol of the Year 2018” award based on their performance during the assessment. Each participant will receive a certificate of participation.
Please note that in order for the organising committee to print the correct badges and certificates, the participants can only make changes to their travel arrangements until 2 weeks before the event. Changes made after 10 September 2018 will need to be paid for by the Club (€100 per change).
Costs
The participation fee for the training is €150 per team (1 member of road patrol, 1 road patrol trainer and 1 interpreter, should the team require one). Any additional Club staff wishing to take part can do so for a discounted registration fee of €100.
Dress code
Training and contest: patrol uniforms (the training and the contest will be in- and outdoors).
Social program: casual and rain jacket/coat.
See all the photos and download them on Flickr -RPTfE 2018 video from FIA Region I on Vimeo.
