FIA Region I and ARC Europe Group have joined forces to create a best in class training for road patrol teams in member organisations. The training aims to increase the overall standard of roadside assistance services offered by the participating road patrol teams and to achieve a universally high level for the quality of services offered by FIA Region I Clubs and ARC Europe Group members throughout Europe.
Participants in the Road Patrol Training for Excellence benefit from access to cars from different car brands under contract with ARC Europe Group and learn about common breakdown causes, specific repair information and new car technologies for each of these brands. The event includes both training and assessment sessions and, upon completion, a certification of training. The team achieving the highest scores during the assessment sessions is awarded the title of “Road Patrol Team of the Year”.
After extensive training and competition, AMZS (Slovenia) won the title of Road Patrol Team of the Year.
ÖAMTC (Austria) won second place and the AA (United Kingdom) won third place.
Guidelines
- The duration for the practical and assessment phase of the event is 2 days: Theoretical courses, and assessments.
- Clubs who are only either FIA Region I member or ARC Europe are not awarded. To be in the ranking, a Club should be a member of both organisations.
- Due to Covid-19 restrictions each club should be represented by a team of at the most 2 members:
- 1 road patrolman
- 1 road patrol trainer, or an interpreter
- The patrolman and the trainer should not have participated in the last year edition of the Road Patrol Training for Excellence. An exception could be made for organisations with only one trainer.
- As stated in the rules, each contestant team is encouraged to participate with its own road patrol car. This may increase its chance in the competition.
- Each group will go through one rotation per half a day:
- 1 Rotation = 1 theoretical course +- 2 assessments + 1 practical task + 1 break
- During the theoretical session, the trainer will deliver an automotive related course during 1 hour per group.
- The theoretical and assessment contents will be delivered in English.
- During the theoretical session, participants may ask questions to the trainer in case they did not understand a topic.
- The knowledge presented during the classroom course will be the main subject of the assessment.
- During the assessments involving works on a vehicle, participants are expected to locate the root cause of the breakdown and to repair it or advise the next step within 20 minutes.
- The timer starts as soon as soon as the role play /assessment has been explained (without exceeding 5 minutes). No extra time is allowed after the 20 minutes have expired.
- If the participants fail to locate the fault or repair within the timeframe, they should anyway suggest a solution for the customer and clearly state the next steps to close the case.
- The assessment marking will be focused on the following criteria:
- Safe approach to address the breakdown
- Customer care
- Pre-checks and fault confirmation
- Logical process to diagnose the fault
- Time spent on the repair
- Usage of the knowledge acquired during the theoretical sessions
- Team work
- Personal automotive technical skills
- Success of repair
- In case of a tie in the global ranking, the team with the highest score in the customer care/service for the 4 workshops would be privileged.
- During the assessments involving works on a vehicle, participants should refer to the trainer as a customer; no help or course related questions are authorised.
- Participants are expected to interact with the customer in the same way as in a real-life scenario.
- The interpreter is not allowed to intervene if his/her team does not require a translation.
- The guests are not allowed to access the assessment’s delimited zones unless accompanied by a member of the organization team.
- Participants are expected to keep the working area clean and tidy. Points will be allocated for housekeeping and cleanliness.
- Participants should not introduce extra faults while working. Should they have any doubt, they should refer to the trainer once the assessment has finished.
Costs
- €625 per team (1 member of road patrol, 1 road patrol trainer or 1 interpreter, should the team require one)
- €100 per guest
Dress code
- Training and contest: patrol uniforms (the training and the contest will be in- and outdoors).
- Social program: casual and rain jacket/coat.
Rules
Participation is limited 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
- Safe way to address the breakdown
- Customer service
- Time spent for the repair
- Usage of the knowledge acquired during the theoretical sessions
- Team work
- Own automotive technical knowledge
- Success of repair
Participants
One team per Club with:
- 1 member of road patrol
- 1 road patrol trainer or interpreter
Patrol:
He/she should not have participated at least in the last edition of the Road Patrol Training for Excellence.
He/she should not have been involved in the trainer team in the last edition of the RPTfE.
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 in case of a language barrier
- There is no restriction for the interpreters to participate in the RPTfE several times
- Interpreters can be present during the assignments. However, only the team members (road patrol member and road patrol trainer) are strictly allowed to perform the assignments.
- The interpreter is not allowed to intervene if his/her team does not require a translation.
Guest
The guests are not allowed to be present during the assignments not perform the assignment.
Should a team not follow these rule, the organising committee might decide on disqualification.
Languages
The training and assessment sessions will be in English. The teams who do not speak English are encouraged to come with their own translator.
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 will increase the chance of success.
- If needed host organisation ACL will have a few road patrol cars available for the teams who are unable to bring their own.
- If your Club needs a car or equipment, please inform the organisational team before the event.
- All participants are required to bring their own diagnostics tool, even if they cannot come with their own road patrol car.
Prize
- All participants – with exception of the cases hereunder are eligible to be granted the “Road Patrol of the Year 2021” award based on their performance during the assessment.
- Participants of which the same Club also provides the training
- Clubs who are not members of both ARC Europe and FIA Networks
- Each participant will receive a certificate of participation.
- In case of changes in team participants please inform the organisation as soon as possible
In case of a tie in the global ranking, the team with the highest score in the customer care for the 4 workshops would be privileged.
