Earlier this year, 151 Regiment proudly took delivery of 4 x Palletised Load System (PLS) vehicles. Since then, they’ve been hard at work training our service personnel to operate this powerful equipment safely and effectively.
The PLS course is an intense 5-day programme that covers everything from vehicle handling to mastering the Load Handling System (LHS), capable of offloading and recovering flat racks up to 16.5 tonnes. Due to its left-hand drive setup, trainees must also pass a driving assessment on public roads, ensuring they’re both confident and road-safe.
Lance Corporal Cox shares: “The PLS course was an excellent opportunity to gain hands on experience with equipment that we as reservist don’t often get the chance to work with. Although I was already EPLS trained, it was valuable to expand my knowledge and skills on the PLS, particularly as it was configured for left- hand drive, which added an extra layer of practical learning. The instructor was highly knowledgeable and approachable, taking the time to answer all our questions thoroughly and ensuring we fully understood the system. Overall, the course was both informative and engaging, providing a rare and worthwhile opportunity to work with new kit in a supportive learning environment.”
Private Watson adds: “As a newly qualified C+E and Class 3 driver, I found the PLS course to be quite a challenge. Driving itself was fine, although it was a little different being left-hand drive. However, I found loading and unloading the flat racks to be a real challenge. Fortunately, with excellent instruction and practice, it eventually clicked for me, and I now feel competent.”
Well done to all of the troops stepping up to the challenge and mastering this vital capability!
