CPCS A73 Plant and Vehicle Marshaller

Course Overview

The CPCS A73 Plant and Vehicle Marshaller course is designed for individuals who manage or direct the movement of vehicles and plant around construction or industrial sites. It provides the knowledge and practical skills needed to guide drivers and operators safely, maintain clear communication and manage risks in busy working areas.

This CPCS A73 Plant and Vehicle Marshaller course is suitable for supervisors, site marshals, and anyone involved in coordinating logistics and vehicle access. The focus is on safe on-site movements rather than bringing vehicles and plant onto site from the public highway.

Who is this course for?

This CPCS A73 Plant and Vehicle Marshaller course is intended for personnel who are responsible for guiding and controlling the movement of plant and vehicles on site. It is ideal for:

• Site marshals and vehicle banksmen.
• Supervisors and forepersons managing plant and vehicle operations.
• Logistics and traffic management staff on construction or industrial sites.
• Operatives who support lifting, loading or unloading activities involving plant and vehicles.

Candidates should have some experience working on-site and a basic understanding of construction terminology. The course is suitable for both novice and experienced candidates, and you will follow the most appropriate CPCS route based on your experience.

What you will learn

By the end of the CPCS A73 Plant and Vehicle Marshaller course, delegates will:

• Understand the role and responsibilities of the plant and vehicle marshaller.
• Know the key legal obligations related to managing vehicle and plant movements on site.
• Appreciate the importance of planning and controlling vehicle routes, access, and egress.
• Understand how to ensure effective segregation between vehicles, plant, and pedestrians.
• Learn and use recognised hand signals and other approved methods of communication.
• Be able to carry out basic risk assessments of the working area before marshalling operations begin.
• Identify common hazards such as restricted visibility, reversing operations, and shared access routes.
• Understand how to set up and maintain safe working zones and exclusion areas.
• Know what actions to take in the event of an incident or near miss.

Note: This course focuses on directing plant and vehicle movements within a controlled site environment and does not cover bringing vehicles and plant onto the site from the public highway.

Assessment and certification

To successfully complete CPCS A73 Plant and Vehicle Marshaller training, candidates must pass both a practical assessment and a knowledge test, with clear pass/fail criteria set out by the CPCS scheme. The assessments check that delegates can carry out marshalling duties safely, communicate clearly with plant and vehicle operators and understand the principles of site traffic management.

On passing the required CPCS technical tests, delegates can apply for the appropriate CPCS A73 Plant and Vehicle Marshaller card, in line with CPCS scheme rules.

Entry requirements and additional information

To attend this course, candidates must be at least 18 years of age, in good physical health and able to meet the demands of practical training, including moving around active work areas and working outdoors in typical site conditions. An adequate level of spoken and written English is required to engage with the course content and assessments. There are no formal qualification requirements, although previous experience with plant, traffic management or construction work will be beneficial.

This course can also be delivered as a COTS-accredited in-house course. In-house training can take place either at the COTS Training centre or at customer premises where suitable facilities are available. Because it is not tied to an external awarding body syllabus, in-house training allows COTS to tailor the content and examples more closely to the customer’s site layout, traffic routes and operational procedures.

Candidates will follow either the novice or experienced route, depending on their background:

• Novice route: For candidates who do not hold a current industry-recognised card in this category and/or have limited or no demonstrable experience marshalling plant and vehicles on construction sites. Previous site experience and a basic knowledge of construction terminology are beneficial but not essential.
• Experienced route: For candidates who hold a current industry-recognised red card in a relevant category or have equivalent experience. The trainer will complete an initial assessment and documented profiling to confirm suitability for the experienced route based on the candidate’s knowledge and skills.

Candidates wishing to obtain or renew a CPCS card must also meet any current CPCS scheme requirements, which may include holding a valid CITB Health, Safety, and Environment test. COTS can advise on the latest requirements at the time of booking.

PPE requirements

For the practical elements, delegates must wear suitable personal protective equipment, including:

• Safety footwear
• Suitable work clothing
• Hard hat
• High-visibility vest or jacket
• Any additional PPE required by the site risk assessment or company rules

Any extra or site-specific PPE requirements will be confirmed before the course date.

Why choose COTS Training for CPCS A73 Plant and Vehicle Marshaller training?

Choosing COTS for CPCS A73 Plant and Vehicle Marshaller training means delegates are taught by instructors who understand both the CPCS scheme and the realities of managing plant and vehicle movements on busy sites. Training is delivered in a clear, practical way, with time for questions, discussion and scenario-based exercises.

By the end of the course, the aim is that every delegate is confident in their marshalling role, understands how to plan and control vehicle movements safely, and can use recognised signals and communication methods to help reduce the risk of incidents on site.

CPCS A73 Plant and Vehicle Marshaller course FAQs