NAFD welcomes the launch of the Professional Carriage Masters Association

The National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD) has welcomed the formation of the Professional Carriage Masters Association (PCMA), which aims to promote best practice and improve professional standards throughout the commercial horse-drawn vehicle industry.

“Competency and safety, in terms of the standard of the operator’s driving, their commitment to animal welfare and the quality of the vehicle, are vitally important, because a lack of professionalism by a commercial carriage driving company in any one area reflects badly on the funeral director, who is ultimately responsible for the funeral,” says NAFD chief executive officer Alan Slater.

“We are delighted that our Immediate Past President Susan Saville has played a key role, working alongside funeral directors and horse-drawn vehicle operators, to set up this trade association for commercial carriage drivers, and believe that it will give funeral directors added confidence in carriage masters’ capabilities.”

The Professional Carriage Masters Association is a not for profit trade association limited by guarantee and is chaired by Richard James, an independent non-trading Board member, who is particularly well qualified and experienced in carriage-driving. Susan Saville, who was a member of the original steering committee, is now a Board member representing the National Association of Funeral Directors and is keen to develop a solid working partnership with the new organisation for the benefit of NAFD members.

Until now, the funeral industry has had to rely on local intelligence when engaging the services of a coachman and hearse, often without any indication of the operator’s standards or competency. In November last year, at a meeting of some 120 interested parties, there was unanimous support for the formation of a reputable membership organization for carriage masters.

Prospective members of the Professional Carriage Masters Association are required to demonstrate that both the business and its staff hold all the appropriate transport licences, animal welfare certification and coachman qualifications (administered by the British Driving Society), plus public liability insurance cover of £5million. More and more firms in the carriage driving industry are achieving these criteria and the PMCA anticipates that by the end of 2010 it will have members throughout the UK that will satisfy the expectations of the funeral profession.

To maintain standards and overall quality of service, members will be monitored on a regular basis by PCMA representatives, who will attend funerals unannounced, checking on safety provisions and taking into consideration the welfare of the horses. They will also act on feedback received from NAFD members.

The PCMA’s aim is to ensure that its member firms operate coherent partnerships with funeral directors. Guidelines for funeral directors when working with PCMA members are expected to be approved at the organisation’s October Board meeting and these will then be distributed throughout the sector. Comprehensive details of companies that have been accepted into membership of the PCMA will be available on the trade association’s website, which is scheduled to go live in November.

For further information about the Professional Carriage Masters Association call Richard James on 01725 519322 or email rj@carriagedriving.co.uk