The CPCS A73 Plant & Vehicle Marshaller ticket — the card behind gateman, vehicle banksman and traffic marshal jobs — from novice to carded in two days
Every construction site that moves plant and lorries needs trained marshallers — the person on the gate logging vehicles in, guiding reversing wagons past blind spots, and keeping pedestrians out of exclusion zones. The job goes by several names on site: traffic marshal, traffic marshall, vehicle banksman, gateman or plant marshaller. The ticket behind all of them on CPCS-run sites is the same one: CPCS A73 Plant & Vehicle Marshaller.
We run the A73 course at our own centre at Endon, Stoke-on-Trent, with a maximum of two candidates per course. Complete beginners train and take the CPCS theory and practical tests over two days; experienced marshallers can go straight to a one-day test. From £395, prices published upfront.
CPCS A73 Plant & Vehicle Marshaller is the traffic marshal ticket — directing vehicle and plant movements, controlling the gate, guiding reversing plant and protecting pedestrians. If a job ad says gateman, vehicle banksman or traffic marshall, this is the card it means.
CPCS A40 Slinger Signaller is the lifting ticket — attaching loads and signalling crane and excavator lifts. If your "banksman" work involves cranes and suspended loads, you need A40 rather than A73.
Many sites want both cards, and plenty of our candidates take the two courses back to back — call us and we'll profile which you need in two minutes.
Everything you need to go from novice to CPCS card in one place.
Train and test on machines we own and maintain — never a hired-in machine you have not seen before. Identical to the one you take your test on.
Genuine hands-on seat time, not queueing. Many courses run 1:1 depending on availability — you spend the day operating.
Training, CITB HS&E testing and CPCS technical testing all delivered in-house at our Staffordshire centre. Fewer delays, one point of contact.
Rated five stars by over 400 reviewers — real operators we have trained and put onto site.
Over twenty years of plant training and more than 1,000 candidates certified every single year.
Already have experience? We assess you first and place you on the correct course length — no paying for training days you do not need.
Upfront prices online — no quotes, no broker mark-ups. What you see is what you pay. Book the course direct with the training centre that owns the machines.
See Prices & BookComplete beginners finish in 2 days — training plus the CPCS A73 theory and practical tests. Experienced marshallers who just need the card can take a 1-day Experienced Worker Test. Either way you leave with the CPCS Red Card, valid for site work immediately.
We publish our prices — most centres don't. CPCS A73 courses start from £395, with training delivered at a maximum 2:1 candidate ratio at our own Staffordshire centre. HS&E test and card fees are the only extras, quoted upfront when you book.
Yes — gateman, gatesman, traffic marshal, traffic marshall and vehicle banksman are all site names for the same role: the person who controls vehicles at the gate and directs plant and lorry movements around site. The qualification employers ask for is the CPCS A73 Plant & Vehicle Marshaller card, which is exactly what this course delivers.
The words get mixed up on site, but they're two different CPCS tickets. A traffic marshal or vehicle banksman (CPCS A73) directs vehicle and plant movements. A slinger signaller (CPCS A40) attaches loads and signals crane and excavator lifts. We deliver both at our centre, and many candidates take the two cards together.
No. Complete beginners are welcome on the 2-day novice course — it focuses on safety protocols, hand signals and communication rather than machine operation. You will need a valid CITB Health, Safety & Environment test pass before your CPCS technical tests; we can arrange that at our own centre.
Passing the A73 tests gets you the CPCS Red Card (Trained Operator), valid for two years and recognised on construction sites across the UK. You can then complete an NVQ while working to upgrade to the Blue Competent Operator Card, valid five years and renewable.
Check dates and prices online, or call us for advice on the right course for your experience.