Drivers for growth
September 1st 2009 Geoff Dossetter says that drivers are a key factor in the performance of any transport operation – the good guys can improve efficiency, save money and be an important representative for the company.Others, however, could do just the opposite
Drivers are in the news this month as the Driver CPC – the Certificate of Professional Competence – comes into force obliging employers to carry out a compulsory training programme amounting to 35 hours over the next five years. For many enlightened operators this probably amounts to no more than a formalisation of an in-house training programme which already exists. For those others not presently involving drivers in regular supernumerary training, it produces a legal compulsion to conduct some activity which is almost certain to provide both a financial and operational benefit.
To say that good drivers are vital for the health of any transport business is, of course, stating the obvious. Technology has yet to develop to the stage when a truck will drive itself. But it has always saddened me that our industry has struggled to promote an adequate image of transport and driving which has been good enough to attract sufficient numbers of high quality personnel to the job.
Here is a profession responsible for delivering the goods and services on which the whole population depends every day. A profession which takes responsibility for the movement and security of a hi-tech vehicle possibly carrying millions of pounds worth of goods. A profession without which little else in the UK could work.
But maybe I should not be so surprised. I once attended a conference on the subject during which I was asked to appear on the Jimmy Young radio programme. When I left the studio my cab driver, who had been listening to the piece, told me that he used to be a lorry driver. I asked him why he was now driving a taxi. He said ‘One freezing night I had to sleep in the cab at a lay-by near Southampton. It was cold and wet, and there were no roadside facilities, no refreshments in sight. It was miserable. I thought ‘That’s it – I’ve had enough’ and so I now drive a cab.’ A few years ago we had enormous problems in the industry as the result of a shortage of drivers. And there were very real fears, which thankfully never came to pass, that the situation would worsen following the introduction of the Working Time Directive.
The industry took a look at itself and concluded that one of the problems was respect. Quite simply, and unlike the old ‘Knights of the Road’ image of fifty years ago, the general public did not smile on lorry drivers. Quite the reverse. Everybody wants what’s on board the truck; almost nobody wants to share the road with the lorry. And, unlike Europe and the US where they are admired, that disdain is reflected in public attitude to the driver.
Of course our failure to ensure that our roads network and delivery infrastructure kept pace with the growth in our economy and car ownership has not helped. Congested motorways and traffic clogged towns are little pleasure to drive in.
Consider my cab driver’s lay-by experience for the long distance driver – away from home, poor or no facilities, out in all hours and all weathers. Think about the lot of the multi-drop driver in an urban environment with all of the problems of loading and unloading, being issued with unfair parking tickets, crawling through inadequate and congested city streets, struggling to keep up with the schedule.
The fact is that these guys do a fantastic job for all of us – for the transport industry, for the economy, for the consumer. We should cherish them for it and take better care of them. Although a combination of improved recruitment from the military, the employment of some foreign drivers, and the economic recession have helped to reduce the shortage, the future is not so rosy. We have an ageing driver population, we will need more drivers when the good times return and the economy grows, and we haven’t solved the problem of generating the right recruitment image.
Training drivers to the highest possible standards pays big dividends – lower fuel bills, lower maintenance costs, better legal compliance, less down time, fewer accidents, lower insurance premiums and more economic operating costs. And the driver, as the primary ambassador for his company, whether demonstrating good skills when displaying the company livery on the road, or presenting his credentials when delivering the goods, is a walking advertisement for the operator. Equally, a bad driver can waste money and damage repute.
We need better facilities for drivers – rest, refreshments and security - both at home base and on-the-road. We need improved welfare care to ensure that we protect their long term health, safety and retention in the industry. We need to develop the image of the profession in order for it to enjoy the respect to which it is entitled. And, in some sectors, we need to improve reward levels.
The Driver CPC presents an obligatory opportunity to generate benefits for both drivers and employers. Be sure to take it. Fill your boots. More articles from Handling & Storage Solutions: | 
