Martin Barnes Operations engineer, Barnes & Hind, Somerset With 20
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years in the industry, Barnes currently works as a transport manager for two owner-drivers, one of whom is his brother.
He believes that the Driver Training Directive will be a good thing — as long as it actually makes a difference to the profession's image.
"I would say 90% of drivers already uphold standards," he says. "They are good lads who know what they are doing. The other 10% should probably not be behind the wheel. The question is, will this get rid of them?"
He, too, believes employers will only agree to pay to train new recruits if they can tie them into a contract of employment covering several years afterwards: "If the driver leaves before then, he has to pay it all back."