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Recruitment drive
Page 20
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Attracting drivers into the industry is tricky, but a new initiative may do just that Jennifer Ball reports.
With an ageing workforce. coupled with a 45.000 shortfall in drivers. attracting new blood to the road transport industry is vital.
Driving Ambition 2003, a joint initiative by MAN ERE driver supply agency Driver Hire and CM'S stablemate Truck & Driver, is aiming to bridge that gap.'The scheme provides people who have never considered truck driving as a career with a hands-on insight into the industry.
Last week more than 100 people, including mums looking to return to work and reformed offenders, headed for the Chobham test track in Surrey for a go behind the wheel of an artic.
Changing perceptions
David Burke, marketing director of MAN ERF UK. is well aware that many people lind trucks intimidating: "People simply have not been made aware of the massive technology, safety and comfort advances that have been brought in over the past few years.
"Hopefully this initiative will dispel these ideas and attract people from the widest range of backgrounds and experiences to find out for themselves about the careers they could be enjoying in road transport. Even if the people who have come today don't follow through a career into the industry, their impression of it will certainly be better than when they first arrived."
Following his drive round the test track former college lecturer Paul Winter would certainly recommend a career change. After becoming disillusioned with the education system he became an agency van driver. "I love both the job and the people in the industry." he says. "I have definitely been encouraged by today to go on and take my Class 1 test. It was easy to forget that I was driving a 44tonner rather than a car because it was so easy to control."
The trucks found favour with many of the women attending too. Doorwoman and fulltime mum Ursula Alexander says: -There is an expectation among women that it is a man's job, but the artic was very comfortable and far easier to drive than I imagined. I would love to go on and take my truck test. Hopefully. my experience today will encourage more women to enter the industry."
Driver Hire's training director Ian Ware reports that support for the initiative has been overwhelming and the group now plans to roll the programme out nationally. "Increasing demand for round-the-clock. just-in time deliveries, potential changes in working hours for drivers and an ageing workforce means that the industry will need 45,000 new drivers over the next few years," he warns. "Driving Ambition aims to meet the need." •