DRIVER RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION
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The M25 contact's short lead-in time meant extra drivers had to be hired at the fast moment, and there was, says Murphy, a good pool to choose from because of the recession.
Unsurprisingly, Murphy strongly rejects the old image of a tipper driver as an unskilled construction worker too old to do labouring. Although conceding the industry had a rough image in the past (when the author of this feature drove tippers...), Murphy believes modern tipper drivers are every bit as skilled as those in other specialist transport sectors.
"It's not a them-and-us situation, I try to encourage a team spirit. I'm not better or more important than a good tipper driver," Murphy says, who strives to allow his workers to exercise the initiative and discretion they have gained from experience. You soon get to know the good drivers," he says; just as well as this contract operates random drink and drug testing for all workers.
If they put the hours in — and although a lot of work is off road, tachograph rules are strictly adhered to — drivers can earn up to £.650 a week. "We tend to know people who apply for jobs, or the firm they claim to have last worked for, and we check references," Murphy explains, Although not a Road Haulage Association member, Murphy has completed its course to qualify as a Driver CPC trainer "We'll also train the main subbies who work for us," he says. He's also applying for McArdie to become an approved CPC training centre.
Overall, Murphy believes the firm has Rile driver churn and no vacancies. "Some have recently retired after more than 20 years, Jim [McArdej treated his people very well," Murphy says.