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Initiative
Page 62
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A candidate can pass such a training programme, but this does not automatically mean that he is cut out for a full-time road transport job. He could prove to be unreliable, untrustworthy, or uninterested in the job.
When we meet Bell, there is no doubting his sense of conviction. David Fox, managing director of Teesside-based David Fox Transport, praises this training initiative. But he does remind us that such schemes will not solve the industry's driver shortage problems overnight.There is no magic wand. It can take time,he says, to be confident that a newlyqualified driver can operate independently.
In many fields of work,it is true that those who finance themselves through training have put their money where their mouth is. Not only have they decided on a course of action, they have raised their own cash to pay for it.
But how can you know that drivers who have been trained for free will stay the course?
Interviewers need to be intuitive. Devereux Developments, a Billingharn-based transport and removals company,sent trucks to last year's Riverside event. Ken Devereux, managing director,says such hardware projects a favourable image to the public.
The firm takes on porters, aged 16 and 17, and trains them to drive cars and, with time, HGVs. Lewis Hubbert, Devereux training officer. tells potential recruits that truck driving can be tough."11. paint the black side as well as the good side.The job involves long hours, and it can be very tiring and stressful.To remain competitive, and stay in business, a firm has to be flexible.This can mean early starts, and weekend work for the driver. The [financial] rewards are not fantastic, and the recruit might think 'perhaps this is not for me' their illusions may have been destroyed.
Hubbert balances the bleak side with the positives. "It can he very rewarding. I tell them about the different people they will meet, and the sights they will see out on the road."
Some potential drivers walk away when they hear about the negatives but, even if they don't, there's no guarantee that Hubbert will put them through the comprehensive training process. He needs to instinctively feel that the candidate is the right person;seemingly small gestures, such as the recruit asking questions,show initiative and a sense of drive, he believes.
Bell has passed all his set courses, is in full time employment, and is bright-eyed and confident. No-one can predict how he will perceive his driving job in the future.But, right now, his commitment is unquestionable: "I will give it 110% effort," says Bell resolutely. •