DEAR
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SIR
NO TRAINED STAFF: HERE IS WHY • As a regular reader of your magazine, I was interested to read your article on recruitment "The Head Hunters". (CM, 26 November-2 December) and the letters on this subject from other readers.
In 1986 I finished full time college having gained the following qualifications: RSA, CPC National and International, finals of the Institute of Road Transport Engineers. Since then, I have been registered with the Professional and Executive Recruitment for any job in the transport industry. I am still unemployed.
I have applied for jobs with various large companies which have the resources for harder training and update schemesw, but so far I have been unsuccessful.
If these large companies continue with this attitude, then is it will be no wonder if today's transport industry continues to suffer from a lack of trained staff. The hypocrisy must stop!
E C Euthimius Hackney London THE PROBLEM OF RECRUITMENT • John McCullum asks what recruiters are looking for when they review an application form (Dear Sir, CM, 11-17 February).
As he had applied for four senior positions in the motor industry, he must know that the answer is management competence, allied to appropriate functional or technical skills, at a price the employer is willing to pay.
If this sounds simple, however, then an analysis of the advertisements in last week's Commercial Motor shows why job seekers like Mr McCullum are bemused.
Some 50% quote no salary, using terms like "good" or "generous", which do nothing to help the reader to relate what is offered to his expectations, thus a lot of his time may be wasted finding out.
Another 25% who quote salary carry outlining specifications which appear over ambitious for the salary they are prepared to pay.
This approach is also misleading to the applicant. Perhaps not intentionally so, but leading to a lengthy process of learning what is possible, and making decisions much more difficult for the employer. A shot in the dark really.
Another 25% of advertisers show by their thoughtfully written copy, and salaries realistically linked to performance expectations, that they are serious professionals with clear objectives which they are prepared to share with the reader.
If this seems an abysmally low percentage, check for yourself.
Bob Wileman Director TPL Management Resourcing, Guildford CLASS 1 DRIVERS . . . BUT EXPERIENCED?
• As the managing director of an expanding general haulage company that I founded 11 years ago, now operating 20 HGV vehicles, I am experiencing difficulties finding Class 1 drivers capable of driving modern 28/38 tonne units to a standard acceptable to myself, customers and the Ministry — although there are ample Class 1 drivers unemployed, and it would seem this number increases weekly as the HGV schools churn out these mainly useless drivers to satisfy their own profits.
To explain my reasoning on this point: my company has a policy of training Class 1 drivers only if they have two years experience with us on LCVs. They then have a good knowledge of the country, know how to use a tachograph and have a good insight into the problems the driver can expect over changing seasons and work loads — shall we say an apprenticeship.
Not so the driving schools. Anyone who can pay the £600. charge in this area, be it cash or Government grant, can train for 10 days and expect to pass, albeit in a mini unit and mini flat trailer. Presume they are then issued with a Yorkie Bar and told to go and find work. God help us! In an industry top heavy with legislation, and with NO Government subsidy to offset this, could not the two associations supposedly on our side tackle this problem which is undermining efficiency in the industry, and insist that schools are more discriminating. This will effect their bank balance, so I doubt it will come readily: I would suggest the Licensing Authorities take up this point.
In your issue of 4-10 February 1988, you report on the nine Licence Authorities, exuding contempt for operators' complacency, penny pinching maintenance, and low standards, and that they will slap our hands if we don't improve! Well, [say we are a captive group, little able to impress these paper tigers no matter what we do, so let them attempt to impress us and give us help rather than talk down to us. If they lead then we will follow — if we're still in business, that is.
As most of them have gained their experience behind a desk, perhaps a course out here where it's done would give them a more humble attitude towards those of us who try very hard to comply! JM Sugden Managing director JM Sugden Transport Services LIFE COVER FOR YOUR CREDIT COMMITMENTS • I read with interest the comprehensive article on financial insurance (CM, 10-16 December 1987) but was surprised to see no mention was made of life cover protecting credit agreements.
In these days when the haulage industry evermore uses credit finance, such as Hire Purchase and Leasing to obtain vehicles, some comment should have been made on a facility that protects a haulier's business by covering the credit outstanding indebtedness on the life of a named key person.
My company British Credit Trust, offers a product "Equityguard" underwritten by the Financial Insurance Group who specialise in purposedesigned credit related insurance for finance institutions. The cover is simple and inexpensive, cost can be paid separately or included within the agreement repayment. Under £100,000 of debt can be covered without a medical and up to three main key personnel can be provided for.
Briefly, therefore, selective items of capital investment are secured which thus provides peace of mind for the principals and does not inhibit the future trading.
PNL Morgan British Credit Trust, Manchester WHERE ARE THE SECONDHAND PRICES?
• Please can you tell me why so many of the advertisements in Commercial Motor do not show prices of vehicles For Sale?
I purchase all my company's vehicles through your "For Sale" columns and will not waste my time or money phoning for prices.
If your advertisements won't fully describe the goods for sale they must lose sales as I am sure many readers gloss over unpriced vehicles. Michael Dalrymple, Michael Dalrymple Marketing Dorking, Surrey
• Obviously, we would prefer it if all our advertisers listed Prices in their advertisements. Many, of course, do, and the published prices form the basis of our YELLOW BOOK — the guide to used commercial vehicle prices, which is published quarterly with Commercial Motor. You will fiat have to hope that more advertisers follow the lead of those who do publish prices — Ed