They're hired!
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I went to Framptons Transport Services last week to have a chat with a few young apprentices employed by the firm. Among them was Jack Billett, who's training to be an LGV driver. Jack, who has just turned 17, has wanted to be a truck driver from a very early age. At the moment he doesn't even have his car licence, yet in 12 months he should have realised that life-long ambition and will hopefully have a category C driving licence.
If you ask me, it's a fantastic scheme — not only will Framptons put him through his car and LGV tests, but he's spending a year as a good old-fashioned driver's mate on Palletline work.
So when he passes his test, not only will he legally be able to drive a truck, but he'll also know how to do the job inside out. If I'd done a scheme like this, I'd probably be driving a truck for a living today. I took my category Cl test on the week of my 21st birthday, but then failed to find any work as I didn't have the experience. Jack, on the other hand, will have that invaluable experience from day one. Of course, in the good old days, youngsters learnt the job from the passenger seat of their dad's wagon over the summer holidays. It turned them to the industry and helped ensure a fresh supply of young drivers. These days, health and safety rules and regulations mean not many hauliers allow this practice, so consequently fewer young truck enthusiasts get the encouragement they need to turn a childhood dream
into a career. Will Shiers