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Polish drivers earn their keep
Page 14
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DRIVERS FROM THE new EU member states who have taken jobs with UK hauliers are hard working, well trained and reliable, according to a survey by the Freight Transport Association.
But despite positive reports from companies that have taken on East European drivers, only seven out of 45 companies surveyed had done so. In all only 245 drivers from the accession states have come to the UK.
Some operators who have not yet taken on any drivers from the new EU states say they would if they were approached. But others foresee language difficulties, while some hauliers worry about how they would check references.
The firms that have taken on EU drivers have done so through agencies, driver contacts, visiting workers and, in the case of Hays, through direct recruitment via its Polish office. Hays has employed an interpreter with specific responsibility for its Polish drivemit plans to recruit drivers from other Eastern European countries as well.
Hays' Andy Lightfoot, who has been to Warsaw to conduct interviews, adds: "The Polish drivers are very keen to travel. On one day we had 25 drivers queued up at 9am willing to wait until 4pm for interviews. It helps that Warsaw is so well connected they can work for us and go home for a long weekend."
The language barrier was mentioned by several hauliers, but always with the comment that it was a "slight" or "small" problem. Most say the new drivers are keen and willing to learn, which helped to minimise any difficulties.
Jan Twyford of Kenneth Twyford Haulage of Ashbourne has rented a three-bedroom house for the company's two Polish drivers, who are improving their English at the local adult education college.
Hays also helps its drivers find somewhere to live, provides links to doctors and dentists and helps them open UK bank accounts.