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On the road trainees
Page 13
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A NATIONAL distribution company is adopting a new approach to recruitment in a bid to overcome driver shortages.
Instead of insisting that new recruits have at least two years' experience like many other hauliers, United Freight Distribution (UFD) is taking drivers on with little or no experience at all.
It believes they can gain the necessary experience in a much shorter time-span, provided their induction programme is more intensive and they are given plenty of practical, on-the-road training. Once they begin delivering, the number of drops they are given is gradually increased until they can
operate at normal capacity. They start at around £1,000 a year less than experienced drivers.
UFD's driver development coach, Kevin Smith, says: "Spend -ing time with an experienced driver-mentor helps to build up their confidence on the road."