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Don't drive young drivers away
Page 28
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I'VE FAR BETIER things to do than write letters to magazines. However, your article -High insurance strangles industry" (CM 13 November) irritated us enormously.
With regard to young drivers, it dismays us to observe the apathy that both this article promoted and indeed. that is prevalent.
In our experience, as both trainers and employers of young drivers, insurance for them is no more a problem than accidents involving them are. Of course. there will always be instances of where a driver is not suitable, but again in our experience, this is not something that applies purely to the under 25s.
Hauliers whinge about not being able to get"experienced" drivers.Well, if we all followed that blinkered attitude,in 20 years' time there would be nobody left to drive a truck, as all the "experienced" drivers will have retired. Operators should ask themselves where the badly needed drivers for our industry are going to come from. It's time they woke up and did something about it,because if they don't there simply isn't going to be an industry.
They could start by biting the bullet, picking up the phone and entering into a dialogue with their insurer. It won't be anything like as painful as they think. Of course it will cost a little more in terms of policy excess, but it will give the chance these young people need and provide the injection of new blood essential if this industry is to survive.They may even find in this great age of cynicism that the odd young person becomes a grateful and reliable long-term employee.
Must close now as I'm considering sending another letter regarding the apprentices we employ in our workshop... and the work experience placements we provide for our local schools... Les Jones Compliance manager, S Cooper & Sons, Cheshire