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Stiller looks east to solve driver crisis
Page 22
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STILLER GROUP has recruited nearly 30 drivers from Eastern Europe to cope with a looming recruitment crisis.
The Teeside-based operator, which has taken over a string of hauliers in the past five years, says further expansion would he hampered if it depended solely on the UK labour market for skilled drivers.
David Mearns, general manager for business development, says the number of Polish and Lithuanian recruits has built up steadily over the past seven months. We have found them to be excellent workers, well-suited to the task and are well pleased with them overall."
Stiller employs 750 people nationally and estimates that it needs to recruit between 15 and 30 new drivers every year.
Mearns says a retention rate among the East European drivers of almost 100% has been helped by taking on an in-house interpreter who doubles up as a shift traffic operator.
The drivers have been recruited through agencies in Eastern Europe and, after completing competency tests, undergo an intensive induction programme before starting work.