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ONLY THE GOOD DRIVE YOUNG

31st August 2006, Page 64
31st August 2006
Page 64
Page 65
Page 64, 31st August 2006 — ONLY THE GOOD DRIVE YOUNG
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Flegg Transport has invested in new blood by putting an 18-year-old

through the Young Drivers Scheme. Dominic Perry reports.

Tabloid myth would suggest that anyone who was thrown out of multiple schools and has no formal qualifications will not amount to very much in life. Russell Lovett, however, would beg to differ. He recently earned his Category C LGV licence through the Young Drivers Scheme (YDS). Now his employer, Buckinghamsh ire-based machinery transport specialist FleggTransport, has just bought a brand new top-spec Daf CF65 just for him.

Lovett recalls that formal education didn't suit him:"I didn't do very well in school. I was kicked out of three different ones. I don't have any GCSEs nothing." However, his father Dave was working at FleggTransport, and Russell was taken on as an apprentice driver's mate, helping to unload the hulking machines that are the company's main stock in trade.

It was just the chance Lovett needed. He reports: "Then Jayson [Flegg, the managing director] called me into the office one day. He asked if I'd heard about the Young Drivers Scheme and how I'd feel about doing it.

Getting a positive response, Flegg hunted round for information. He found the scheme was poorly advertised, but finally settled on trainer Omnia Driving based in Burton on Trent, Staffs. However, the plan nearly failed to get off the ground because the course included a requirement to pass an NVQ Level 1 in maths and English. And Lovett admits:"I'm no good at reading or writing."

Flegg, too, was concerned:When they told us it was anything to do with an NVQ. I was worried. I wasn't after an academic. We explained our concerns, but they told us it only had to come out of Russell's mouth they'd put it all down on paper for him, I didn't want him intimidated, but to be honest he flew through it all and got the NVQ.s.

-It wouldn't have been hard for a person who'd done all his years in school. [But] I needed that extra bit of help," says Lovett.-The trainer was absolutely spot on; he talked me through it all."

Lovett was then free to concentrate on the driving side of the course. However, he failed his LGV test not once but twice, Flegg says the test failures were a blow: -He came in and was so despondent and angry Driving examiners don't like 18-year-olds driving trucks. He's a bloody good driver,though.

Third time lucky

"After he failed the second time, we had a little chat and told him he couldn't look at it like that: he had to do it calmly. I didn't have a worry, though.! knew nerves had got the better of him and,right enough, he cracked it the third time." Even then. it was nearly a case of third time unlucky.as Lovett '.alterecl early in his test. "On the third attempt I managed to mess up the ?.,ears coming out of the test station, which is an automatic fair he says. 'But I got to the end,and the examiner said 'I can't fail you'. I think it :aimed me down. All my nerves went and I thought I'd just drive like I formally do."

In fact,says Flegg, the timing was especially fortunate:"It was spot on he passed the test one day. and the truck turned up the next."

The vehicle. a Daf CF65 with Space Cab and a Fassi 19tm crane and kit-flex sliding body, had been ordered even before Lovett took his test is a show of faith by his employers Lovett had already earned his crane operator's qualifications )efore starting the YDS so his next test will be on that side of the msiness, taking his'appointed persons' test.This qualification shows le is proficient in the use of slings and shackles on lifting jobs, a nd ble to justify his decisions.After that he has to receive his full set of .iositive driving assessments under the YDS, and then it will he time or his C+E licence.

However, the firm has found it difficult to get other staff of Lovett's .alibre.Flegg explains: "It's certainly different nowadays; finding kids le Russell is hard.We did try another guy who was awful. He had that ttitude typical of the kids of today where he wanted respect. but was xpecting everything to come to him.

"Lovett does remind me of myself at his age — everything he's one stupidly, I did the same. It's a mirror image of me 20 years ago." •

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Locations: Burton

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