We would be only too happy to receive applications from other women HGV drivers
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the extra flexibility provided by temporary staff, but has been generally disappointed with the quality of service offered by temporary driving agencies.
The decision was taken eight months ago to launch a temporary drivers' agency at Peter Lane Transport. Lane claims the new company — PL Workforce — is better able to meet the needs of the transport industry because it is run by transport industry professionals.
Rebecca Jenkins is director of sales and marketing for Peter Lane Transport and strategy director for PL Workforce. She says: "We find transport companies are pleased to find a company that knows what it's doing. It's refreshing for them to find a company which offers the services they need — not simply an extension of secretarial services. None of our drivers can type."
PL Workforce started with five drivers. By the end of this month there will be 35 drivers. All of them are employed full-time by the company.
"We want to continue the Peter Lane philosophy of quality and expertise," says Jenkins. "We don't want our drivers touting around other agencies and seeking other work when we're slack, though that doesn't happen often, so we pay them a guaranteed wage."
DISTINCTION
Although Peter Lane Transport has often used PL Workforce drivers to cover busy periods, there is a strict distinction between drivers of Peter Lane Transport and those of PL Workforce, which never uses drivers from Peter Lane Transport.
Wage rates between the two companies are roughly on a par, says Jenkins. Because all the PL Workforce drivers are employed full-time by the company, they are eligible for full membership of the Manchester-based United Road Transport Union. URTU president Frank Griffin visited the Portbury, Bristol, premises of the Peter Lane Group last December to see the PL Workforce operation. Griffin subsequently declared himself "well plesed" with the terms and conditions enjoyed by the drivers.
Drivers are the mainstay of PL Workforce's business, but the company retains other transport specialists on its books. A transport manager is currently working at Geest, for example, and a fork-lift driver is filling barrels for Shell.
HOLIDAY COVER
Jenkins says the average length of contract with customers is two weeks, generally to provide holiday cover, but there are some much longer contracts too. Northern Ireland-based Montgomery Transport has a long-term arrangement whereby it trunks its vehicles down to Portbury, then uses PL Workforce drivers for deliveries in the south of England.
All PL Workforce staff are Idtted out in the company uniform of black boilersuits with red and white PL Workforce badges. They carry identity cards and most are trained in Hazchem handling. Before being engaged by the company the drivers are carefully interviewed by PL Workforce managers.
Once appointed, drivers are assessed during their first week on the road by Motec-qualified assessors.
"We ensure the drivers can drive properly by sending them out on assignment with an assessor," says Jenkins, who has an HGV Class 1. If there are any weaknesses in techniques the company will send the driver on training courses with nearby Severn Services Transport to eliminate shortcomings.
Peter Lane says the long-term plans of PL Workforce include the establishment of in-house training and the development of recruitment services, whereby PL Workforce will recruit full-time staff for other transport companies. .
PL Workforce operates in the South West, and most of the company's drivers have been recruited through local, regional and some specialist advertising. All Peter Lane Transport drivers are offered a 210 bounty for introducing new drivers who are appointed by PL Workforce. "We have applications coming in all the time," says Jenkins.
APPLICANTS
On the day we visited Portbuty, the company was interviewing four applicants. Jenkins admits it can be difficult to recruit transport managers of the right calibre.
"There is a shortage of trained and proficient managers," she says. "It may mean we will start looking at training people already on our books."
PL Workforce is loathe to recruit drivers without considerable HGV experience. An exception was made for the latest recruit, however. Christina Clark has just joined the company, six months after passing her HGV Class 1.
"Christina is exceptional," says Jenkins." She was thoroughly assessed and has now been here about three weeks. She's the only woman on our books, but we would be only too happy to receive applications from other women HGV drivers." • Peter Lane admits that novice HGV drivers find themselves in a Catch 22 situation, in which they seek work but cannot find it without experience.
"There is a vicious circle for young drivers," he says. "We are very active supporters of the Young Driver Training Scheme, and we have three or four young drivers with us now, though not with PL Workforce. More transport companies should develop the Young Driver Training Scheme to ensure enough drivers are trained for the future."
Next month should see the establishment of the second PL Workforce office, at Peter Lane Transport's Birmingham depot. Jenkins believes that recruiting local drivers may prove rather more difficult in the Midlands, but expects that demand for agency drivers will be more buoyant as a consequence.
"We have applied for an employment agency licence in Birmingham," says Jenkins. "We will employ a similar number of drivers there as in Bristol and will again use local experienced drivers who are assessed by our managers."
LONGERTERM
In the longer term the company hopes to open a PL Workforce outlet in London, possibly from the Peter Lane Transport depot at Feltharn, but details of those plans have yet to be finalised.
The growth of PL Workforce from five drivers to 35 in eight months is a testament to the company's ability to meet the needs of other transport companies. On pricing, PL Workforce aims for mid-market levels.
"A Class 1 driver costs 24.55 an hour with PL Workforce," says Jenkins, "compared with Blue Arrow's 24.70 an hour. We pitch in the middle, but include with the driver things like overalls, an ID card, and full driver assessment by PL Workforce management."
What happens if PL Workforce gets more requests for drivers than it can handle?
"We do have some drivers on whom we can call to work with us on a part-time basis," says Jenkins. "We'd hate to say no to our customers, but certainly wouldn't poach drivers from other agencies; we have to have the right type of driver."
With an HGV Class 1 and six months' HGV driving experience with Peter Lane Transport, would Jenkins be prepared to drive for PL Workforce if business was particularly brisk?
"Definitely not," she replied.
0 by Richard Scrase