OPERATOR EXPERIENCES
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Peter Eason, MD of ELB Partners, said that employing a 24-year-old driver recently did not affect his firm's insurance premium, but it did lead to about twice the normal excess for the driver. Eason, whose firm employs about 60 drivers, said he is not put off by this because young drivers are often more cautious than older ones.
"I don't have an issue with them," he said. "More firms should give it a try." Caledonian Logistics MD Derek Mitchell, who has six drivers under 25 out of a team of about 70, agreed. Although his excess tripled for those driv
ers, he thinks young drivers in CVs are much less of a risk than young drivers in cars.
Graham Stubbs, MD of own-account operator Bliss Bedding, said he used to pay £5,324 insurance premiums for a three-vehicle fleet, despite employing daughters Lucy (24) and Jessica (18) as drivers. But after moving the smallest of these vehicles, a 12-tonner, to a separate 0-licence to make room for a new vehicle on the original one, he was quoted more than £3,000 for that vehicle alone, because of Jessica's age. "It's no wonder people aren't taking on young drivers," he said.