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Why drivers join and leave
Page 57
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Report reveals low training levels and only basic motivation
MOST hauliers rely on drivers having had previous experience with a former employer when engaging staff and few use the management technique of job analysis and job specifications, according to a paper given by Mr L. L. Wilson at the Hull and District Road Transport Training Group Ltd on Monday. This was a report on a managerial problem involved in the National Examinadons Board Supervisory Studies (NEBSS) Certificate recently completed by Mr Wilson.
Conducting an investigation into the problems of recruitment, training and job satisfaction of drivers, Mr Wilson found that staff selection was limited by the drastic shortage of drivers and though many employers checked on drivers' ability and experience by asking for a verbal reference rom the previous employer, there was often ifficulty in obtaining such a reference.
In addition there was a tendency for 'rivers to avoid jobs which involve longstance work — a growing difficulty in ecruitment.
So far as training was concerned Mr ilson found that though 83 per cent of auliers interviewed sent their drivers on n hgv driving course; some of these were onversion courses and did not involve new ecruits to the industry. But 66 per cent d not send their drivers on any course her than the hgv driving course. A further 0 per cent of hauliers did not train either ew recruits or experienced men in their wn company procedures and the handling if particular traffic. On motivation it was
ound that 90 per cent of drivers remained
within the industry "just for the money" and only 10 per cent said that the attraction was the freedom which they enjoyed once they were away from the depot.
Aspects which discouraged drivers from continuing in road haulage were the necessity to spend nights away from home, and the weight of legislation to which the industry is now subjected. The standard of accommodation for overnight stops and the amount of subsistence allowance added to dissatisfaction.
Road improvements to accommodate modern hgv, improved vehicle comfort for the driver and more security vehicle parks were some of the suggestions made by drivers to make the job more attractive. To better conditions within the industry Mr Wilson suggested that job analysis, specifications and description technique should be adopted in • recruiting drivers and that managers should be trained in the use of these techniques and in the art of interviewing.
Further, group training associations should act as driver employment exchanges for the industry. The GTAs could recruit and train new blood into the industry and all drivers could be supplied by them to companies who wanted them. After being supplied with a new driver the firm concerned would reimburse the group with the cost of training. Existing drivers should be trained in ancillary skills such as roping, sheeting, weight distribution as well as legislation and documentation.
In the second similar paper, Mr L. Rowan investigated the loading facilities of Richardson (Hull) Transport Company. He found that though the company had moved into a new purpose-built depot only three years ago, new and more effective methods of packing goods by its contract customers had made the warehouse in its present form inefficient and out of date.
The introduction of palletized loads, and fork-lift trucks and the use of longer articulated vehicles have all contributed to making two loading decks obsolete. The 46fflong vehicles now in use cannot be backed into the overall working space of 44ft and warehouse doors have to be left open during loading. This exposes goods stored near the doors to possible damage in bad weather.
Moreover, the vehicle cannot be loaded completely within the warehouse by the fork-lift trucks and it has to be moved with the weight of the load unequally distributed. This could be dangerous.
In recommending that the present obsolete loading deck be demolished and the present bonding store be dismantled and re-erected in a new position, Mr Rowan had established that the work would cost only £450 if the contractor were allowed to retain all the demolished material. These improvements would enable the whole floor space of the warehouse to be brought back into use, increase the floor space available for storing goods to 1300 sq ft, eliminate weather damage to stored goods and allow the efficient loading of vehicles.
Estimated net savings would amount to £1182 in the first year and £1632 in future years would accrue.