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Using a driver agency is an established way of working
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for some haulage companies, but how do you know you are employing a reputable and compliant organisation? CM investigates.
words: Roger Brown
With increasing
numbers of hauliers turning to agency drivers in recent years, the need to check if the agency is reputable has also grown in importance.
A haulage company can put its 0-licence at risk if it ends up using a rogue driver agency that fails to carry out basic procedures. such as checking the licences of the drivers on its books The issue was highlighted by a case brought by the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate (EAS) in February at a Leeds Employment Tribunal.
It involved driver recruitment businesses run by David A llon, Marc Nedley. Sian Pemberton and Angela Roberts, which had supplied drivers to haulage firms mainly in the north of England, trading under various names, including Driverwise Recruitability, Driverwise Recruitment, Driverwise/Staffvvise, Recruitability, Recruit and Recruit Employment.
Both Alton and Hedley were directors of Driverwise. while AIIon also held the role of director of Recruit I :.riiployment.
Pemberton was a director of Recruitment Employment and Roberts was the company secretary The businesses were found to have breached the Employment Agencies Act 1973 by failing to keep records; withholding payment of wages to drivers; failing to issue terms of employment to drivers; failing to carry out checks on drivers, such as confirming their identity or that they held the correct driving licences: and supplying drivers who did not hold the required licences.
The case followed a total of 26 complaints from drivers and hirers; and the companies are now dissolved, and the businesses have ceased trading.
Evidence
The tribunal banned David AlIon from running or being concerned with the running of an employment agency or employment business for the maximum period of 10 years. Sian Pemberton, Angela Roberts and Marc Hedley were banned for five years So what checks should employers make when hiring an agency, or. in the case of drivers, going to work for one?
Paul Beasley, joint managing director at Halifax-based Transline-Resource, says hauliers should be entitled to see evidence that the agency has a good safety record.
"The difference between a well organised. committed agency and the many 'quick buck' cowboy agencies out there is vast.he says. "With the trend towards increased reliance on agency drivers over the past few years. the importance of appointing a reputable agency is paramount to the success of any operation."
Beasley explains that a good agency will always interview candidates face-to-face and only send across the CVs that really suit the particular role.
He adds: "The application process should encompass the driver's 10-year work history, a DVLA licence check to he continued throughout the worker's career, proof of identity. National Insurance number and proof of address" Chris Chidlev, chief executive at Driver Hire, based in Bradford, says: "It's always worth checking the credentials of the agency you're working with.
"I'd recommend you always ask them about the checks the■,, undertake before taking a driver on to their books This was one of the major failings revealed by the EAS investigation." •