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Drivers Direct: Christmas Traditions

Posted on 21 Dec 2018
By glyn
In Drivers, Logistics

Christmas is just around the corner and we can’t believe how quickly the year has gone – it feels like just yesterday that we shared our year in review blog last December.

We’ve had an excellent year here at Drivers Direct, from being finalists in a number of business awards to having another successful annual charity ball. The ball was the perfect opportunity to raise money £2500 for the NSPCC and we’re looking forward to presenting them with their donation at the beginning of 2019.

As our last blog post of 2018, we thought we’d take the opportunity to acknowledge someone else that works just as hard as Father Christmas at this time of year! Our MD Gethin Roberts has made it a Christmas tradition to visit all 21 of our branches to personally deliver presents, including bottles of fizz and chocolates.

Gethin spends 2 weeks on the run up to Christmas, travelling from branch to branch to visit all of the teams. He feels it is important for all the Drivers Direct employees to be able to put a name to a face, giving the business a personal feel which might not necessarily be given in a company as large as Drivers Direct. As Managing Director, Gethin puts a lot of effort into boosting morale and creating the feeling of truly being a part of a team for all employees.

Drivers Direct: Christmas Traditions

We give a lot of credence to our mission statement: ‘By offering the experience, quality awareness and support of a big company with the flexibility, innovation and personal touch of a small company we will supply all our clients with the best of both worlds’

Our mission statement is also applicable to our employees, as we strive to give them plenty of opportunity within their career and the support of a big company, whilst also offering the personal touch of a small company. This is something that Gethin upholds as he travels up and down the country every Christmas time without fail. For Drivers Direct it’s all about making our employees feel valued and appreciated and what better time to do that than at Christmas?

A very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to one and all from Drivers Direct.

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Road Safety Awareness Week: Bike Smart

Posted on 20 Nov 2018
By glyn
In Drivers, UK Roads

Road Safety Awareness Week (19^th – 25^th November) is the UK’s biggest road safety event, coordinated by the road safety charity, Brake. Last year the theme was ‘Speed Down Save Lives’ and in our blog we discussed the startling facts behind the campaign.

With more than a third of cyclists and motorcyclists killed or seriously injured on UK roads, Brake have selected the ‘Bike Smart’ campaign to help raise awareness. The charity will be shouting about the safety of road users on two wheels and they have put together some facts on why their theme is so important:

In 2016 there were 18,477 cyclist casualties and 19,297 motorcyclist casualties
More people are cycling so there is a greater need to protect them with a safe systems approach
Motorcyclists are 38 times more likely to be killed in a crash than car occupants per mile ridden
Motorcyclists comprise the largest proportion (25%) of road crash admissions to trauma centres

It goes without saying that cyclists and motorcyclists are the most vulnerable road users and with 100 riders injured every day in the UK, Brake feel this is an area of road safety that needs attention – we couldn’t agree more.

Cycling is becoming more and more popular as it’s the most environmentally-friendly form of transport. But as more and more cyclists take to the road, it’s important to be aware of them.

Motorcyclists can travel at similar speeds to cars, however they don’t have equal protection to that of a vehicle in the case of a crash. There are no air bags or any safety measures in place, leaving them exposed to the full force of an accident. Awareness is crucial for making changes and saving lives in the UK. The campaign is not only calling on vehicle users to be aware but also for cyclists and motorcyclists to be Bike Smart themselves through safe riding behaviours and appropriate training and/or equipment. If everyone works together, positive change can happen and the statistics for bike accidents on UK roads can be dramatically reduced.

Absolutely anyone can get involved with Road Safety Awareness week, from making a donation to even tweeting about it using the hashtags ‘#bikesmart’ or ‘#roadsafetyweek’. No matter the form of contribution, you’re still raising awareness.

Here at Drivers Direct, we admire the work that Brake do every year. Road safety is important to us and that’s why we ensure that all of our drivers receive the appropriate training.

Drivers Direct on: Charity of the Year

Posted on 2 Nov 2018
By glyn
In Drivers, Recruitment

Every year we select our charity of the year, it’s a decision that is given careful consideration as all our employees throughout our 21 branches can offer their nominations for a worthy cause. Having supported the Victory Services Club in 2017, this year we chose the NSPCC, whose excellent work is nationally recognised.

Our main fundraising came from our annual charity ball, with every attendee making a donation and we held a raffle to help raise further funds. £1,000 was raised from the night alone which was then generously Increased to £2,500 by our Managing Director, Gethin Roberts.

NSPCC stands for the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children and protecting children is their sole purpose. As an independent organisation, they rely on the public to fund their work.

NSPCC fundraising manager Janette Drew commented on being selected as our Charity of the Year: “We’re thrilled to have been selected as Drivers Directs Charity of the Year and would like to thank the staff who nominated us showing their support for our work for vulnerable children. Every penny raised for us helps us be there for children when the need us the most, whether it’s through Childline’s around the clock service, teaching children to stay safe through our schools service, or receiving support from our centres.”

The NSPCC focuses on a number of aspects of child protection, from support for new parents and babies, to working with mobile brand O2 to make families safer online by delivering online safety workshops to parents and offering advice. The charity also offers support to victims of abuse who are giving evidence in court, campaigning for a better system for child witnesses.

The organisation also provides the secretariat for the All Party Parliamentary Group for Abused and Neglected Children (APPG) – this is a crossbench groups of MPs and Peers and their sole purpose is to raise the profile of child abuse and neglect in parliament. The meetings are held in Westminster and involve inquiries with professionals, academics and frontline staff to focus on the key issues of child protection, as well as investigating policies and upcoming areas of legislation. In 2016, the APPG held an inquiry on therapeutic support for children, focusing on the mental health of children in care and the best practices for delivering support.

We’re so proud to have picked the NSPCC as our charity of the year, they carry out their work in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. We admire the work they do and how they make it their one mission to protect children the children of the UK. It is certainly a worthy cause that we wanted to get involved with, as the organisation are essentially supporting the children of the future. If you would like to find out more on how you can support this great cause in your country, you can visit their website.

Professional Drivers & Cyclists: Keeping a Harmonious Relationship

Drivers Direct on: The Value of Quality Drivers

Posted on 3 Oct 2018
By glyn
In Drivers, Logistics, Recruitment, UK Roads

There is no denying that logistics and professional drivers are the beating heart of the UK economy – as the FTA’s Peter Snelling so aptly put it: “Over 90% of everything the public eat, drink, wear and build with travels on an HGV at some point in the supply chain.” Such a figure throws a sharp focus on our industry, and highlights the value of quality professional drivers – who can sometimes be overlooked by the public eye.

With the ever-increasing popularity of online shopping and at-home deliveries, the looming threat of Brexit and its effect on a driving skills’ shortage which we discussed at length last month, the need for our professional drivers to be highly trained with efficiency, reliability and integrity has never been higher.

And it’s not just the technicalities of the economic climate and consumer shift to e-commerce which places a strong need for an increase in the numbers of highly-skilled professional drivers. As mentioned at the beginning of this post, the value of quality drivers is often overlooked: the ‘behind the scenes’ part of the supply chain rarely acknowledged by the end user. However, whenever professional driving – in particular, HGVs – are acknowledged, there seems to be a worrying pattern: type in ‘HGV’ or ‘lorry’ into Google News and you’ll be greeted with plethora of negativity – vehicle collisions, cyclist accidents and poor driver behaviour.

When professional drivers are ‘behind the scenes’, the majority of the public’s knowledge and, therefore, opinions of HGV drivers comes from the media. So, when the majority of the mainstream consumer media’s stories about HGV drivers only focuses on the minority of poor drivers’ actions, the public’s opinion is going to be skewed.

Whilst there is little we can do to persuade the media to present a more balanced view when ‘disaster stories’ bring in online clicks and revenue, it does present an even more important need for professional drivers to be of the highest quality with proper training and qualifications – we must ensure that through our work every day on Britain’s roads, we are showing that the majority of drivers are safe, conscientious and respectful as they work as the major player in an efficient supply chain to ensure businesses across Britain can continue to thrive.

There’s little point in simply discussing the importance of high-quality drivers – we must ensure it is actioned. Which is why we’re incredibly proud of Drivers Direct Training, our own internal scheme. We provide both training and assessments for our own drivers on behalf of our clients, or in-house for companies with their own fleet of drivers. With classroom-based driver development courses we can help you or your drivers progress and improve – offering courses covering basic health and safety and heathy eating, right the way through to driver security, customer care, and fuel efficiency.

Training is something businesses must invest in – not only will it help to build the reputation of the logistics and transport industry, but provides significant peace of mind and ROI knowing that the drivers you employ are of the highest quality, working on the roads with honesty and autonomous motivation for your business’ needs.

If you’d like to learn more about Drivers Direct Training, and how our trained drivers can deliver the best results for your business, get in touch with our team today.

How to Get Your Foot on the Logistics Career Ladder

Posted on 20 Aug 2018
By glyn
In Drivers, driving conditions, Franchise, HGV, Logistics, Recruitment

The thought of a career change is a prospect which is exhilarating and daunting in equal measure. The endless opportunities and the chance to completely change your day to day activities is an incredibly exciting thought, but then the question must be asked: how do I even start a new career?

For those thinking about switching lanes (pun very much intended) and making the move into a career as a professional driver, we have a simple message: you’ll be choosing a rewarding career, and help is out there to make this a reality.

Now, as a professional driving recruitment firm, of course we’ll say it’s a rewarding career – but here’s why. Working in the logistics and transport sector can mean flexible hours – ideal for those looking to start a family. The industry is one where you’re always supported by a dedicated team and build strong relationships, but the ability to travel the country has a sense of autonomy. Then there’s the salary benefits – the supply chain is an industry the country simply cannot function without, and of course a career in logistics can lead to opportunities in management and running your own fleet.

The first thing to consider when thinking about becoming a professional driver is whether you have the characteristics to suit the work. You must enjoy driving, employ patience, possess a strong knowledge and respect of road safety, enjoy your own company, display strong self-motivation and be in good physical condition.

There’s more to the job than sitting behind the wheel though, you’ll likely plan delivery schedules and routes with transport managers, monitor traffic reports to make sure your routes are clear, as well as carrying out general maintenance checks on your vehicle before and after journeys.

To become a professional driver, youmust be 18 years old or over and hold a full car driving license. The next stage would be to find a reputable local LGV learner driver training provider, take & pass your test and then receive CPC Training, here at Drivers Direct we’re a JAUPT accredited CPC Training Centre – as we said, the help is here. We offer training to our own drivers on behalf of our clients, as well as in-house training for prestigious transport companies. Via our website, we also offer a free digital tachograph simulator download which includes interactive tutorials which will take you through the different types of tacho machines.

In terms of working hours, they could vary but in a permanent position you can be expected to work up to 42 hours a week and overtime may be available, but the laws are strict (for good reason) on the number of hours spent driving and working in between rest breaks to ensure the safety of all road users.

We have a wide network of branches throughout the UK, offering vacancies for all classes of driver, you can view the positions here. We operate within a wide range of sectors including postal, food production, DIY, building trade, general haulage and clothing distribution. If you’re looking to hit certain requirements, as a customer of Drivers Direct, we can help you do that – why not get in touch and see what we can offer to your business to reach its goals?

Drivers Direct on: Recruitment, Logistics & Brexit

Posted on 27 Jul 2018
By glyn
In Drivers, driving conditions, HGV, in the press, Logistics, Recruitment

It’s been hard to ignore the b-word that’s been on everyone’s lips and in the media since 29^th March 2017. Brexit has no doubt been the talk of the country and the world for that matter. Ever since the referendum results were announced there’s been numerous companies offering their perspective on what they think it will mean for not just the UK but also their own businesses. With Brexit we’re plunging into the unknown and the UK want answers.

With the recruitment sector and Brexit there’s been worries over talent shortages and questions over movability, especially as the recent whitepaper released by the Government stated that there would be free movement. The report aims to offer a clear vision of what they want to achieve upon exiting the EU – but many are still feeling very much in the dark. The one saving grace is that the UK plans to negotiate an arrangement that would allow UK nationals to visit the EU for short-term businesses purposes and vice versa for EU citizens. This would offset any pressure on companies that have link to the EU, for example other offices or business partners.

However, some businesses have expressed their doubt in the Government’s ability to proceed successfully with Brexit plans. The second quarter of 2018 has also seen some recruitment difficulties across various sectors including manufacturing, retail and hospitality – right down to fruit farmers, who are facing a lack of seasonal labourers leading to produce spoiling with too few hands. It’s vital that UK businesses are brought out of the dark to find out what they can expect following the introduction of Brexit.

Recruitment in the professional driving industry, particularly with HGV drivers, is experiencing a similar issue to the fruit farmers. Workers from the EU are staying in their home countries instead of coming over to the UK for work due to the uncertainty that Brexit poses as we near the leaving date with very little decisions made for the industry. The Government is still working out the knots for their Brexit plans but the professional driving industry is already experiencing driver shortages, meaning clarity is urgently needed not only for UK businesses, but EU workers too.

James Hookham, the Deputy Chief Executive of the Freight Transport

Association recently told industry press that although the recent whitepaper had offered positive proposals for certain areas of the logistics industry, issues such as the security of job status for skilled EU workers are still unspoken for. The free movement of workers between the UK and EU needs to have further explanation, as well as providing reassurance to businesses who depend on those workers for the continuity of their deliveries. Over 45,000 HGV drivers from Europe currently work in the UK; without the appropriate working permits, job losses could have a serious effect on the industry.

It’s safe to say that there’s been a lot of upset over the thought of the UK leaving the EU, with some even claiming it’ll have an apocalyptic effect! At this stage in the game, we’re hoping for clarity for the recruitment sector as a whole, as well as what Brexit will mean for foreign drivers and working permits. As an area that was lightly touched on in the Brexit whitepaper compared to other aspects of logistics, we hope to see a lot more discussion on it in the coming months.

From the Front Lines to The Cab

Posted on 28 Jun 2018
By glyn
In Drivers, Logistics, Recruitment, UK Roads

There’s no doubt that leaving the UK’s Armed Forces can be a daunting prospect, regardless of how long you’ve served. Moving from the structured lifestyle of the forces to the quieter life as a civilian is a huge life-changing event and the rate of each individual’s transition varies depending on their experiences. With this in mind, it should be remembered throughout this post that no two ex-service personnel are the same.

Here at Drivers Direct, we feel very passionately about helping ex-servicemen and women back into civilian life. With our MD Gethin Roberts being an ex-serviceman himself, we understand that it can be difficult to get used to normal everyday life again. Last year we were proud to raise £2,500 for the Victory Services Club in London following our annual employee black-tie ball. We’re very supportive of the work they do as they aid both serving and ex-service personnel and their families.

Service personnel possess a great wealth of skills and a second-to-none work ethos that is truly unique. Their skills can be so specialised that they may feel they have the wrong qualifications to work in a civilian role – but this isn’t the case!

In the Armed Forces, there’s a real sense of camaraderie and family where you’ll spend each day with the same people – leaving that behind can seem strange. Not having the same weight of responsibility put upon yourself each day will also appear to be a strange concept, but our company prides itself in helping ex-service personnel into the professional driving industry. As we recruit for temporary and flexible driving positions, we’re a great avenue for slowly introducing yourself back into the world of civilian work; and you could even find your new career.

Currently in the UK the logistics and delivery sector are experiencing a driver shortage which is in vital need of a solution and with Brexit drawing closer, this shortage has been predicted to worsen.

Being a professional driver for Drivers Direct brings many perks, offering a flexible lifestyle and the option to pick the jobs you want to do. You’ll also have the chance to travel around the country, and meet fellow drivers and Logistics personnel. As a Logistics professional you’ll have your managers and fellow drivers and people you meet on the road to interact with, but you’ll always have your own personal space in your own cab.

To find out more how Drivers Direct can help you transition from the Armed Forces into a professional driver career, please get in touch with us.

Mobiles at the wheel: what’s changed a year on from the new law?

Posted on 30 Apr 2018
By glyn
In Drivers, in the press, UK Roads

On March 1^st last year, the penalty for being caught on your mobile phone whilst driving increased. This means that drivers caught using their phones at the wheel now receive a penalty of six points on their license, and a fine of £200. The change in law also means that drivers can lose their license if they receive 12 points within two years, as they have been caught twice on their phone. But has the new penalty actually prevented motorists from using their mobile phones whilst driving? We wanted to delve a little bit deeper into how much things have actually changed over the past year.

A year on, new figures have revealed that the number of drivers caught using their mobile phones has almost halved since the new penalty was introduced. Two years ago, in 2016, it was reported that around 74,000 fixed penalty notices were issued to motorists using their phones at the wheel, between March and December. The following year in 2017, during the same months, only 39,000 fixed penalty notices were issued. However, 2018 has also seen a reduction in traffic officers, meaning there is less chance of the motorist mobile users getting caught. This begs the question, has the new penalty actually prevented drivers from using their mobiles, or are they just getting caught less?

Many people are guilty of using their mobile phones at some point when driving, whether it’s for work, to change a song on their car’s Spotify playlist, a friendly chat with someone or keying in a postcode to Google Maps. But the bottom line is, whatever the reason for using your mobile phone behind the wheel, it is not legal, nor is it worth it. Research by the RAC found that nearly one in five firms say their employees have been involved in an accident after using a phone illegally whilst driving for work. Despite research revealing that 89% of drivers are aware of the penalty increase, 26% of those still admit to using their devices behind the wheel. It seems that no matter how high the penalty prices get, people’s addictions to their phones is too much to give up whilst driving.

These figures are startling and suggest that more needs to be done to tackle the 26% of drivers that still reach for their phones. Despite the increased points and fines, the heavy road safety advertising from THINK!, and RAC’s Be phone Smart campaign, mobiles are still causing accidents on the road. Does this mean we should go as far as confiscating phones from drivers? This seems extreme and would be difficult to manage, but it could be one of the only options left that would be effective.

Far too many accidents happen as a result of using phones behind the wheel, which can have devastating impacts on the lives of those involved. Phones are a major distraction for drivers, as answering calls whilst driving increases the risk of an accident up to six times, whilst texting is up to 23 times. Drivers can not only be distracted by holding the phone, but also by giving their attention to the device, which needs to be on the road and the safety of their passengers. Driver distraction plays a 20-30% role of all road collisions and can sometimes be more dangerous than drink driving. Even Apple are discouraging the use of phones at the wheel, by introducing their new setting where notifications can be disabled whilst driving.

So, the moral of the story is, put your phones away whilst driving! We would love to hear if you have any ideas on how to stop drivers from using their phones at the wheel. Get in touch via our Twitter!

Drivers Direct on Tachograph Tampering

Posted on 15 Feb 2018
By glyn
In Drivers, driving conditions, HGV, in the press, Logistics, UK Roads

With tachograph tampering being a hot topic over the last year we thought we’d explore and delve into the issues that surround it. Tachographs have an integral part to play in HGVs and commercial vehicles as they record driving time, breaks, rest periods and other types of work carried out by the driver. When the UK joined the EEC (European Economic Community) in 1973, a social regulation was accepted under the treaty of Accession to support the work of lorry and coach drivers. In 1979 the UK was held in breach of the rules and regulations and new legislation was put in place to make sure all commercial vehicles had tachographs installed by the end of 1981. Fast forward to 2006 and the digital tachograph was born and compulsory for all new commercials registered on or after 1^st May 2006.

More recently, tachographs have seen a lot of attention in the news and, unfortunately, this isn’t because they’re incredibly helpful and useful to the wellbeing of drivers. A BBC investigation found last year that there had been a 21% increase in tachograph tampering compared to 2016. In a bid to crack down on these misdemeanours, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) carried out 223,000 roadside checks between April 2016 and March 2017 – a move we fully supported. During that time, the DVSA found 400 drivers that had crossed the border into the UK and were using “interrupters” to switch off their tachographs. A Bulgarian driver was stopped in North Wales for using an “interrupter” and driving non-stop for 23 hours. Using such a device disables a lorry’s advanced braking system and speedometer – a dangerous move which poses a threat to all road users.

The whole concept certainly begs the question of why drivers would cheat their tachograph and risk their own and other road users’ safety.

Are unscrupulous businesses themselves putting the pressure on drivers through their company culture of looking the other way, making it appear to be the norm for drivers to exceed their legal hours? There’s also the darker side, are some drivers distracted by the attraction of more money and finding that tampering with a tachograph is a short cut to this? Alternatively, could these unscrupulous business owners be allowing this and looking the other way?

The consequences of breaching the use of a tachograph start with penalties of up to £5000. A prison sentence isn’t out of the question either, as was found with two former haulage directors who conspired with drivers to tamper with tachograph records. They both received sentences of 2 years and 18 months and had some hefty fines to pay. On a more serious level, crimes of this nature have caused a tragic amount of unnecessary deaths on the road. According to The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents driver fatigue may be a contributory factor to 20% of road accidents and 25% of fatal or serious crashes.

Here at Drivers Direct, we work closely with all our clients and together we take the safety of HGV drivers very seriously and of course others on the roads. The dangerous decision to tamper with a tachograph can have devastating consequences, with this in mind it’s of vital importance for logistics operators to communicate with their employees and vice versa. If a driver is feeling concerned about meeting strict deadlines, it must be addressed in a safe and legal manner. One conversation with an employer could discourage break skipping and, in turn, save a life.

Here at Drivers Direct, we encourage plenty of communication between drivers and management, creating a culture where all can bring forward any issues they may have. We hope that other businesses follow – for the sake of drivers’ physical and mental wellbeing and the safety of our roads.

Drivers Direct On Beating The January Blues

Posted on 22 Jan 2018
By glyn
In Drivers, HGV

January is in full swing and the Christmas and New Year festivities have been and gone. For some people, the Christmas period is something to look forward to, plenty of time spent with family and friends and eating far too much food! Once the new year rolls around, the January blues set in as reality kicks in and everyone goes back to work. Here at Drivers Direct, we think it’s so important to tackle the January blues head, whether your office is behind a desk or behind the wheel. We’ve put together some tips on how to harness a positive outlook during the remainder of the winter months.

Start your working day right with a positive playlist that sets you up for the day. Whether you’re an HGV driver or on your way to the office, creating a playlist with all your favourite songs is bound to put a smile on your face. Spotify allows you to customise your own playlists which you can make as long as you want – ideal for long driving shifts. The music service also creates fantastic playlists for any mood and occasion if you’re struggling to pinpoint your favourite tracks!

At this time of year it’s cold and dark, making it very easy to fall down the rabbit hole of treating yourself to more indulgent foods. These might momentarily make you feel better, but in the long-term it isn’t likely to boost your mood. Be sure to look after yourself, whatever profession you’re in by preparing healthy snacks for your working day. We’ve always heard the repetitive advice to drink plenty of water during the day but the benefits of doing this really do shine through! Water prevents fatigue and dehydration whilst helping to transport nutrients in the blood that are needed for energy. High energy snacks like shelled Edamame beans are packed with B-vitamins and great for keeping you going during the day. Of course fruit makes for a healthy snack but it can be awkward to deal with pips and peels whilst on the road. Instead, why not invest in some dried fruits, a delicious source of energy and easy to eat whilst on the go? We’re thinking dried banana chips, mangoes or apple rings. Staying healthy doesn’t always mean you have to cut chocolate out of your life forever though, it’s always good to treat yourself!

There’s no denying the power of positive thinking. Instead of wishing away your week, focus on things that you’re looking forward to in the upcoming days. Additionally, taking a mental note of things you appreciate but tend to take for granted to help put matters into perspective on tough days.

With the busy lives that we lead, we’re sometimes guilty of convincing ourselves we don’t have time to go to the gym or exercise. But you can truly surprise yourself with the amount you can do if you put your mind to it. Yes, it’s so easy to come home from work on a dark January evening and reach for the snacks and TV remote but instead why not do your favourite sport or a quick home workout. YouTube has hundreds of workout videos that you can do from the comfort of your own home, including 7 minute high-intensity workouts which are reportedly the best way to exercise, you can take inspiration from Tech Insider’s routine or the 20 minute work out from Fitness Blender.

We hope that we’ve shed some light on how to turn that January frown upside down. As a recruitment company, we understand that everyone is uniquely different and will deal with the January blues in a number of ways, but we aim to give some inspiration this month to everyone looking for ways to boost their positivity.

Category : Drivers