The Microlise Conference returned after a 3 year break due to COVID and was hosted by Spencer Kelly, presenter of BBC3’s flagship technology programme Click. Freightlink Europe Director, Lesley O’Brien, was delighted to be invited to be on the Expert Panel, where the thorny subject of agency drivers was raised.
There was a perceived clash between Tesco Transport Director Matt Rhind and Freightlink Europe Director Lesley O’Brien. Matt Rhind quite rightly stated that agency drivers had been a godsend during the pandemic. Indeed we at Freightlink Europe agree that agency drivers are vital to our industry to cover the ebbs and flow of business needs, holidays, periods of sickness and unforeseen events. The concern is not directed at the drivers, but rather Agencies, many of which fail to have knowledge of demands of the highly regulated transport industry. This can result in inadequate recruitment and assessment processes, failing both drivers and companies.
At a recent meeting with a local Agency, when questioned, the Agency was unable to answer basic questions with regard to drivers’ hours and load security. This being the case, how can they recruit, assess, monitor and, where necessary, train.
Yes, vehicle operators have an obligation to ensure their drivers are competent and trained, but when engaging with a third party provider, deemed to offer the specific service, surely we should be able to rely on an assessment and understanding of the basics.
Unlike both the Company and the driver, when things go wrong, the Agency livelihood is not at stake, whereas drivers risk losing their vocational licence and companies can have their Operator’s licence revoked, suspended or curtailed. Where is the accountability?
Freightlink Europe totally agrees that agency drivers should and must enjoy the same welfare facilities and benefits as their counterpart employees. However, Agency recruitment companies have their part to play and must have accountability. Regretfully not all vehicle operators have the same buying power to make demands on Agencies as Tesco. Neither are their sufficient Agencies of repute to fill the gap in the market.
Arch Fleet
In addition to contributing to the Microlise Expert Panel, Lesley O’Brien supported the Arch Fleet stand, promoting 24/7 legal roadside criminal protection for drivers.
Freightlink Europe subscribes to Arch Fleet to provide legal 24/7 criminal legal protection for its drivers at roadside. A ‘blue light’ incident at roadside is the only time that police do not advise of a person’s right to have legal representation. Arch Fleet provides this representation at roadside. Freightlink Europe drivers are made aware of their rights. They are not only given a 24/7 emergency number to ring, but a letter to provide to police, advising that they are invoking their right to be represented, with a number to call for lawyer attendance. This will ensure that anything drivers say at roadside has the benefit of being legally privileged, protecting and assisting our drivers when they are possibly at their most vulnerable.
Attending the Arch Fleet stand, Her Royal Highness Princess Anne, joked that this could equally apply to drivers of horse boxes!
Lesley commented, ‘I used to think that FNOL provided this service and was shocked to learn not only about legal privilege at roadside, but that FNOL (First Notification of Loss) reporting is only really focused on the recovery of vehicles and not driver assistance. For this reason, I fully support Charlotte Le Maire in promoting Arch Fleet for the protection of drivers at roadside’
