NewsADVANCE RECRUITMENTS COURTS NEW GENERATION OF DRIVERS TO COMBAT TRANSPORT INDUSTRY SKILLS SHORTAGESMarch 2007 The current skills shortage being experienced in the Transport sector presents some serious long term issues for the industry. As specified in the recently released Workforce Challenges In Road Transport market research paper, demand for drivers is now beginning to exceed supply and the industry is having to grapple with the challenge of trying to understand how the number of working truck drivers can be increased over time. Advance Recruitments, as a supplier of drivers across the full range of licenses, has maintained its driver numbers despite the generally lower number of available drivers in the market. It has done this while maintaining its high standards in screening potential drivers and making pre-employment checks, and is now proactively taking steps to introduce a new generation of drivers for its clients in the transport field. At the heart of these initiatives is understanding that young drivers aren't entering the market due to misconceptions about the transport industry, the first being that most trucking requires constant interstate travel or long haul trips into rural areas. The second major obstacle in attracting new drivers is concerns over pay rates and working conditions. "Many candidates are surprised to learn that their routes can be metropolitan runs that are completed in a morning, and many can be a set routine with the same drop-offs each day," says Managing Director Sascha Charlton. "As casual drivers they can also limit their hours for the week and they're paid a premium for the category of work they're doing. These rates are well above the industry average, and as an employee of Advance Recruitments we ensure a professional working relationship in which we act in the employee's interests at all times." In this vein, Advance Recruitments aims to be an employer of choice in order to earn the trust and loyalty of its drivers to the organisation. As in any competitive market, Advance Recruitments know they must understand and meet the needs of their drivers, ensuring that working conditions, reliable and timely payments, and professional development are all vital in keeping morale at a healthy level. Professional development at Advance Recruitments focuses on accident minimisation, and providing opportunities for greater driving expertise. This includes Defensive Driver training and upgrading existing driver expertise to larger trucks, right up to a B Double license. "Advance Recruitments really want to push the envelope on this," says Ms. Charlton. "We're encouraging women and young men into the transport industry, and we believe we have the right package of benefits to overcome many of the issues that stops new drivers or licensed drivers who have left the industry from starting a successful new chapter in their careers." Click here for a summary of the Workforce Challenges In Road Transport paper. For the full 58 page paper, contact Karen Ellis, Industrial Client Services Manager on 02 9890 2099 or kellis@advrecruitments.com.au.
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Employee Profile: Darren Hope
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30-year-old Darren Hope has been working for Advance Recruitments for less than a year, but he’s already earned himself a reputation for reliability. “Darren is a true ‘on-call casual’,” says Operations Manager Karen Ellis. “He works at a number of different sites but always accepts shifts regardless of what time and where.”