Stay legal with FTA’s new agency driver management guide

19 November 2009

The Freight Transport Association has launched a new guide for businesses employing temporary drivers to help them stay on the right side of the law.

The booklet - Guide to Managing Agency Drivers - includes advice about risks to employers around using agency drivers, factors to consider when choosing an agency, managing risks around pre-assignment checks and induction training and completing the assignment properly to avoid subsequent problems.

Included with each copy is a free CD ROM containing document templates mentioned in the Guide in a Microsoft Word format.

An FTA spokesman said: “Most commercial vehicle operators need temporary drivers to cope with sudden or seasonal increases in productivity or staff shortages. As such, agency drivers play a vital role in keeping the wheels of business turning.

“However, there are risks associated with using drivers who are unfamiliar with an operation and who are an unknown quantity for the company employing them. Thankfully these risks can be mitigated with some careful, common sense planning.”

The Guide is available from Shopfta, order code 4086, at www.shop.fta.co.uk or call 08717 11 11 11, at a cost of £4.50 each for FTA members and £5.00 for non-members.