MHW Magazine News and stories from the Materials Handling Industry
FTA’s solving the Driver Crisis Summit has proved so popular that people wishing to attend the event are now on a waiting list for places – as over 600 delegates have already registered to be there.
The Freight Transport Association has been inundated with bookings for its one-day Industry Summit – ‘Solving the Driver Crisis’ – which is aimed at tackling the chronic shortage of qualified professional drivers, a clear indication of how seriously the transport industry takes the issue and how determined it is to find solutions to the problem.
The FTA Summit takes place on Thursday 12 March at the Ricoh Stadium, Coventry is sponsored by Volvo Trucks and supported by Cornmarket Insurance, Goodyear and Microlise, with media partner Commercial Motor.
This free to attend event will bring together government officials, professional HR advisors and experienced operators to work towards solutions to the current driver crisis, and the huge demand for places reflects the wide range and quality of the speakers and programme.
Subjects to be covered include:
How big is the problem?
What were operators’ experiences in the run-up to Christmas?
Government perceptions of professional driving
Barriers to putting drivers on the road
What do we need to do? What can we learn from others
How do we make the industry more attractive
How do we keep the drivers we have got?
Broadening the appeal of driving
Headline sponsor of the event is Volvo Trucks UK & Ireland; Arne Knaben, Managing Director said:
“Volvo Trucks is delighted to be the headline sponsor of the FTA Solving the Driver Crisis Summit. That there is a shortage of professional drivers is not in doubt. Although the situation in the UK at the moment is particularly acute, driver shortages have been experienced in other areas of the world, including Scandinavia and the USA. It is an industry-wide problem and one that we need to work together to solve. In our experience, which is mirrored around the world, drivers are attracted to work for, and stay with, companies that operate trucks that offer them the best working and living environment. At Volvo Trucks, we believe that we offer an important element of the solution to the driver shortage.”
The programme of speakers at the FTA Summit include:
Ian Stansfield, Director of Distribution, ASDA
Julian Thompson, Managing Director, 24/7 Staffing
Sam Geddis, UK Managing Director, Cornmarket Insurance Services;
Adrian Jones, National Officer, Unite
Jennie Pittam, Career Transition Partnership (CTP)
Steve Granite, Abbey Logistics
Sally Gilson, FTA’s Skills Policy Development Manager
For further information go to http://www.fta.co.uk/events/solving_the_driver_crisis_FTA_summit.html or contact the FTA Member Service Centre on 08717 11 22 22.
