Meachers takes DIY approach to driver shortage

Shown here are the first two drivers to have gained C+E entitlement via an HGV driver upgrade scheme at Meachers Global Logistics.

The Meachers HGV Licence Upgrade scheme, which involves giving drivers who already hold a C catergory licence, professional training to achieve their C+E, is run in partnership with training firm S-G Transport Training & Logistics and specialist transport recruitment firm JT Recruit.

Under the scheme, drivers receive training that would normally cost them up to £2,000.

Driver Mark Caswell – pictured (left) with fellow driver Gary Smith – said: “The offer of free training with a guaranteed job at the end presented an excellent opportunity for me. The course only took five days to complete but it has now given me the skills I need to take my career to the next level driving HGV Class 1 vehicles.”

Meachers’ commercial director Gary Whittle added: “Derby is an important hub for the transport sector and we expect to see continued growth in this area in 2015. We are hoping this new scheme will encourage those already working in the industry to consider a career driving our fleet of modern Class 1 vehicles.”