Birmingham-based PGS Global Logistics is growing its own talent pool through a driver recruitment campaign dubbed “Not Your Average Joe’ which aims to attract younger candidates to train as HGV drivers.
The company, which is a member of Pallet-Track, has enlisted Joe Eyles, son of MD Paul Eyles, as the face behind the ‘Not Your Average Joe’ initiative.
The younger Eyles oversees the maintenance of the PGS Fleet, which has around 65 trucks and 79 trailers. He also has both Class 2 and Class 1 driver certificates.
Eyles said: “The average age of drivers is between 50 and 60. There are simply not enough young people getting into driving – it suffers from a negative image, but it’s a progressive career with good money.
“The industry has not helped because it won’t let young people behind the wheel unless they have two years’ experience. But that’s a Catch 22 as you can’t get experience unless someone lets you drive in the first place.”
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Eyles trained with A1 Training, which was acquired by PGS Global Logistics in December last year, and is based on the haulier’s site.
A1 uses mentors to go out with new drivers which Eyles said ensures new drivers “quickly pick up the experience without acquiring the bad habits.”
David Bayliss, commercial director for PGS Global Logistics, said: “Joe is not your typical Joe, but a great example of what the industry should be aspiring to."
He added: "The supply chain is only as strong as its weakest link and that could be a driver shortage when all of the 50+ drivers retire.
“Rather than complain about it, we need to train ourselves out of the issue by showing how to recruit younger drivers into the industry. Joe is a great way of achieving that. In a very short time, he has developed skills that have established him in the business and will take him far in the industry.”
