Within the logistics sector there is little doubt that good drivers are front and centre of any delivery operation – which is why delivering good drivers is front and centre at More Driver Solutions (MDS).
As one of the largest independent specialist driving agencies in the country MDS, based in Northampton, has tailored its services to ensure that business standards meet the industry’s expectations, which are not always met.
One of MDS’s key benefits is its understanding of the market, which allows it to work through the peaks and troughs that transport inevitably has, supporting customers during these times. Its large pool of core drivers and database of around 7,000 drivers enables it to act quickly and efficiently. It’s a model that can manage an increased requirement of over 40% week on week and still maintain the high standards expected.
Director Emily Cooper said:
“A clear understanding of the industry is vital. We know that clients need not just drivers but a reliable supplier, so we guarantee to fill every booking we have committed to. We put our money where our mouths are to provide unrivalled reliability.
“What that means is having drivers we have complete confidence in, who we’ve registered face-to-face, knowledge tested and checked. And it also means having a team in the office devoted to ensuring all aspects of managing our drivers are handled efficiently.”
All MDS’s core drivers are provided with driver uniforms, so not only do they look smart, but they can be identified as MDS drivers. Ongoing training is provided for all core drivers via the MDS Academy, with a series of five toolbox talks with tests at the end to ensure understanding, and all training is recorded. MDS has been a member of the Logistics UK Driver Agency Excellence Scheme for the past 18 months, ensuring standards align with the standards of Logistics UK.
MDS is also one of only two agencies in the country that has Driver Agency Excellence Accreditation, provides Blue Light Protection and training for its drivers through a partnership with Road Skills Online, and runs in-house PAYE payroll.
All drivers have access to the MDS app, which manages their hours in real time, preventing drivers working illegally and exceeding their hours.
Driving the operation behind the scenes
MDS recognised that the standard 360-degree recruitment model was not robust enough for its needs, so split its in-house teams into specialist departments – driver management, driver recruitment, compliance, payroll and sales teams.
- Driver management/planning team: this large team is the core of the business, working 24/7 to support both drivers and clients. Due to the size and coverage of the team, the service is seamless and there is always an experienced team member available to assist. Every driver is managed, and regular welfare checks are carried out with each driver assigned to a contact. All MDS customers have a dedicated account manager who completes service visits and forward planning and is the contact for any concerns.
- Recruitment team: the recruitment team manage the advertising and selection process to maintain the pool of drivers. They are also dedicated to finding full-time or specialist drivers as required for customers. Face-to-face registration gives the team and the drivers confidence that both sides are invested in working together.
- Payroll: ensuring that drivers are paid correctly on time is a must, and a streamlined process and direct line in makes it easy to manage any queries and cuts down on issues. A simple costing process is linked directly to the driver app and is efficient for clients.
- Compliance Team: this is the back stop to ensure drivers are compliant. The team manage all drivers’ hours, WTD, DVLA and licence checks, audits and additional compliance.
- 24/7 service: MDS boasts an excellent out-of-hours service to support 24-hour operations. The planning team work on a rota basis to ensure the phones are always manned and a manager is always available to support and for any escalations.
Director Nikki Tilley added:
“We regularly complete a competitor analysis to ensure we are offering the best support on the market. The most recent feedback showed that, incredibly, only 10% of our competitors conduct face-to-face interviews before using a driver. Some agencies would supply a driver without completing the minimum due diligence to protect all parties in the supply chain. I would urge any business that uses agencies drivers to ensure their supplier is selecting and managing their temporary workforce with the same care you do your own.
“We have designed our own self-audit checks and are happy to review or share our audit process with anyone that would like to see it. You hear a lot about the safety of using an agency driver, which is why we do so much work behind the scenes to ensure the safety of our clients and our drivers.”
For more information about More Driver Solutions, call 01604 588300 or visit the website
