London, UK: XPO Logistics has developed a new XPO Logistics Driver Excellence Academy to ease the UK driver shortage. The academy is already running at four XPO sites: Kirkby Thore in Cumbria; Leeds in West Yorkshire; Ilkeston in Derbyshire; and Dordon in North Warwickshire . XPO created an academy toolkit so that any site can implement the programme where there is demand.
XPO is looking for people from all backgrounds to join the academy. Each academy trainee would work towards receiving the relevant qualification for the type of vehicle they want to drive. For example, a Cat B license entitles someone to drive a car, which can be upskilled to a Cat Class C (Rigid) or Cat CE (Artic). It is possible to go straight from a Cat B to a Cat CE license.
The training course – built around XPO’s ‘One Best Way’ for driver training – will take place in stages, providing a comprehensive training plan with XPO Logistics’ qualified instructors supporting the journey from start to finish. There is an additional four-week buddying-up process which includes follow-ups.
Lynn Brown, vice president, human resources. UK and Ireland, XPO Logistics, said: “The investment we have made will benefit the whole logistics industry. It also underlines that XPO is an employer of choice with 2500 drivers to date in the UK and Ireland. The XPO Driver Excellence Academy will welcome all individuals irrespective of training and will provide a route into our industry that offers a great career choice. This initiative will help reduce the driver shortage in the UK by investing in training more people and offering them permanent roles following successful training.”
There will also be a specific push to increase the number of female drivers trained through the XPO Driver Excellence Academy via a targeted recruitment campaign. According to the Transport Exchange Group, women are still heavily underrepresented in the road transport and logistics industry. They make up only 20% of transport sector staff with 1%-3% of HGV drivers.
