Introducing the FTA Driver Agency Accreditation Scheme

Thursday 06 February 2014

The Freight Transport Association has today (Thursday 6 February) launched the FTA Driver Agency Accreditation Scheme.

The voluntary initiative has been developed by FTA, together with the driver agency industry, and aims to recognise, encourage and promote good practice within the sector.

Theo de Pencier, FTA's Chief Executive, commented:

"Ensuring high standards are maintained is always a priority for our members, but it may prove to be particularly important in a year when economic growth could increase the need to access a flexible workforce. This scheme, which has been developed by driver agency members and vehicle operators, provides industry recognised standards as well as a governance structure to promote continuous improvement."

The scheme was launched at the FTA/Department for Transport ‘Listening to Industry’ event by Transport Minister Robert Goodwill, who said:

"I welcome the Freight Transport Association’s scheme to help ensure that high standards for drivers are maintained. I hope this measure helps to give driver agencies a recognised structure for improvement."

The benefits of the FTA Driver Agency Accreditation Scheme include:

• Industry recognition that organisations are striving to achieve the highest levels of quality and compliance
• Verification to employees and clients that driver agencies are promoting good practice
• Reduction of corporate and operational risk
• The audit process will highlight any areas of ineffectiveness or non-compliance to help improve systems and processes

The Driver Agency Accreditation Scheme's Governance Group is made up of founding driver agencies and considers applications, audit performance, feedback results, complaints and any other detrimental information. Members of the scheme's Governance Group include:

• 24-7 Staffing Ltd
• Agency Drivers Northwest
• Berry Recruitment
• Bigfoot Recruitment
• Drivers Direct Recruitment
• Encore Direct
• Heads Recruitment
• Midlands Driver Recruitment Ltd
• Phoenix Personnel Ltd
• Riverside Recruitment (UK) Ltd
• Top Truckers
• Velocity Recruitment

Julian Thompson, Managing Director, 24-7 Staffing Ltd commented:

"This industry is not about getting someone behind the wheel, it’s about knowing the legislation and practices that make a good agency. The FTA’s Driver Agency Accreditation Scheme will give clients the assurance that the consultants really understand the legislation involved with driving their vehicles."

Every driver agency applying to become accredited by the scheme will be asked to sign a statement of intent and the FTA Driver Agency Accreditation Scheme will undertake an independent audit of the agency's systems covering core business standards, driver recruitment standards and driver management standards.

Notes for editors

For further details contact the FTA press office on 01892 552255/ 07818 450425, or email press.office@fta.co.uk

Further information on the development of the Driver Agency Accreditation Scheme can be found at: http://www.fta.co.uk/daas

The FTA Driver Agency Accreditation Scheme Governance Group is accountable to a Standards Committee which is made up of vehicle operators, which combined is the guardian of the accreditation standards and also acts as an appeals body for decisions made by the governance group in relation to membership or complaints.
 
 
FTA Press Office
01892 552255
press.office@fta.co.uk