Many small automotive companies are affected by seasonal demand and other business cycles which demand that they hired temporary workers during busy periods and lay them off during the quiet season. However, it is important to retain a small section of dedicated full-time staff who act as the backbone of the business. Below is a guide to why one member of this team should be a truck driver.

Temporary vs. permanent staff 

One significant benefit of using temporary workers is that it can help to keep the operating cost of your automotive business down. However, one drawback of this approach is that it is very easy for skills to become lost. For example, you may hire a temporary driver to operate a truck. While working for your company, the driver may train and develop new skills and qualifications in heavy vehicle driving or the operation of a forklift truck and obtain the proper heavy vehicle licences. 

However, if you release the driver at the end of the season, there is no guarantee that they will be assigned to work for your company when the next busy period comes around and you could find yourself working with an employee who has very basic skills. By retaining and training core drivers, you can ensure that your business thrives.

Driver training for permanent staff

As a small business owner, you may be worried about the cost of taking on and training full-time drivers. However, you may be able to apply for a government subsidy which means you would only have to make a token contribution to the cost of the training course. Even if you are required to make a significant contribution to the cost of forklift, heavy vehicle or advanced truck driver training, this contribution could be repaid in a number of ways

Business growth

Driver training can help you to expand your business by opening up new markets. For example, if your business can only deal with loads of a certain size or of a certain type, training your drivers to drive larger vehicles or to handle dangerous goods can open up these markets resulting in increased business for your company. 

Increased productivity 

A well-trained workforce which is continually developing their skills can help to boost the productivity and output of your business. Staff who receive additional training are much more likely to feel valued and appreciated which will be shown by how diligently they perform their duties.