Infrastructure is booming and the need for truck drivers is higher than ever, so if you’ve been thinking of trying something different, Fleet Plant Hire and its contractors need you
With the Covid pandemic putting huge pressure on supply chains and the Australian government focusing on infrastructure funding to increase economic growth, the need for skilled drivers is now one of the key issues for the trucking and construction industries.
Melbourne’s Fleet Plant Hire, which provides plant and truck hire and material solutions to Victorian construction businesses across the state, is now looking to build its database of truck drivers as more and more work becomes available.
One local contractor who has been working with Fleet Plant Hire for 25 years is John Pollifrone, the truck manager of 10 tippers at NEMA Vic Pty Ltd.
“I’m looking for drivers all the time. It seems to be an issue throughout the industry at the moment,” he says.
A lack of drivers for his tipper fleet is an ongoing concern for both Pollifrone, and many contractors in the state, as they look to take advantage of the infrastructure boom coming through the pipeline.
“There’s always going to be a need for the tippers because of government infrastructure planning,” he says.
“As you can see with what’s going on with the train lines, the West Gate tunnel, the widening of freeways – those things will never stop. Infrastructure will always be a major part of our trucking industry.”
This is confirmed by Fleet Plant Hire Scheduling coordinator – Team Leader Shane Treweek, who points out that this is an industry-wide issue.
“We’ve got a number of contractors with trucks who are unable to run them all because they can’t get people to drive them. It’s a common issue all around Melbourne at the moment – a severe lack of drivers.
“There’s plenty of opportunities at the moment, the rates are pretty good, but contractors can’t cover everything due to the lack of drivers. And things are only going to get busier.”
Improved safety
Speaking about his time in the trucking industry, first as an owner-driver and then as a truck manager, Pollifrone says a major change in that time has been the increased focus on safety and compliance and that working with Fleet Plant Hire helps him keep up to date with any changes in requirements.
“The increased focus on safety is definitely a good thing because, at the end of the day, I want three things from my drivers,” he says.
“The first one is that they go to work and come home safely. The second rule is that the truck goes to work and comes home safely. And, obviously, the third rule is to do as much as we can, legally and safely, to make to make the business run properly.”
As a way to ensure his team and trucks remain compliant with the latest regulations, he takes advantage of information and training provided by Fleet Plant Hire to all of its contractors.
“Any training that Fleet Plant Hire put on I will definitely go to because, at the end of the day, it’s going to help myself and my truck drivers in respect of complying with what needs to be complied with,” he says.
“We need to be safe. I want you to go to work and come home safely, and I want you to take my truck to work and bring it home without any damage.”
Personal touch
Discussing how Fleet Plant Hire aims to put excellent customer service at the heart of its operation, Shane Treweek says that a main point of difference is how it develops personal relationships with its contractors.
“With a lot of other companies, contractors are just another number, with computer-based systems that just text message jobs out,” he says.
“We try to ring people, talk to people, and treat them like a person. We are customer service-orientated, where we like to speak to people individually and not brush them off as just another driver or just another truck.”
John Pollifrone says that his 25-year relationship with Fleet Plant Hire has remained strong due to mutual respect and the personal touch Fleet Plant Hire brings.
“It’s all about the attitude – that’s why I stayed with Fleet Plant Hire,” he says.
“Fleet do the right thing by me because I’ve done the right thing by them.
“They make sure that I’ve got work all the time. It saves me having to go and look for the work. With them passing jobs on to me it works out a lot better. This new eDocket system is very, very good. It makes my life a lot easier. It means I don’t have to chase the paperwork.”
Fleet Plant Hire’s eDocket system allows contractors to submit their dockets on their smartphone direct from the site, saving significant time in maintaining paperwork and ensuring accurate information is received by all parties.
“We directly get the information, and contractors know we’ve received it, which speeds up the whole process of making sure they get paid on time,” says Treweek.
Fleet Plant Hire is now actively recruiting truck drivers and contractors who would like to work on a variety of construction projects across Victoria.
“If anybody wants to register a truck with us, we look forward to welcoming them on board,” says Treweek.
For more information,visit https://fph.com.au or call 03 9561 3988.