When the chips are down and wheels need to roll, transporters often employ drivers and technicians who are under skilled and perhaps even totally unsuited to the job. The best way to ensure that new employees are capable of performing efficiently is to subject them to psychometric and psychomotor testing before signing them on, says Natalie Rodriguez of Driving Sense. "With all the driver poaching going on in the business, operators are taking on anyone who carries a Code 14 licence. In many cases these licenses are fraudulent and the drivers have terrible performance records. The pressure to keep trucks on the road has owners turning a blind eye to who's actually driving their vehicles."

Psychometric and psychomotor assessments give potential employers a comprehensive picture of how the candidate will function in a given work situation and how he/she will respond to various stress factors. "The skills development process is costly and in comparison to the overall cost of training a driver, a psychometric assessment is a fraction of the price. By taking the guesswork out of the equation, there will be fewer learner drop-outs and fewer accidents on our roads. What's more, insurance premiums can be reduced on drivers who have been through psychometric testing," concludes Rodriguez.