TUNBRIDGE WELLS: Most merchants need need temporary drivers to cope with sudden or seasonal increases in productivity or staff shortages.

The Freight Transport Association's 'Guide to Managing Agency Drivers' gives advice on employing temporary drivers and how to stay on the right side of the law.

There are risks associated with using drivers unfamiliar with an operation and who are an unknown quantity for the company employing them. Merchants can mitigate these risks with careful, common sense planning, the association said.

The guide includes a CD ROM with the document templates mentioned in the guide.