FLF Logistics
Driver hire and driver services for transport companies
When a vehicle sits in the yard without a driver, hire one from us. For half a day, a day, a week or on a continuous basis, in your vehicle or ours.
Driver hire is for haulage firms, wholesalers and other businesses that have their own vehicles but, at times, too few drivers. Holidays, sick leave, a sudden resignation or the launch of a new customer leave a vehicle standing while the orders keep coming. Our drivers are FLF's own employees, not agency staff, and we have more than 50 professionals at our Helsinki and Lahti depots.
The service comes in two models. A relief driver drives your own vehicle on your route for your customers, so your fleet and systems stay as they are. In the driver-and-vehicle package we bring the vehicle too, which suits situations where the vehicle is missing as well. We operate in Uusimaa, Kanta-Häme and Päijät-Häme, and by arrangement a driver will take on longer runs.
Pricing depends on the length of the hire, the vehicle class the driver operates and when the work falls: a weekday shift is priced differently from night or weekend work. Half-day, daily and weekly periods have their own rates, and on a continuous contract the price is agreed monthly. Businesses are quoted excluding VAT, and you will normally have a quote the same working day.
50+
employed professionals
2
hire models
3
regions
ex VAT
business pricing
When a hired driver makes sense
A hired driver is the sensible choice when the need is temporary or variable and recruiting is too slow or not worthwhile.
- A regular driver's holiday or sick leave, when the route must run as before
- A resignation or recruitment delay, when the new driver starts months from now
- A season or a new customer that needs extra hands for a few weeks
- Driving and rest time limits reached, when the day runs over the permitted hours
- A second driver for long transfers or two-shift distribution
- A trial run of a new route before recruiting your own driver
Two models: a driver for your vehicle, or driver and vehicle
Relief driver in your vehicle
Our driver drives your vehicle, your route and your systems. Your customers notice no difference. Suits situations where the fleet is fine but the driver is missing.
Driver-and-vehicle package
We bring a van or a lorry along with the driver. Suits situations where your vehicle is in the workshop or capacity is short. See the Van with driver page for details.
Continuous contract
An agreed number of driver days per week or month, with the same driver on regular shifts. Your vehicle or ours, priced monthly.
Driver qualifications
Our drivers hold the licence category the task requires. Vans are driven on a category B licence, and drivers on lorry work hold a category C licence and the professional lorry driver qualification with its periodic training, as the task requires. Tell us in your request which vehicle the driver will operate and we will assign a driver whose qualifications match. Qualification records are sent to you before the start.
Because FLF also runs taxi services, some of our drivers hold a taxi driver's licence, which allows passenger transport tasks under the same contract. For pharmaceutical and other temperature-controlled transport we assign drivers who have completed training in line with GDP requirements and know cold-chain documentation. All drivers are trained in-house, and the induction into your route and practices is agreed at the start.
Responsibilities and insurance
When our driver operates your own vehicle, the vehicle is as a rule covered by your motor and comprehensive insurance, and the goods carried fall under your carrier liability just as when your own driver is at the wheel. FLF is responsible for the driver as employer: wages, working hours, occupational health, accident insurance and ensuring the driver holds the required qualifications. How the excess on vehicle damage is shared, and the driver's instructions, are set out in the contract before the first run.
In the driver-and-vehicle package the split is different: the vehicle, its insurance and carrier liability cover for the goods at the agreed level are FLF's responsibility. You are responsible for packing and shipment information. We recommend checking with your own insurer whether your policy covers an external driver, and we are happy to describe what other customers have agreed. All liability questions are agreed in writing in the contract.
Pricing: half day, day, week or continuous
The price is based on the length of the hire and the vehicle class. The longer and more regular the period, the lower the daily rate.
Half day
A morning or afternoon shift, for example a morning distribution round or afternoon collections. The shortest period we book.
Day
A full shift as cover or extra hands. The most common single order.
Week
Holiday and sick-leave cover and seasonal help. The same driver all week, at a lower daily rate.
Continuous contract
An agreed number of driver days per month at a fixed price. A named driver and a cover driver, invoiced monthly.
How to book a driver
- 01
Describe the task
Vehicle, route, working hours and length of the period. Mention whether a category C licence, a taxi driver's licence or GDP training is needed.
- 02
Quote and driver selection
You receive a price and a proposed driver, normally the same working day, with qualification records attached.
- 03
Contract and induction
We agree responsibilities and insurance in writing. The driver is inducted into the route, the vehicle and your systems.
- 04
Shifts and reporting
The driver works the agreed shifts and reports hours. Invoice after the period or monthly.
Service area
Drivers are based in Malmi, Helsinki and in Lahti, and the task can start from your own premises. We operate in Uusimaa, Kanta-Häme and Päijät-Häme.
- Helsinki, Espoo and Vantaa: the driver arrives at your depot at the agreed time
- Lahti, Heinola and Päijät-Häme: from the Asentajankatu depot
- Hämeenlinna, Hyvinkää and Riihimäki: from either depot
- Longer transfers and runs elsewhere in Finland by agreement
Pricing
The price of driver hire is based on the length of the period, the vehicle class driven and whether the work falls on weekdays, evenings or weekends. In the driver-and-vehicle package the vehicle is added to the price. Businesses are quoted excluding VAT, and on a continuous contract the monthly price includes cover.
Half day or day
Single cover shifts and extra hands.
Week
Holiday and sick-leave cover with the same driver.
Continuous contract
Agreed driver days per month at a fixed price.
Request a quote for a driver
Tell us the vehicle, route and period. We normally reply the same working day, and the request does not commit you.
Frequently asked questions
What does driver hire cost?
The price is calculated from the length of the hire, the vehicle class and the working hours. The daily rate is lower on a weekly period than for a single day, and on a continuous contract the price is agreed monthly. The price includes the driver's wages, employer costs, insurance and cover. Request a quote by stating the vehicle and period and you will normally have a price, excluding VAT, the same working day.
Who is liable for damage?
The split of responsibility is agreed in the contract before the first run. When the driver operates your vehicle, the vehicle is as a rule covered by your insurance and FLF is responsible for the driver as employer. How the excess is shared in the event of damage is written into the contract. In the driver-and-vehicle package the vehicle and its insurance are FLF's responsibility. We recommend checking your own policy's terms regarding external drivers.
How quickly is a driver available?
For sudden cover a driver can often be found for the next day, sometimes the same day if the shift starts later. A staff of more than 50 drivers across two depots gives us room to manoeuvre. Weekly and longer periods are best booked a few days ahead so the driver can be inducted into the route and systems. Call 050 410 2021 and we will check availability straight away.
Can the driver drive our vehicle?
Yes, that is the most common form of the service. Our driver operates your vehicle on your route and uses your delivery system according to your instructions. Tell us the vehicle class and any special equipment, such as a tail lift or refrigeration unit, and we will assign a driver with experience of them. The vehicle's condition and inspection remain your responsibility.
Is VAT included?
Businesses are quoted excluding VAT, and VAT is added to the invoice at the prevailing rate. Driver hire and goods transport are invoiced at the standard rate. As a business you deduct the tax in the normal way, so comparisons are best made on net prices. Invoicing takes place after the period, or monthly as a consolidated invoice for contract customers.
Are the drivers professionally qualified?
Our lorry drivers hold the professional lorry driver qualification and the required licence category. Van work requires a category B licence, and some drivers also hold a taxi driver's licence. For temperature-controlled transport we assign a driver trained in line with GDP requirements. Qualifications are checked against the task and sent to you before the start.
Can we hire the driver ourselves later?
Our drivers are FLF's permanent staff, and we do not supply labour for recruitment purposes. If the need turns out to be permanent, the right solution is a continuous contract in which the same driver works your shifts at a monthly price with cover included. Anyone looking to work as a driver is directed to our recruitment page.
A driver when your own are not enough
Tell us the vehicle, route and period. We will propose a driver and a price, normally the same working day.