Operations · 10 min read

PHV driver onboarding playbook for fleet operators

Reference for fleet operators onboarding new PHV drivers — application channels, licensing-flight management, app onboarding, first-week ramp.

Driver onboarding is one of the highest-leverage operator-side workflows — every onboarded driver represents weeks of attention and £400-£800 of acquisition cost. This playbook covers the practical onboarding workflow from application to first profitable shift across application channels, licensing-flight management, app deployment, and first-week ramp coaching.

  1. Step 1

    Source applications

    Driver-network referral schemes (£150-£300 bonus) produce highest conversion. Indeed and Reed produce volume but lower conversion. Council-licensing-office bulletin boards remain effective for some catchments.

  2. Step 2

    Initial screening interview

    30-minute call covering experience, area knowledge, vehicle availability (if driver-owned model), commission expectations, weekly hour availability.

  3. Step 3

    Licence flight management

    Cover £200-£400 retainer or guaranteed minimum hours during the 4-8 week PHV licensing flight. Keep candidate engaged via weekly check-ins.

  4. Step 4

    Driver app onboarding

    On licence issuance, install the driver app. Walk through offer-accept flow, navigation integration, settlement reporting, and first-day shadowing protocol.

  5. Step 5

    First-week shadowing

    Pair new driver with an experienced driver for the first 2-3 shifts. Avoid airport-feeder work in the first week — too much pressure for the new driver to absorb cleanly.

  6. Step 6

    Settlement walkthrough

    After the first week's settlement run, walk the driver through their statement line-by-line. Settlement reliability is the single highest-impact retention factor.

Frequently asked

Questions, answered.

  • How long does PHV driver licensing typically take?

    4-8 weeks from application to issued licence in most UK councils. London (TfL) typically 6-10 weeks due to topographical knowledge assessment.

  • What is a typical UK PHV driver acquisition cost?

    £400-£800 all-in including application fees, licensing-flight retainer, and onboarding cost. Driver-network referral schemes can reduce this to £200-£300.

  • What drives driver retention post-onboarding?

    Driver app quality, settlement reliability, fair commission rates, and operator responsiveness to driver-side issues. Operators on modern dispatch typically report 15-25% lower churn than legacy-system equivalents.

Other guides

Ready when you are

Dispatch on autopilot.

14-day free trial. No card. Cancel anytime.

47 fleets joined this month · Talk to sales