planetrucking:
This is probably going to be a controversial post so apologies in advance.For many years I’ve been wanting to make the move into the industry, however a few issues and stereotypes have always dissuaded me from doing so.
I’m currently in what’s seen as a ‘good career’ and comes with a decent ‘status symbol’ in society- example being when I tell people what I do they look at me with intrigue and think I’ve done well in life. In fact the role is nothing like the positive stereotypical view joe public thinks and I would much rather have been a Professional Driver, I know I’m not the only one!So I come to what dissuades me most from taking the step into the industry, that being the current low society ‘status’ of a Hgv Driver role.
I find it so sad that people are worried about what others might think of them, especially because of the job they do, but if status is what floats your boat then forget this job. Well there are some that has the general public impressed about what you do, but its not taking a load of beans to an RDC.
planetrucking:
Why is it that the industry has given its Drivers this reputation, as if they are bottom rung of the ladder? and why do Drivers seem to accept it? I’ve talked to a few that give the impression of taking very little pride in their work and go along with whatever. I would add it does seem to be an issue only in the UK.
Ill start by saying most drivers (apart from a few exceptions which ill come to later) I’ve talked to and worked with have been far more educated and astute to the ways of the world than the average person, they usually have many interests that range far beyond that of the role of a Driver.
In the UK a truck driver has been seen as a manual workers job, with all the connotations that holds in a class ridden society, (although actually the proper “old money upper class” people I’ve met are actually the least worried about theirs or your supposed status) Although when I was growing up, the International driver, especially those that did the Middle East runs were looked upon differently, maybe because people didn’t go abroad and also they were well paid compared to many other workers, round my part only offshore workers seemed to get more.
planetrucking:
Secondly a Driver role is one that requires major responsibility- driving a complex, heavy, large and potentially deadly machine should demand respect and further more it takes allot of commitment and study to gain and keep the license.
So why is it Truck Drivers are not comparable to Train Drivers or Pilots?
You can qualify as an HGV driver in a week or 2, without any real entry qualifications, Train Drivers and Pilots take much longer, I’m sure the railways have a pick of the candidates, so could ask for at least a reasonable standard of education and commercial pilots will also need to do a lot of study to gain a licence, so would need a reasonable standard of education.
Although I’m sure the average passenger doesn’t think much of Train Drivers, when they gone on strike, but it’s their Union power that has kept them ahead of other traditional jobs in the pay stakes, which makes the job desirable and means the railways get to pick their candidates, as opposed to the haulage industry who’ll take anybody who has a licence and can actually manage to face the right way in the cab, some probably aren’t even to worried about that.
planetrucking:
Surely It must be a result of how the industry treats its own Drivers?
It does seem company’s have an agenda of belittling the role so to pay the least amount of money to achieve the highest profits?, In turn this is having an adverse effect on the industry by not enticing new staff into the role, resulting in companies recruiting anyone who will take minimum wage! This is having an overall affect of causing standards to drop way below what they should be.
I’ve had a few job offers that blatantly worked out to below minimum wage! I mean why do this? It only serves to degrade your own business and industry in the long run.
The industry have had a surplus of drivers and a surplus of trucks for the work available, (too easy to get a licence, too easy to start a haulage company) this means rates are pushed down as transport companies chase the work, the easiest way of pushing the costs down is drivers T&C’s.
After years of doing this and relying on various sources of plentiful labour, due to recessions, so taking advantage of workers spending their redundancy money on a licence after being made unemployed from other industries and labour coming from other countries, the industry is getting now getting worried as their average driver is heading towards retirement, unemployment is low and foreign workers are finding work more desirable in other countries.
Despite potential problems of drivers leaving, many in the industry are unwilling or unable (because margins are so tight) to improve the T&C’s to try and recruit and retain drivers, but I have little sympathy for them, the good companies will have drivers, the bottom feeders will find it increasingly difficult and get what they deserve, in crap drivers, damaged trucks, damaged loads etc.
planetrucking:
On that note I come to the subject of hot heads! These Drivers do seem to be the exception but are the result of what’s mentioned above. They come into the industry because they’re willing to work for minimum wage and have little else to do. I’ve come across people who don’t even enjoy driving cars!
And so with these people the standards fall, society’s view of the role turns negative and the vicious circle for the profession continues, with ever decreasing wages and the shortage of new good standard Drivers.
It’s an easy job to get into, so people who don’t really have some deep desire to do the job fall into it, some get training course merely to get them off the dole, or because it looked like a good way to get out of another dead end job or because it looked the easiest and quickest way to get back into work after being made redundant.
planetrucking:
Be interesting to know everyone’s thoughts, maybe I’m completely wrong and it’s just a wrong impression I’ve picked up.
The loudmouth driver fitting the stereotype and driving like a [ZB] is more obvious to the public, most members of the public probably never really noticed the quiet, contentious driver that has just made adjustments to their speed or course to avoid an issue or just keep the road running smoothly and if you want public adulation don’t be a truck driver, even a good one, but at least you’ll have the quiet knowledge that you’ve spotted problem and dealt with it.
There are many crap jobs in the industry, but there are good one, where you get treated ok and pay is better than average, but you have to make some effort to find them, those employers don’t have to come and find you.