Driver Shortage?

[english_driver_1970]

DCPCFML:

switchlogic:

English driver 1970:
I passed Class2 last Dec.
Ive had 22 hours class 1 training and 2 failed test attempts since.
Third time lucky next month. With a further 2 hours extra training.
I’m only interested in class 1, but did register with a handful of agencies in early January as a new pass class 2. It wasn’t until late February I started to hear from the agencies regarding class 2 work. By this time I had no intention of doing class 2 work and have never applied anywhere for class 2 work.
The past 8 weeks has been constant daily calls, texts, emails from every agency known to man.
I’ve received calls from haulage companies direct, and a very local one to me, Knight’s of Old call me regularly to see how I am, eager for me to finally pass class 1 next month.

Last week I was offered a start for this morning (agency) class 2, £16ph plus £50 per shift.

Carryfast? Is that you my dear?

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=169026

I worked in East Germany for 2 years in the early 90,s. The 1st 6 months 3 of us spent most nights sleeping in a HGV container onsite to save digs costs. I’ve got experience in Euro container work….

[winseer]

blueiain1967:
Today I went for a driving assessment arranged by the agency, at the assessment I was offered a full time job, which was odd as I applied directly to the said company for a permanent role last week and got rejected.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I’ve had that happen at both Morrisons and Tesco… They’d both turned me down for a “wearing the shirt” full time job, but then took me on flat out weeks later via an agency that I’d only signed up with after getting knocked back thus…

There was me thinking the agency would find me “somewhere else to work” - but surprise surprise the criteria for getting into anywhere on agency - turned out to be clearly different from the criteria to get a full time job there…
The Tesco application - didn’t even make it to interview stage, so I cannot blame my abrasive personality as the reason for “not getting it” neither.

Perhaps it could be compared to getting Car Finance…
Get knocked back for 0% finance because one has a “bad credit rating”…
…But gets offered another deal @ 28.8% APR via some broker who’ll charge a fee, whack you with that front-loaded high interest rate, and bugger me - if it doesn’t turn out that the “end lender” was the same bloody one that knocked you back to start with!!

[winseer]

English driver 1970:

Stacks74:
Tesco and other leading supermarkets are throwing away tonnes of food due to driver shortage government Are in
Talks to possibly Ease drivers hours just put it into any search Engine .

Only 2 ways to resolve this quickly. Training centres to test. Or forget brexit ever happened. Drivers hour or CPC tweeks won’t resolve current shortage.

The DVSA are an embarrassment, the office staff spending 18 months hiding behind desks, striking and refusing to return to the workplace. The DVSA examiners wearing masks, gloves and refusing to touch anything in a cab, after the cab being fully sanitised seconds before they entered it. And refusing to work through any lockdown resulting in thousands of tests over 18 months not happening. The Government need to get a grip….

It is the “Just in time” business model - now totally falling over, and taking perhaps Zero Hours Contracts with it - that is to blame imo.

Going now - are the days where you could NOT create say, 25 new driver jobs, because the managers cannot be arsed to give rights to their underlings when they were once drivers themselves… Sure, they know all the dodges etc. but a full timer has been rather hard to get rid of in a hurry for some time now.
They’ve got rights you see, even if there isn’t much union prescence in the workplace.

So, when the work outstrips the slimmed-down full time workforce - what do firms do?
Ask agencies to supply…
…Plenty of dross drivers on an agency’s books - would have once kept their rates down. “Oversupply”, not helped by the agency deliberately taking on one driver per available SHIFT rather than “per available job” that might consist of a full week of FIVE shifts…

Those days are now gone.
Drivers like myself who found themselves sidelined for over a year - have of course moved on, In my case to a part time contract that I’ve been after for yonks, albeit still a ZHC one for the time being…

The time needs to come then where drivers get the hours they want to compensate for market forces not meeting the higher hourly rates that normal price discovery mechanics would otherwise demand of the free labour market…

Firms need to offer more “directly employed jobs as defined by the professional offering to work at said establishment”.
If the firm only has Graveyard shift starts, 5-6-5-6 working patterns, and lower than top dollar hourly rates…
…Then guess what?
…The available drivers will prefer to sit at home waiting for something better (semi retirement?) or simply get a job somewhere else that WILL meet those criteria…

That also means of course “Agencies - get sidelined”.

…Perhaps for good?

[english_driver_1970]

Winseer:

English driver 1970:

Stacks74:
Tesco and other leading supermarkets are throwing away tonnes of food due to driver shortage government Are in
Talks to possibly Ease drivers hours just put it into any search Engine .

Only 2 ways to resolve this quickly. Training centres to test. Or forget brexit ever happened. Drivers hour or CPC tweeks won’t resolve current shortage.

The DVSA are an embarrassment, the office staff spending 18 months hiding behind desks, striking and refusing to return to the workplace. The DVSA examiners wearing masks, gloves and refusing to touch anything in a cab, after the cab being fully sanitised seconds before they entered it. And refusing to work through any lockdown resulting in thousands of tests over 18 months not happening. The Government need to get a grip….

It is the “Just in time” business model - now totally falling over, and taking perhaps Zero Hours Contracts with it - that is to blame imo.

Going now - are the days where you could NOT create say, 25 new driver jobs, because the managers cannot be arsed to give rights to their underlings when they were once drivers themselves… Sure, they know all the dodges etc. but a full timer has been rather hard to get rid of in a hurry for some time now.
They’ve got rights you see, even if there isn’t much union prescence in the workplace.

So, when the work outstrips the slimmed-down full time workforce - what do firms do?
Ask agencies to supply…
…Plenty of dross drivers on an agency’s books - would have once kept their rates down. “Oversupply”, not helped by the agency deliberately taking on one driver per available SHIFT rather than “per available job” that might consist of a full week of FIVE shifts…

Those days are now gone.
Drivers like myself who found themselves sidelined for over a year - have of course moved on, In my case to a part time contract that I’ve been after for yonks, albeit still a ZHC one for the time being…

The time needs to come then where drivers get the hours they want to compensate for market forces not meeting the higher hourly rates that normal price discovery mechanics would otherwise demand of the free labour market…

Firms need to offer more “directly employed jobs as defined by the professional offering to work at said establishment”.
If the firm only has Graveyard shift starts, 5-6-5-6 working patterns, and lower than top dollar hourly rates…
…Then guess what?
…The available drivers will prefer to sit at home waiting for something better (semi retirement?) or simply get a job somewhere else that WILL meet those criteria…

That also means of course “Agencies - get sidelined”.

…Perhaps for good?

I think the managers that lack will be out on their ear, and agencies, who appear to have made all the money in the industry over the last 20 years will go. More direct employment, directly. The transport industry now is close to where the construction industry was 10 years ago. Now most paye on 40 hr contracts. 10 years back most work on self employed basis even though you may have worked for same company daily for years.
Agencies, no holiday pay etc etc.

[pierrot_14]

?

[daf245]

Yes boys an girls after nearly 25 years of waiting, the beautiful driver shortage is on us, boris can’t let foreign drivers in defeats the point of brexit, so sit back and enjoy the ride wages on the up

[owenmoney]

kentonline.co.uk/kent-busin … rs-249711/

Only one test centre for the whole of Kent isn’t helping with the backlog according to the above trainer.

[robroy]

robroy:

Stacks74:
Talks to possibly Ease drivers hours just put it into any search Engine .

Well I for one would be willing to work up to 20 hours a day if they allow me.
I only need 4 hours a night kip me.
It must be no longer a compromise to road safety any more if the Govrnment are going to allow it.

I was being (or trying to be ) ironic on this earlier, but I’m seeing quite a few news items verifying that ‘they’ are advocating easing drivers hours.
So we can potentially now exceed the already ■■■■ ridiculous amount of hours we are legally allowed/expected to work…great eh?

Ok I can understand if somebody is short of cash, or the likes of agency guys and/or those on fantastic rates making hay while the sun shines,.and good luck to them crack on fill yer boots if they want to take full advantage, but …

Do you not think it’s a ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ that up until ‘today’ for instance
if you drive over your set hours you’re the biggest criminal since Sutcliffe, and a danger to everybody else ‘‘causing carnage in your thundering juggernaut’’. resulting in a complete ■■■■ storm of legal action brought down around your lugs if things go ■■■■ up.

But hey!, suddenlly tomorrow, because it suits ‘THEM’ you’re deemed a hero and a perfectly safe driver after exceeding your 15 bloody hours and 10 hours driving.

And oh yeh parking …what about those James and Roger HUNTS in Kent, are they going to give a clamping amnesty so they can get all the crap they want to buy in the shops?..Aye right.

I don’t do a lot of RDC work (Thank Christ) but if I did it would be a responding No/go ■■■■ yourselves from me…driver shortage or not.

[switchlogic]

Well here’s my two Euros worth (inflation) in video form, of course. Behold my glorious moon face.

lorry-driver.com/2021/06/is- … GhQMT0cYSo

[yourhavingalarf]

switchlogic:
Well here’s my two Euros worth (inflation) in video form, of course. Behold my glorious moon face.

lorry-driver.com/2021/06/is- … GhQMT0cYSo

Agreed…

There is a shortage but nothing approaching the hysteria that the media is trying to whip up.

[tarmaceater]

Why do the media use juggernaut? I see this all the time by a journalist who has acne fresh out of college who thinks an artic is a Nissan lorry, or menacing thundering juggernauts mounting ( Add Hancock in Bangkok innuendo from Dipper Dave ) the narrow kerb that has existed since Julius Cesar was stomping around, narrowly missing and killing the children in prams , adding: Why don’t they get the freight on the railway?

Or why can’t lorries only drive at night so I can get to work in time and
not be held up by elephant racing?
Or planning permission rejected with 500 future jobs unavailable as Nimbies don’t want juggernauts shaking their house even though they knew the road was there when they bought it .
They don’t like the church bells waking them up so got them muffled.

[ets]

Driver shortage lol…Today I saw a guy in high viz and boots I said what you doin, he said trying to get in to ask for work, I’m a driver. Needless to say he didn’t make it past the gatehouse…On the rear of a GIST trailer there was an ad we’re recruiting, text GIST to (certain 5 digit number starting with 8 ) when I got to the services I decided to see what happens well turns out I would be CHARGED a FEE for texting them lol…maybe if they’re so desperate for drivers they shouldn’t charge people just for asking about job details? smh what a scam it is. Also logistics people planting their recruitment banners at random places roadside… Like anyone wants to work for an agency which only sends to EStob. (correct me if wrong)

Btw how Stobart have fallen…they’re now renting the rear door space on their trailers to advertise completely unrelated companies like a certain car buying website…Anything to make a few pennies I suppose

GIST spalding class 1 £11-13.24 p.h.

GIST Hemel Hempsted class 2: £14.70-16.70 p.h.

F.U. Gist, take your £1000 sign on bonus and buy a bucket of ■■■■■■ to give away to your TMs and CEOs

[carlston49]

It’s easy enough to apply for jobs at GIST. Just go on their website.

gistworld.com/Work-for-Us/Current-Vacancies

Or google “gist hgv jobs” to find their website.

[carryfast-yeti]

Daf245:
Yes boys an girls after nearly 25 years of waiting, the beautiful driver shortage is on us, boris can’t let foreign drivers in defeats the point of brexit, so sit back and enjoy the ride wages on the up

it’s happening at our place! several Polish lads,all good drivers btw,have left us now,and a couple of long term Agy bods have left for better money.we are trying to recruit,but little interest,and it’s a pretty decent job…imo anyway.

[jaxo]

As for the so called driver shortage and rates going up, has anyone managed to see the Stobart leaflet regarding flexi drivers and their incentives?

[daf245]

Well I was. Offered £17.25 p/h tramping Mon to Fri but it was for stobart so declined on Mon.
Today 3 calls an 4 texts from different agencies day shift from £15 to £17.50 an hour, work based in Lancashire the poor North. Not any more apparently.obviously better rate for nights and weekends.
Only thing that will knacker the financial progress is boris opening the doors again, not just with drivers but warehouse, factory workers etc, in 7 weeks I’ve had £5 a hour pay rise, only took 25 years.
To those that don’t think it’s going to be a interesting few months.

Trucks with no drivers don’t earn money.
The whole way consumers shop has changed, over the years,
The overnight pallet an parcel company’s are monsters now. Buy tonight get it at breakfast.
Amazon, ocado etc they wernt here 15 years ago now look at them. They need constant feeding,
I’d rather feed them when I’m on £20 a hour
Drivers market take it while it’s there.
We got bugger all for keeping going through covid,
Personally I don’t care if food prices etc go up, they always are just my pay never managed to keep up with increases
For once I’m ahead, il ride the wave as long as I can.

[winseer]

carlston49:
It’s easy enough to apply for jobs at GIST. Just go on their website.

gistworld.com/Work-for-Us/Current-Vacancies

Or google “gist hgv jobs” to find their website.

Vacancies, but strangely with no T&Cs pages to peruse, let alone “Pay Rates”…

[optimum]

Heaven forbid that it should come to a showdown but I think that it would be a good idea to have Union membership. e.g. URTU

[winseer]

One doesn’t need a Union to see one’s rights in the workplace respected…

…Just an honest firm that doesn’t have acting managers trying to turn the company into a mafioso-style syndicate all the time…

Union protects you from what exactly?

…Being fired for for actually committing a sackable offence? OR a buffer to make sure that the “Favourites” never lose their positions, no matter how many times they get caught red-handed mis-appropriating company assets…

“Being unpopular with the Union” - is the first step to getting rid of me, anywhere and everywhere I’ve been. Thus, I prefer to work at places with NO Union presence, especially outfits like Unite and GMB, who’ll fight tooth and nail to keep your wages near minimum, whilst making it impossible for you to walk away en-masse without consequences, “Wildcat Strikes” (The only effective striking…) are not permitted… By the time a Union has held a ballot, there’s no upside left for the grievance-bearing workforce.

Thus, today’s Union Membership on the actual shop floor - are nothing more than “Spies for the abusive acting managers” - nothing more.
Being Far Left on Financial matters - I absolutely detest these “Center Left” liars, cheats, and other forms of filth that always seem to get the cushy jobs, and the big pay-offs even if the firm wises up and one-day gets rid of them.
That so many of them are in the PlP however - keeps me from voting Labour.

[switchlogic]

Winseer:
One doesn’t need a Union to see one’s rights in the workplace respected…

…Just an honest firm that doesn’t have acting managers trying to turn the company into a mafioso-style syndicate all the time…

Union protects you from what exactly?

…Being fired for for actually committing a sackable offence? OR a buffer to make sure that the “Favourites” never lose their positions, no matter how many times they get caught red-handed mis-appropriating company assets…

“Being unpopular with the Union” - is the first step to getting rid of me, anywhere and everywhere I’ve been. Thus, I prefer to work at places with NO Union presence, especially outfits like Unite and GMB, who’ll fight tooth and nail to keep your wages near minimum, whilst making it impossible for you to walk away en-masse without consequences, “Wildcat Strikes” (The only effective striking…) are not permitted… By the time a Union has held a ballot, there’s no upside left for the grievance-bearing workforce.

Thus, today’s Union Membership on the actual shop floor - are nothing more than “Spies for the abusive acting managers” - nothing more.
Being Far Left on Financial matters - I absolutely detest these “Center Left” liars, cheats, and other forms of filth that always seem to get the cushy jobs, and the big pay-offs even if the firm wises up and one-day gets rid of them.
That so many of them are in the PlP however - keeps me from voting Labour.

Good grief your life sounds so exhausting, seeing conspiracies to keep you down everywhere you look. Hopefully you’re not too far off retiring so you can at least stop worrying about work and concentrate all your efforts on town traffic lights being sequenced just to slow you down or the supermarket spying on you as you shop or something like that.