Deepinvet:
I am begining to get really fed up with people saying how bad we are as a nation or how lazy we are, if these people dont like it here, why dont they pack their bags and Bugger off to healthier climes…■■? No didnt think so…
People should try and be a bit more positive about our country, then may be, just may be it might rub off on to others and things will get better…
Although I am someone who does not live in the UK, I agree with you, UK is a great place, its tough right now, but its tough everywhere, at least you have safety nets when things go wrong.
Wages are poor compared with past times but it can only get better, surely, the trucking rates there though is the main problem I think, creates animosity with drivers also, who constantly feel they are being taken advantage of and knock on affect, do not want to do the hours, not sure who is to blame, nobody wants low rates except the customers so I do not think people should blame the transport companies, its accept or f.off, if you run 250 units you have to accept I suppose, oh well thats my thought for the day, time to do some work I suppose.
Harry Monk:
It’s nothing to do with being “lazy”, it’s just exactly what happened to coal mining, shipbuilding, the textile industry etc etc etc, it’s just cheaper for owners to get Johnny Foreigner to do the work.
In the medium to long term, this isn’t a very good business model though because if the indigenous population aren’t earning then they aren’t spending and the whole money-go-round stops.
^^^^ +1
It’s good to see the “Education system”… and the “Red Top’s”… haven’t brainwashed everyone.
phill i think you will find that that eastern european hauliers do not get £1.80 per mile .
Before the colapspe of rico spedition,one of the largest indepandant european hauliers it was well known that they were involved in freight dumping,where they would vitualy run at cost to get the job.This viscous price war of euro haulage continues to this day ,
I know of one lithuainan haulier that quoted 1500 euros for 24 ton of astro turf fom riga to barcelona. Unbelievable.
Of course we will see a huge shake out when the euro dominoes start to fall and we may then see a time where the uk might be able to compete but i would not hold my breath… quote=“limeyphil”]
Paul-H:
On a day trip to Belgium this week (stocking up on decent Belgian beer) we were waiting our turn to board the ferry to Dunquerke having arrived a bit early. When the ferry arrived and began disgorging its load from France I out of curiosity started watching the lorry’s as they came off. Loads of them but one major thing missing, not a single one was from the UK. No British plates on an lorry, loads of Polish, Lithuanian, German, etc. What is going on with our Gov’t, all this foreign traffic coming in and I wonder how many have ‘paid’ to use our roads.
because too many brits want to do european work, but want an early finish friday.
they want 4 days on 4 days off.
the poles will do the same as the germans, and the dutch. 3 weeks on, 1 week off.
people in this country complain about east european rate cutters, but they work for a boss that works his lorries at £1 per mile.
the going rate in lithuania as a subby equates to £1.50 to £1.80 per mile.
the uk has far to many people with a can’t do attitude, just like spain, italy, and greece.
other european countries have a can do attitude.
we will end up the laughing stock of europe before long.
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Betz:
Which day that you went to Belgium? Best is go to Saturday afternoon and Sunday all day then you will see numbers of Brits and Irish but not that large amount compare to 20 years ago
also Dunkerque ( Norfolkline DFDS Ferry) are quite popular for Eastern European lorries and cars due cheap ticket compare to P&O or Eurotunnel… Sometime I call them Polishline Ferry!
Not really betz p&o and euro tunnel are cheeper than dfds whether commercial or private
I use that ferry up to 4 times a week and mostly I’m the only English truck on there. You do get a few lads from John bywaters with the tractor cabs on sometimes … But normally just me.
I remember reading a couple of years back in “Trucking” that UK trucks only accounted for 9% of traffic exiting the UK at Dover at the time. More recently I read an updated report that offered better figures but was still well below 20%. I’m sure these reports also stated that in the not so distant past, cant remember the exact year, British trucks accounted for about 48% (ish, going from memory here) of trucks exiting Dover which is what you’d have in an ideal world, an equal amount of trucks from each country opperating between A and B, not a free for all where the cheapest country gets to expand its transport sector then send it all west at the expense of the rest of us.
Betz:
Which day that you went to Belgium? Best is go to Saturday afternoon and Sunday all day then you will see numbers of Brits and Irish but not that large amount compare to 20 years ago
also Dunkerque ( Norfolkline DFDS Ferry) are quite popular for Eastern European lorries and cars due cheap ticket compare to P&O or Eurotunnel… Sometime I call them Polishline Ferry!
Not really betz p&o and euro tunnel are cheeper than dfds whether commercial or private
Might depend where you book through, We pay less for DFDS Dover - Dunquerke than P&O or the Tunnel.
i emailed (going back to a point originally mentioned) David Cameron about the use of foreign trucks on our roads without having to pay i did get a reply!
the nuts and bolts were they want to introduce a kind of vignette system where trucks and cars pay x amount per day and have to buy in advance the trouble is the average ‘law’ takes at least 4 years from start to finish and with the recession and cost cutting i would guess its been put on the back burner! but you can email and you may get a reply i would guess the more who email the more chance of it getting a bit of attention, my own arguement was to utilise the revenue to provide a fuel discount for uk hauliers however we all know it would be a reveune to line pockets! either way it would even the field a touch
nowadays i take my hat off to any owner driver who is making a living as it was hard enough back in the mid 90’s with rates and fuel costs
Do German trucks not also pay the Maut along with foreigners? do Dutch/Belgian etc trucks not also pay for a vignette along with everyone else? I dont think its a case of the poor down trodden British paying to use their roads while they come here for free. If they had to pay to drive here, so British trucks would also have to pay. The only reason foreign trucks dont pay to use our roads is because we ourselves are not tolled/taxed to use them on the same basis.
