Interesting Article in the FT

UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUMS THE UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUM (INTERACTIVE)
21

switchlogic:

Conor:

switchlogic:
Love how you share a trait with our most illustrious and honourable member- fabricating lies about people to fit the point you want to make. No idea at all why East Midlands randomly popped up. Are you maybe mixing me up with another person?

East Midlands had nothing to do with referring to where you live but referring to a part of the country known as the Golden Triangle where they pay around what I get and more. If you’re a tramper there’s nothing stopping you working out of there if you live within a couple of hours driving down on a Monday morning and home on a Friday night. Why be a tramper working for companies that pay nowt elsewhere when for the sake of £20 of fuel and a couple of hours of your time getting there you can up your wages to a grand a week?

Not entirely sure how any of this is relevant to me and still think you’re mixing me up with someone else so I’ll just say…ok chap, whatever you say

Tbf I read it as you, like not you personally, I think its you as in any person if they chose etc

22

There IS a driver shortage. No shortage of licence holders, but as many of those dont want to drive, you can’t include them in the “available” category. One large group will be ex-army guys, who attained their HGV licence whilst serving, but, on retirement from the forces, have absolutely no intention to drive for a living. Others are ex-drivers, who, after trying the job for x years, have moved into another career (office, forklift, trade…), and have no intention to ever drive again…

What has put the shortage into sharp focus, is indeed the consequence of Brexit, which has stopped the large contingent of East European drivers, who came here just to drive and save or send their money back to EE. They were plentiful, living in Van’s, cars, 6 to a bedsit etc (Jack, one of the best provided accommodation on site…), and were happy to work silly hours for stupid rates, because they spend little here, and it was worth a lot more in Romania or Bulgaria etc. Now that they are not allowed to work here anymore, the only drivers available are the ones who have been here for more than 5years, have settled status (like me), and who, having settled here, have rent, tax and bills to pay. Consequently, they can’t do it for stupid rates.

This is very evident in South (East) Wales. The rates have shot up in the last six months, with even Owens now paying £10+, and agencies offering basic start rates of £14-£15. More pertinently, they are now starting to offer overtime rates after certain hours, and enhanced night and weekend rates. This is down to the pool of AVAILABLE drivers having shrunk.

West of Bridgend is still woeful though. Gregorski are advertising a job on the milk tankers for £500, 6 on-3 off… one week days, one week nights… :open_mouth: :laughing: Last time I looked, Dyfed steel were still maintaining that £8,60 was “competitive” pay :unamused: :unamused:

23

Just recieved…

The mass text.

£50 per day bonus each day you can work.

They’re tight for drivers where I am.

24

WaggerWagger888:
Can,t imagine many lorry drivers reading the F.T. no page 3 , what happened to the Sun and Mirror.

Seriously?

25

Totally irrelevant how many people have a licence, it’s bums on seats that count when it comes to a shortage.
Firms struggle to recruit, agencies paying bonuses just for turning up, wages tending to creep upwards and flip flops going home, of course there’s a driver shortage.

26

I’ve said it before but merely counting the number of licence holders is pointless. It’s akin to stating how many journalists are in the country based on how many people have attended media studies classes!

The only sure fire way is to count the number of DCPC holders.

27

Janos:

WaggerWagger888:
Can,t imagine many lorry drivers reading the F.T. no page 3 , what happened to the Sun and Mirror.

Seriously?

Before recent events and my finances went into meltdown I used to subscribe to the FT! Business news is one of my stage obsessions!

28

the nodding donkey:
There IS a driver shortage. No shortage of licence holders, but as many of those dont want to drive, you can’t include them in the “available” category. One large group will be ex-army guys, who attained their HGV licence whilst serving, but, on retirement from the forces, have absolutely no intention to drive for a living. Others are ex-drivers, who, after trying the job for x years, have moved into another career (office, forklift, trade…), and have no intention to ever drive again…

Count me in that category. 10 years on rigids, last 4 years slinging pallets I ended up upping sticks and moving to eastern Europe. Big demand for English speakers for office work. Money by UK standard was garbage but the cost of living being so cheap I was living very comfortably.

For family/medical reasons I moved back just before the whole pandemic thing, took a chance at some office work for the health service and am not looking back. I should have made the jump years ago, when I think of the hours I spent week in week out year after year tearing about to the next drop or collection in a ■■■■■■■ Axor with a dashboard like an Xmas tree for crap money. Get more take home now for a strict 37.5 hours, and there is actual rewards for staying on long term.

I’ll be keeping the licence and dCPC up to date, who knows maybe I’ll get the itch and do the odd Saturday but as long as I can help it I’ll not be back regardless of cash offered. Those last 4 years on pallets was enough.

29

Tude:
Is there a problem with the DVLA, I ask because I know of a couple of people who cannot drive as they have not had licences renewed and returned to them.

No reason for them not to drive.
Last time I renewed my licence it took them 7 (seven) months and it was a nightmare, with doing agency and needing to produce my licence regularly the dvla sent me a letter stating that I was entitled to drive and was waiting for my licence to come back .I used the letter loads of times as you can imagine with it taking them over half a year to sort it out and never had any problems.

Anything and everything you send to swansea, always always send it recorded/signed for,
Don’t say I haven’t warned you !

30

toonsy:
Said it many times in much the same way Owen had said. But to go a bit further can someone write a real life job advert to entice a newer generation into haulage over say working in a warehouse or office or so on? Not aiming to attract graduate types with law degrees, just your average guy or girl.

I’ll go…

Start times may vary but you’ll not know until you finish the previous day when you start, nor where you’ll finish or if you’ll even be home instead of sitting in a ■■■■ smelling MSA chomping on whatever Greggs have left.

Great earning potential if you wish to burn yourself out relentlessly week after week by screwing a week and half’s worth of hours into a week. If you want 40hrs you’ll end up with close to what you’d get for 40hrs stacking shelves, driving a forklift and so on.

Ongoing training provided in your own time and sometimes at your own cost on top of the start up costs of acquiring relevant licenses in the first instance. On the job training and eyesight assessment consist of demonstrating an ability to catch a set of keys and “cracking on” with your day as best as you can without being told anything by anyone.

Don’t forget there are unlimited penalties for falling foul of many rules which you as a driver are responsible for as you’re a professional (when you’re getting a rocket) and should know better.

I could go on…

I’m 38 and I was brought up with driving and being on the road so I understand a lot of things such as the hours expected and have learnt a lot of things like how not to be a doormat and to not worry too much about your job, because if that’s how you feel it’s not going to change and there’s plenty more of the same fish out there.

But what about the next generation? Warehouse to wheels yields partial results once the person realises its not all soft rock, Yorkie bars and the open road. What about younger people, would they stick at it given how I’ve described it? Or would they think balls to it and settle into something far less hassle? Bear in my as a new pass they’ll likely be “given a chance” with exactly the kind of firm I’ve described.

Even I’m half tempted to jack it all in and probably would if I knew what it was I wanted to do instead. Though in fairness the money I’ve made over the years has given me the freedom now to think about that.

Everytime I read one of these articles the answer is always cheaper labour and never anything about how to ATTRACT and RETAIN people longer term.

Unfortunately what you have said paints a pretty accurate picture of being a driver…generally speaking.
I can not for the life of me see what would attract a young lad into this job today based on what you have said.
If I was that age today I would not touch transport with a barge pole, most of the stuff that attracted me to it has all but gone…freedom, left to your own devices and initiative, been left alone until you got all your drops off, and only then hear from your boss,.and the social side of a few nights out tramping, and pretty decent money with overtime rates after 40 hours.
Don’t get me wrong,.I still.partly enjoy the job, but that is because being an experienced driver,.I won’t be pushed and moulded,.where as a beginner and newbie has to tow the line,.and suffer the pitfalls and crap that you listed.

Btw I still don’t believe the driver shortage bull ■■■■.
There are certainly a shortage of drivers in real terms, but no shortage of Class 1 licence holders and steerers as ND stated.

31

Janos:

WaggerWagger888:
Can,t imagine many lorry drivers reading the F.T. no page 3 , what happened to the Sun and Mirror.

Seriously?

No…I’d go as far as to say he was joking tbh mate. :neutral_face:

32

Username is a bit of a giveaway! :smiley:

33

switchlogic:

Janos:

WaggerWagger888:
Can,t imagine many lorry drivers reading the F.T. no page 3 , what happened to the Sun and Mirror.

Seriously?

Before recent events and my finances went into meltdown I used to subscribe to the FT! Business news is one of my stage obsessions!

Man of your calibre will bounce back mate.

34

switchlogic:

Janos:

WaggerWagger888:
Can,t imagine many lorry drivers reading the F.T. no page 3 , what happened to the Sun and Mirror.

Seriously?

Before recent events and my finances went into meltdown I used to subscribe to the FT! Business news is one of my stage obsessions!

No FT, no comment!

35

Janos:

switchlogic:

Janos:

WaggerWagger888:
Can,t imagine many lorry drivers reading the F.T. no page 3 , what happened to the Sun and Mirror.

Seriously?

Before recent events and my finances went into meltdown I used to subscribe to the FT! Business news is one of my stage obsessions!

No FT, no comment!

If only that was true…

36

No FT, no comment!
[/quote]
If only that was true…
[/quote]
Franglais, there is the whiff a guardianista about you. :smiley:

I would be disappointed if you did not realise , ‘No FT, no comment’ was the tagline in long running ad for the FT.

37

robroy:

toonsy:
Snip…

Still don’t believe the driver shortage bull [zb].
There are certainly a shortage of drivers in real terms, but no shortage of Class 1 licence holders and steerers as ND stated.

As long as you keep telling the boss that, you’ll have no chance of improvement…

38

Janos:
No FT, no comment!

If only that was true…
[/quote]
Franglais, there is the whiff a guardianista about you. :smiley:

I would be disappointed if you did not realise , ‘No FT, no comment’ was the tagline in long running ad for the FT.
[/quote]
.
.
.
.I certainly do remember that ad campaign.
And the principle behind it certainly holds true today.

39

Franglais:

Janos:
No FT, no comment!

If only that was true…

Franglais, there is the whiff a guardianista about you. :smiley:

I would be disappointed if you did not realise , ‘No FT, no comment’ was the tagline in long running ad for the FT.
[/quote]
.
.
.
.I certainly do remember that ad campaign.
And the principle behind it certainly holds true today.
[/quote]
Am sure FT is regarded as the least biased of papers.