Can’t speak for most of country but had assessment at Sainsbury’s, Dartford today and the agency is paying Christmas bonuses which is something I’ve never known before.
Also there was an agency lad in there who’d come down from Doncaster and was getting his hotel bill paid for over Christmas.
Pimpdaddy:
seth 70:
Pimpdaddy:
Own Account Driver:
There isn’t a driver shortage, as such.there isn’t a driver shortage full stop.
There is no driver shortage,theres a good driver shortage though ,and good drivers work at good firms who pay good money and dont need to find drivers
True. May I ask what your definition of a good driver is?
Which part of the world are you all living in…the midlands is struggling for drivers and thats a fact…wages are up and jobs are readily avaliable…which makes a nice change
I’ve heard a lot about these so-called “massive bonus” monies for just turning up to a shift.
Not seen any on people’s payslips - not to mention that those I know already working there are being told “Get a recruit-a-driver bonus - but NO actual bonus yourself for already being here!”
Anyone had a bonus for “Get someone to join our umbrella, and work 6 weeks before you get paid”?
aka “Pie in the sky” bonus - because on week 5 Christmas is done, and you somehow never quite qualify for that bonus that requires the new referred recruit working 6 weeks solid…
If we were really being offered over a grand a week to work at these places - the decent drivers would have ditched their current commitments to get a piece of this action - don’t you think? 
adam1987:
Pimpdaddy:
seth 70:
Pimpdaddy:
Own Account Driver:
There isn’t a driver shortage, as such.there isn’t a driver shortage full stop.
There is no driver shortage,theres a good driver shortage though ,and good drivers work at good firms who pay good money and dont need to find drivers
True. May I ask what your definition of a good driver is?
Which part of the world are you all living in…the midlands is struggling for drivers and thats a fact…wages are up and jobs are readily avaliable…which makes a nice change
That’s the problem…the driver shortage is actually an imbalance of drivers. DHL are currently throwing up a new warehouse on DIRFT, and a soon as it opens they’ll be whining about the lack of drivers. It’s because places like DIRFT ■■■■ up all the drivers for miles around and this is repeated all across the midlands. On the other hand, in areas that aren’t littered with RDCs, like the north east, ■■■■■■■■ Wales, Devon and Cornwall, there are drivers in abundance. Currently, there’s an agency in Hartlepool offering £7.50 an hour for flat trailer tramping…and there may well be takers, because that’s the going rate around there.
How do these areas throw up enough drivers for there to be a “permaglut” in the first place, bearing in mind someone had to make the decision about them getting trained up in the first place…?
Is there a link between “surplus drivers” and “Tory voting areas of the North” as well btw?
Winseer:
How do these areas throw up enough drivers for there to be a “permaglut” in the first place, bearing in mind someone had to make the decision about them getting trained up in the first place…?Is there a link between “surplus drivers” and “Tory voting areas of the North” as well btw?
Because most of the noise about driver shortages are coming from the agencies and employers that want a permaglut of drivers, because, for them, more drivers looking for work means they can pay lower wages - simple supply and demand. If an agency has work for 200 drivers they’ll want 300 on the books…so somebody loses out. People are thinking they can fall straight into a cushy job so they’re willing to get the licence.
Drivers, from my own experience seem to be 2 a penny, good drivers however are very thin on the ground particularly the home grown talent.
The reason being is good drivers have already found the job that fits, the definition of good is open to debate, I would say if you were to employ 10 drivers you would get 3 maybe 4 good men.
It’s been YEARS surely since full time “cushy jobs” available to newbies were available…
Nowdays, you pass your test - find out that there are only poorly paid full time jobs - enquire about agency, get told “sorry bud you gotta have 2 years experience and 9 points” 
The endorsed licence has almost become a “badge of honour” like an ASBO FFS. 
“Hmm 3 points for speeding. You was unlucky with that 31mph tripoff speed camera my son.”
“Ahh. 4 points for ‘driving without due care and attention’ - Well, I’d be a hypocrite if I said I’d never texted a few myself whilst flying along the M4… We’ll overlook that one - welcome aboard pal!”
‘Oh. Causing Death? Surely they must have mispelt “Causing Deaf” because you were playing loud music - right fella? - We’ll let it go, as we’re an equal opportunities employer here. Everyone gets the right to work for six hundred and fifty shiny pennies per hour…’
mike68:
Drivers, from my own experience seem to be 2 a penny, good drivers however are very thin on the ground particularly the home grown talent.Thin on the ground - because they’re already in the job they want?
The reason being is good drivers have already found the job that fits, the definition of good is open to debate, I would say if you were to employ 10 drivers you would get 3 maybe 4 good men.
The other 6-7 being the ladies?
Jobcentre shows 228 vacancies in my area, 125 of which are in comfortable commuting distance. I respond by rejecting them with, “This job does not come up to my salary requirements.”
Euro:
Jobcentre shows 228 vacancies in my area, 125 of which are in comfortable commuting distance. I respond by rejecting them with, “This job does not come up to my salary requirements.”
… not bad going, when half of them don’t bother mentioning a slavery erm I mean “Salary”.
I might say “Too far to travel” (‘Across the road’ is too far, if they’re paying less than a tenner per hour! )
The potholes make it impossible for me to commute on roller skates.
Winseer:
mike68:
Drivers, from my own experience seem to be 2 a penny, good drivers however are very thin on the ground particularly the home grown talent.Thin on the ground - because they’re already in the job they want?
The reason being is good drivers have already found the job that fits, the definition of good is open to debate, I would say if you were to employ 10 drivers you would get 3 maybe 4 good men.
The other 6-7 being the ladies?
No, ladyboys.
