Is there a driver shortage?

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

hutpik:
Hi all.Today in the local paper there was an article about the new mine which has just opened in Kaunisvaara.Northern Resources said that they will soon be wanting about 150 drivers to transport the ore from the mine to the railhead.As there is already a shortage of drivers up here there was speculation how to resolve the problem.
As the trucks will be 24mtr rodtrains running 24\7 they will need at least 5\6 drivers per truck.Due to the mine being located about 200kms ABOVE the artic circle it ain’t exactly overpopulated here.Mike

For those who might be interested in this what are the obstacles that have to be overcome if you’re a UK passport holder?

22

Hi Ton.There are no obstacles as such.You are an EU member so therefore have the right and possibility to live and work anywhere within the EU.
The main thing is that you have to be willing to relocate on a long term basis,no one is going to be interested to employ you if it’s only a ‘‘bit of fun,or adventure’’ for a short time.
As with all the companies up here,they invest a lot of time and money into training and keeping good people.
The main problem here is the lifestyle is different to Europe,it’s more primitive and a bit ‘old fashioned’ so is not for everyone.
Alot of the work is shift work,for ex 0500-1430 for 7 days then 7 days free.Then 1430-2400 for 7days then7days free.
OR work 2 weeks,1 week free.
With this new mine it will maybe be work 5 days then 5 days free,but that has to be fixed as yet.
For a lot of people the problem is the lack of social life and the distances for everything.I live in a small village[5houses]and my nearest supermarket is 40kms,i travel 90kms to work.Ok many people live closer but as i work7 on,7 off,for me itäs not a problem.
DONT FORGET we have up to 6 months of winter,with temps down to min 45c :open_mouth: and for a couple of months in the summer in some areas mosquitos can carry off small adults. :wink: so if you dont like the cold DONTcome.Mike

23

hutpik:
Hi Ton.There are no obstacles as such.You are an EU member so therefore have the right and possibility to live and work anywhere within the EU.
The main thing is that you have to be willing to relocate on a long term basis,no one is going to be interested to employ you if it’s only a ‘‘bit of fun,or adventure’’ for a short time.
As with all the companies up here,they invest a lot of time and money into training and keeping good people.
The main problem here is the lifestyle is different to Europe,it’s more primitive and a bit ‘old fashioned’ so is not for everyone.
Alot of the work is shift work,for ex 0500-1430 for 7 days then 7 days free.Then 1430-2400 for 7days then7days free.
OR work 2 weeks,1 week free.
With this new mine it will maybe be work 5 days then 5 days free,but that has to be fixed as yet.
For a lot of people the problem is the lack of social life and the distances for everything.I live in a small village[5houses]and my nearest supermarket is 40kms,i travel 90kms to work.Ok many people live closer but as i work7 on,7 off,for me itäs not a problem.
DONT FORGET we have up to 6 months of winter,with temps down to min 45c :open_mouth: and for a couple of months in the summer in some areas mosquitos can carry off small adults. :wink: so if you dont like the cold DONTcome.Mike

i’ve applied. britain is a dying country.

24

hutpik:
Hi Ton.There are no obstacles as such.You are an EU member so therefore have the right and possibility to live and work anywhere within the EU.
The main thing is that you have to be willing to relocate on a long term basis,no one is going to be interested to employ you if it’s only a ‘‘bit of fun,or adventure’’ for a short time.
As with all the companies up here,they invest a lot of time and money into training and keeping good people.
The main problem here is the lifestyle is different to Europe,it’s more primitive and a bit ‘old fashioned’ so is not for everyone.
Alot of the work is shift work,for ex 0500-1430 for 7 days then 7 days free.Then 1430-2400 for 7days then7days free.
OR work 2 weeks,1 week free.
With this new mine it will maybe be work 5 days then 5 days free,but that has to be fixed as yet.
For a lot of people the problem is the lack of social life and the distances for everything.I live in a small village[5houses]and my nearest supermarket is 40kms,i travel 90kms to work.Ok many people live closer but as i work7 on,7 off,for me itäs not a problem.
DONT FORGET we have up to 6 months of winter,with temps down to min 45c :open_mouth: and for a couple of months in the summer in some areas mosquitos can carry off small adults. :wink: so if you dont like the cold DONTcome.Mike

Hi Mike thanks for the quick reply, that’s service for ya! What about the language situation, you know us Brits no speakie da lingo? Do we need to sign up for Finnish classes? I like those shift patterns!

25

darren1000:
is there a driver shortage in your area? Do you refuse to work for low wages?

I dont refuse to work for low Wages.
Theres is just no one who could lower Wages anywhy :grimacing:

26

Hi Hutpik! What’s the cost of living like there? Wages to outgoings,rent etc! Sounds pretty good those hours! How far is the nearest large town? :slight_smile:

What’s the wedge like? :sunglasses:

27

Hi all.Over the last couple of years iv’e had literally dozens of people asking these questions.FIRST i will say you have to take the time to come up here to have a look around,see what the life is like,the people,economy,social life etc.THEN it’s always better to go around a few companies,lay your stall out,let them see what you can do,what you want,what they want etc.Mailing is like anywhere,they look at the letter,then someone comes in and your letter gets binned.You must remember that Lappland is about 3000kms from London.Thats further than Istanbul,Athens or Moscow so you have to plan a bit more.It’s not like going to Rotterdam[i lived for 30yrs in Holland].I also lived for a while in Canada and it’s closer to there.
R the costs.Nowadays its very similar in costs with most of Northern Europe,UK,NL,D,F,A,I,and so on.
If you live in a country the money remains the same so your spending power only fluctuates within the economy of that country.BUT when you work in a country and live somwhere else then your earnings can fluctuate wildly depending on exhange rates,stock markets,etc.
As to costs.I can only speak for myself.I am single bloody old[61]so my needs are more simple.
MY house is a timber cottage,9mtrs x 7mtrs with a sleeping loft.The main source of heating is a bloody great wood stove plus electric radiators[when necessary]cooking is all electric,plus i can heat things on the stove.I paid 400,000kr for it.
My el bill for last yr was 16ooo kronor.
Poll tax is about 1000 kr.
Insurance,car,house,snowscooter,quad is about 1000kr a month
Food is about the same as Europe generally,certain thing are more expensive such as alcohol[whisky-250kr,beer-10\15kr 50cl tin.
Things for do-it-self,appliances are about the same,you have to wait for deals,like everywhere.
House prices are cheap,the further you live from the main towns the cheaper.A lot of guys have houses up to 60kms away.In the villages you can get a good house for between 300,000-700,000kr.
The wages vary within the mining sector.If you work above ground,underground,if you only drive within the mines or on the road,what shifts you work,how much overtime you do,if you ‘‘multi function’’ such as driving a digger,wheel loader etc.
As i am old and am not interested to work like a lunatic.When i moved up here i said ‘‘now i will work to live,not live to work’’.I work the minimum shifts.Last year i worked 140 days.For the year,1\1-31\12,including ALL extra payments,including shift allowance,wkends,holiday pay,etc i BANKED 240,000kr NETTO.This is average.Of course if you do extra,double shift,work free week etc,then you obviously get more.
BUT be warned,you wont get rich[you wont get rich anywhere in transport]but you can have a good and comfortable living,and you get lots fo free time to enjoy the nature,fishing,skiing,snowmobile,quad driving,hunting.

28

darren1000:
is there a driver shortage in your area?

No.

29

Sorry,a PS.you will at some stage have to learn Swedish.Most of the mines are in Swedish Lappland so Swedish is the first Language although many people in this area speak Finnish or Miénkali which is a Sami dialect.The official language for cetificats,permits,diplomas etc is Swedish and undergound it is compulsory to speak Swedish[however badly]for truck radio communication.But if you speak English the people will help you so long as they see you are trying to adapt.Any exams can be taken in English and there is always someone who will help you which is one of the reasons why i came here.The Swedish here is easier to learn than in the south as they speak more slowly and have more patience.Just the fact that anyone would choose to come to live here makes the people warm toward you.
Example.When i bought my house,from the time i looked at it and said yes[monday]i had EVERYTHING fixed and moved in on Thursday.House paid for,estate agent,bank,insurance,council.With the help of the people.Mike

30

NO

31

hutpik:
Sorry,a PS.you will at some stage have to learn Swedish.Most of the mines are in Swedish Lappland so Swedish is the first Language although many people in this area speak Finnish or Miénkali which is a Sami dialect.The official language for cetificats,permits,diplomas etc is Swedish and undergound it is compulsory to speak Swedish[however badly]for truck radio communication.But if you speak English the people will help you so long as they see you are trying to adapt.Any exams can be taken in English and there is always someone who will help you which is one of the reasons why i came here.The Swedish here is easier to learn than in the south as they speak more slowly and have more patience.Just the fact that anyone would choose to come to live here makes the people warm toward you.
Example.When i bought my house,from the time i looked at it and said yes[monday]i had EVERYTHING fixed and moved in on Thursday.House paid for,estate agent,bank,insurance,council.With the help of the people.Mike

PMSL

A lot of the drivers on here can’t speak English correctly…Swedish■■? No chance pal!!! :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:

32

Doesn’t seem to be a shortage here in warehouse central (Northampton) but everyone’s getting on a bit in years.

With 20 years C+E exp + a cdl I can usually find work. Well - or even reasonably - paid work is a different matter.

A few years a go it was fairly easy to get £9.00 with £12.50 ot, or a bit better if you knew where to look, or just asked in some cases.

Now you’re lucky to get £8.00 flat.

33

The job I am on now, UK general, pays about £600 per month less than my last job, working for the Belgians , so according to some on here I am a “muppet/ idiot” for doing it am I ? so can I have the benefit of your superior wisdom by suggesting an alternative :unamused: , maybe I should have said that I am too good to work for that sort of wage,( and as one of you said that will show them) and sat on my arse at home watching the bills come through the letterbox, …yeh brilliant strategy :unamused: . Some of you, who are on good wages as I WAS, should get real on here, the majority of firms pay crap money on a take it or zb. off basis, that is how it is ,end of! and it’s easy to sit there on £650+n/o a week looking down your noses calling drivers like me muppets or idiots or whatever :open_mouth: , but if your job goes titsup you will be faced with becoming a muppet/idiot… or refusing and starving. So there is no shortage of drivers,… muppets, or idiots to answer your question.

34

That’s a fair enough point, Robroy, but I really would go and stack shelves if the pay dropped any lower.

OK, I’d miss the carefree, family friendly lifestyle, and the lack of responsibility and stress, but what choice would I have?

35

robroy:
The job I am on now, UK general, pays about £600 per month less than my last job, working for the Belgians , so according to some on here I am a “muppet/ idiot” for doing it am I ? so can I have the benefit of your superior wisdom by suggesting an alternative :unamused: , maybe I should have said that I am too good to work for that sort of wage,( and as one of you said that will show them) and sat on my arse at home watching the bills come through the letterbox, …yeh brilliant strategy :unamused: . Some of you, who are on good wages as I WAS, should get real on here, the majority of firms pay crap money on a take it or zb. off basis, that is how it is ,end of! and it’s easy to sit there on £650+n/o a week looking down your noses calling drivers like me muppets or idiots or whatever :open_mouth: , but if your job goes titsup you will be faced with becoming a muppet/idiot… or refusing and starving. So there is no shortage of drivers,… muppets, or idiots to answer your question.

spot on fella

36

hutpik:
Hi Ton.There are no obstacles as such.You are an EU member so therefore have the right and possibility to live and work anywhere within the EU.
The main thing is that you have to be willing to relocate on a long term basis,no one is going to be interested to employ you if it’s only a ‘‘bit of fun,or adventure’’ for a short time.
As with all the companies up here,they invest a lot of time and money into training and keeping good people.
The main problem here is the lifestyle is different to Europe,it’s more primitive and a bit ‘old fashioned’ so is not for everyone.
Alot of the work is shift work,for ex 0500-1430 for 7 days then 7 days free.Then 1430-2400 for 7days then7days free.
OR work 2 weeks,1 week free.
With this new mine it will maybe be work 5 days then 5 days free,but that has to be fixed as yet.
For a lot of people the problem is the lack of social life and the distances for everything.I live in a small village[5houses]and my nearest supermarket is 40kms,i travel 90kms to work.Ok many people live closer but as i work7 on,7 off,for me itäs not a problem.
DONT FORGET we have up to 6 months of winter,with temps down to min 45c :open_mouth: and for a couple of months in the summer in some areas mosquitos can carry off small adults. :wink: so if you dont like the cold DONTcome.Mike

Sounds great! What are the birds like? Never had one from that far north :smiley:

Here, there’s no driver shortage only a shortage of good drivers… :laughing:

37

Hi all.Happydaze.Re the birds up here,the ones iv’e had '‘dealings’'with seem to be quite enthusiastic,maybe it’s partly due to the long dark winters :unamused: .They can be a bit temperamental however especially the Lappi or Sami girls and everyone has a knife[supposedly only for use in the forest]so be warned. :open_mouth:
Just been reading an update from Northland Resources about the mine in Kaunisvaara.They have just started trials with the first of 80 road trains which will run from Kaunis to Svappavara[150kms] running at total weights of 90ton with iron ore.These will run 24x7 and will require 4 drivers per truck so its going to be busy soon.Should be interesting to see what happens and what sort of drivers they can find :wink: .Mike

38

hutpik:
Hi all.Happydaze.Re the birds up here,the ones iv’e had '‘dealings’'with seem to be quite enthusiastic,maybe it’s partly due to the long dark winters :unamused: .They can be a bit temperamental however especially the Lappi or Sami girls and everyone has a knife[supposedly only for use in the forest]so be warned. :open_mouth:
Just been reading an update from Northland Resources about the mine in Kaunisvaara.They have just started trials with the first of 80 road trains which will run from Kaunis to Svappavara[150kms] running at total weights of 90ton with iron ore.These will run 24x7 and will require 4 drivers per truck so its going to be busy soon.Should be interesting to see what happens and what sort of drivers they can find :wink: .Mike

No bother, sounds like Bermondsey but a bit colder :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: