Grandpa, whilst i’m one of the few here who can see your point of view, i don’t understand the assertion about lorry work people can’t do in their 60’s.
I’m in that age bracket and quite honestly my work has never been easier, and from almost all jobs i see being done by lorry drivers these days that is the case.
There is multi drop work where ■■■■■■■ into shops is involved, fair enough maybe you don’t want to exacerbate the usual aches and pains genuine working class people have gained by their autumn years, but the vast majority of work these days, on artics at least, involves little more than changing the odd trailer (hopefully hitting the pin 
) strapping a load down and clipping up a curtain, they don’t even wash their own vehicles, there might be a bit of pallet or cage pulling involved but hold on a minute, we arn’t talking about how it was back in the day when a typical load might involve handballing 21 tons of bags off at a farm, that was after roping and sheeting the load on in the first place and actually driving a wagon that probably didn’t have power steering nor an air assisted clutch, with a heater in name only unless the middle of summer when it cooked you.
People here tell us often enough about their multi hours of paid sleep per shift, and good luck to them if they’ve found their perfect job, but that isn’t for me.
If anything most lorry work now is hard through sheer boredom, there’s nothing at all involved about driving a modern vehicle (once you’ve got your head round the bloody switchgear etc) and very little driver involvement in discharging, this is one of the reasons why i stuck so long and and still am on specialised work, because its interesting you have responsibility there’s still some skill involved pride can be taken in the job it usually pays better and there’s usually some respect given each way between employee and company…the last point i give you is changing as managers steeped in logistics.com practice move around.
I got out of car transporters in my mid 50’s, that was serious hard graft and was actually doing me harm, that work i contend isn’t usually ideal for drivers in their final years because its all based on flying about like your arse is alight.
idrive:
There is no driver shortage.
There is a shortage of good drivers.
Can’t imagine why op with huge chip on shoulder and belligerent attitude struggled to find work.
Posts a Youtube Video
Uses the trigger words, Labourer and Indigenous
Argues Black is White and describing Protestant employment as Fordism.
Haulage Associations are not for the driver. Truck and Driver gets its stories from TruckNet
Hmm!
I’m convinced among you are people who back in the day believed Gordon Brown was the best Chancellor in British history and the 2008 economic crash which followed that nonsense wouldn’t affect you. You don’t even know the driver shortage is a crisis?
From the horse’s mouth. Listen to the content of those truck drivers who can see what’s happening, not your own opinions. I didn’t say this, it’s others. Now find me sources that say everything in the garden is rosy.
There’s not much more to say guys. When post-covid brings about the predicted worst recession in recordable history, I’ll be very sure to remind you of your naivety. 
Grandpa:
I’m convinced among you are people who back in the day believed Gordon Brown was the best Chancellor in British history and the 2008 economic crash which followed that nonsense wouldn’t affect you. You don’t even know the driver shortage is a crisis?
From the horse’s mouth. Listen to the content of those truck drivers who can see what’s happening, not your own opinions. I didn’t say this, it’s others. Now find me sources that say everything in the garden is rosy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nh4ZWib_hPs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiPh5TLYWMI
There’s not much more to say guys. When post-covid brings about the predicted worst recession in recordable history, I’ll be very sure to remind you of your naivety.
You heard it here first…
Do not listen to your own opinions.
Listen to the opinions of drivers on YouTube (men and motors circa 20 years ago ).
Your own current and valid experience as a driver counts for nothing you fool!
The mainstream media will tell you the real truth, if only you would listen!
Are you sitting at home wearing two masks by any chance grandpa?
Grandpa:
I’m convinced among you are people who back in the day believed Gordon Brown was the best Chancellor in British history and the 2008 economic crash which followed that nonsense wouldn’t affect you. You don’t even know the driver shortage is a crisis?
From the horse’s mouth. Listen to the content of those truck drivers who can see what’s happening, not your own opinions.
I watched both videos and listened to two drivers saying they were on no more money than they were ten years ago. That on its own tends to suggest that there is not a shortage of drivers, let alone a “crisis”. All this “driver shortage” myth is about is the road haulage industry wanting taxpayers to fund driver training rather than the industry itself.
Grandpa:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nh4ZWib_hPs
There’s not much more to say guys. When post-covid brings about the predicted worst recession in recordable history, I’ll be very sure to remind you of your naivety.
Nothing like a spot of cutting edge up to the minute social commentary…
Harry Monk:
Grandpa:
I’m convinced among you are people who back in the day believed Gordon Brown was the best Chancellor in British history and the 2008 economic crash which followed that nonsense wouldn’t affect you. You don’t even know the driver shortage is a crisis?
From the horse’s mouth. Listen to the content of those truck drivers who can see what’s happening, not your own opinions.
I watched both videos and listened to two drivers saying they were on no more money than they were ten years ago. That on its own tends to suggest that there is not a shortage of drivers, let alone a “crisis”. All this “driver shortage” myth is about is the road haulage industry wanting taxpayers to fund driver training rather than the industry itself.
I’ve not watched either video but honestly can’t believe that they are on no more money.
Jobs I have done in the past, powder tanker 13 years ago tramping all week around £26k/year, Wincantons (they have the contract same contract now that I was on with another firm) advertising this week £35k on a 50hrs week 4 nights out. Local general haulage company were £8.50 an hour 15 years ago and are now £11 an hour. I’m not in an area where wages are the best, a lot are offering around the £9-10/hour range and wondering why they are getting the dross.
Wages have moved and are moving if your’s haven’t/aren’t then move somewhere else. Margins are small in the entire haulage industry and they are only heading one way. I can’t see there being many small general hauliers left, most will be priced out of the job or need to find niche jobs that pay better.
Personally, I’ve been back in the industry just under a year after having 13 years out on other work. I’ve found a decent firm who pay good enough for me, give us decent spec’d gear and let us get on with what is a pee easy job. In the time I’ve been out the job has got easier, with more automation and levels of comfort for the driver. I can see this continuing in how the loads are handled and what the driver has to do, this will lead to more of a drive and drop situation where hours become less as the logistic big boys take over.
Henrys cat:
I’ve not watched either video but honestly can’t believe that they are on no more money.
I too work in Rugby and I think it’s probably true in this part of the world at least. Certainly in the five years I’ve lived here agency basic rates have been static at a start-point of around £11 per hour PAYE. Again this is an indicator that there is no driver shortage in the local area.
Having said that, I’m salaried and on £30,000 a year (which I consider to be on the low side but then they don’t expect very much from me) and it took me 10 days to get my Class 1 licence. One of my sons is starting his first “proper” job after four years studying for a Master’s Degree in History at University and he’ll be on £18,000 a year. So perhaps, in this New World Order I’m not badly paid at all?
Harry Monk:
Having said that, I’m salaried and on £30,000 a year (which I consider to be on the low side but then they don’t expect very much from me) and it took me 10 days to get my Class 1 licence. One of my sons is starting his first “proper” job after four years studying for a Master’s Degree in History at University and he’ll be on £18,000 a year. So perhaps, in this New World Order I’m not badly paid at all?
I don’t think we are badly paid in the scheme of it all. Where else can you do a week/2 weeks course and be earning what we earn. Yes, we do have to put the hours in, but so do other professions. A similar one is a tractor driver, wages and hours are similar to hours but you need to be able to work every piece of machinery that attaches to it, some of these are only used for a week/2 per year. No limit on your hours so could be short days in winter but from now onwards you could be doing mega hours.
If your not happy then go and do something else. I was earning a decent wage on the railway, but I wasn’t happy so I moved back to haulage and took a pay cut, but my family life and mental health are much better. My wife is on the same hourly rate as me as a home carer, but she’s out the house for 16 hours a day for 10 hours pay (travel time and breaks not paid). Tesco, Aldi etc may pay a similar or better rate/hr but you will be grafting for the time your at work with little overtime so your yearly pay is less. I average around 60 hrs/week card in to card out, but my actual working time is around 46/47hrs (and a lot of the none driving part is sat in the cab as the load is walked off) so realistically I’m on around £15/16 per hour worked. My old Agri engineers firm aren’t paying that for their mechanics.
One thing is for certain, wages aren’t going up any time soon. There maybe a small increase to balance out a little of the LTD drivers loss, but the industry will not pay more unless droves leave. And no matter how much they belly ache, drivers deep down now its not that bad and they haven’t got the earning potential elsewhere so will just carry on as they have done when the DCPC was announce and the WTD was
Grandpa:
I can assure you the blue-chip companies are not looking for drivers.
It only took 3.5 pages but we finally got there. Thanks for confirming what myself and others have been saying since page 1. Now go and troll post somewhere else please.
Henrys cat:
I don’t think we are badly paid in the scheme of it all. Where else can you do a week/2 weeks course and be earning what we earn. Yes, we do have to put the hours in, but so do other professions.
This is not true. There are many professions crying out for able hands that pay much better. I quit driving after a decade to become a roofer. Granted the training is not two weeks, but all was paid for at a higher rate than what a class 1 river makes here. I have no limit on my income in the way of driver’s hours, there’s plenty of really lucrative side jobs available, paid cash and when the weather is bad I sit at home, paid.
In ten years, when my sons are of the age I will surely recommend and support them in getting a class 1 licence, but only as something nice to have “just in case”. If you’re in it for the money, you’ve gone down the wrong path.
milodon:
Henrys cat:
I don’t think we are badly paid in the scheme of it all. Where else can you do a week/2 weeks course and be earning what we earn. Yes, we do have to put the hours in, but so do other professions.
This is not true. There are many professions crying out for able hands that pay much better. I quit driving after a decade to become a roofer. Granted the training is not two weeks, but all was paid for at a higher rate than what a class 1 river makes here. I have no limit on my income in the way of driver’s hours, there’s plenty of really lucrative side jobs available, paid cash and when the weather is bad I sit at home, paid.
In ten years, when my sons are of the age I will surely recommend and support them in getting a class 1 licence, but only as something nice to have “just in case”. If you’re in it for the money, you’ve gone down the wrong path.
Interesting debate tactic- say something is not true then use an example that shows it is true 
switchlogic:
milodon:
Henrys cat:
I don’t think we are badly paid in the scheme of it all. Where else can you do a week/2 weeks course and be earning what we earn. Yes, we do have to put the hours in, but so do other professions.
This is not true. There are many professions crying out for able hands that pay much better. I quit driving after a decade to become a roofer. Granted the training is not two weeks, but all was paid for at a higher rate than what a class 1 river makes here. I have no limit on my income in the way of driver’s hours, there’s plenty of really lucrative side jobs available, paid cash and when the weather is bad I sit at home, paid.
In ten years, when my sons are of the age I will surely recommend and support them in getting a class 1 licence, but only as something nice to have “just in case”. If you’re in it for the money, you’ve gone down the wrong path.
Interesting debate tactic- say something is not true then use an example that shows it is true
This “grandpa” clown has done it about a dozen times throughout this thread.
switchlogic:
Interesting debate tactic- say something is not true then use an example that shows it is true
Well a class 1 is nice to have in the sense that you can drive your friends drift car to the track on a trailer or fix yourself a paid ride home from across Europe by driving a lorry someone bought and needs to get to where you are going to, or whatever, but not as a career.
Now I am in no way bashing people who love the job and have no regrets over my own decade and 33 different countries behind the wheel, I just think the “where else do you get these monies” shtick is getting a bit old.
milodon:
I just think the “where else do you get these monies” shtick is getting a bit old.
So where else can you earn as much after two weeks training? That’s all he said.
Grandpa:
I’m convinced among you are people who back in the day believed Gordon Brown was the best Chancellor in British history and the 2008 economic crash which followed that nonsense wouldn’t affect you. You don’t even know the driver shortage is a crisis?
From the horse’s mouth. Listen to the content of those truck drivers who can see what’s happening, not your own opinions. I didn’t say this, it’s others. Now find me sources that say everything in the garden is rosy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nh4ZWib_hPs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiPh5TLYWMI
There’s not much more to say guys. When post-covid brings about the predicted worst recession in recordable history, I’ll be very sure to remind you of your naivety.
I agree with you that wages for HGV drivers have been largely stagnant for at least the last decade.
I disagree with you that the reason for this is that there is a driver shortage.
To me, this type of logic is so blindingly obvious that anyone who cannot understand it is clearly mentally sub-normal. I will leave it to others to decide whether they agree or disagree with this.
switchlogic:
milodon:
I just think the “where else do you get these monies” shtick is getting a bit old.
So where else can you earn as much after two weeks training? That’s all he said.
Well if one is unwilling to spend any more time on training, although paid time, then yes of course. I don’t think one’s training as an HGV driver stops at the moment they receive their Class 1 now does it.
milodon:
switchlogic:
milodon:
I just think the “where else do you get these monies” shtick is getting a bit old.
So where else can you earn as much after two weeks training? That’s all he said.
Well if one is unwilling to spend any more time on training, although paid time, then yes of course. I don’t think one’s training as an HGV driver stops at the moment they receive their Class 1 now does it.
I was purely commenting on what you said! My views on training are a whole other subject
Grandpa the ‘clown’ has no axe to grind as he’s now at the age of officially retiring. I remember better days, so I suspect will many others. Those who don’t will think a pound or two above a minimum hourly rate is big money and being run into the ground is normal. It wasn’t, but is now.
I also understand the current rose coloured glasses view as no one would want to admit they’re in a dying industry, but I refer back to my link in the op (below), which is about the most honest 10 minutes I’ve come across and don’t forget to read the comments accompanying it because they paint a very different picture from what’s being said here. I spent six months in as many jobs in 2019 and so unless it’s markedly different everywhere else, I’ll go with what this guy is saying.
Grandpa:
I’ll go with what this guy is saying.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hSake-OUXU
I see what you did there. 
