DonutUK:
For example, need a wee, pull into the services…not that simple with a train…
So what you’re saying is that wet seats are a more common problem than we’ve been led to believe… 
Nice find on those vacancies on freightliner. But those driving jobs are for qualified drivers I think?
dont you think that the train drivers situation is that the train driver has a strong union behind him/her and they stick together not like most truck drivers always backstabbing one another?
yes
malcolmj:
dont you think that the train drivers situation is that the train driver has a strong union behind him/her and they stick together not like most truck drivers always backstabbing one another?
This is precisely why they have taken their earnings from around £15k immediately after privatisation in 1996 to £40k+ now. Not bad going in less than 20 yrs, to almost treble your industries wages. That isn’t including all the reductions in working hrs, increases in benefits etc
malcolmj:
dont you think that the train drivers situation is that the train driver has a strong union behind him/her and they stick together not like most truck drivers always backstabbing one another?
There’s a good reason for that. The unions know ■■■■ well that if they look after the train drivers they can do damage to the country’s infrastructure, much as they can with the tanker drivers. Combine with an already strong union tradition and a safety rulebook that can stop the job for the slightest thing (law of unintended consequences) and it’s no wonder the management pussyfoot round them.
Same unions wouldn’t get off their butts for a general haulage outfit in the same situation, trust me. They only look after their own.
Is there a union especially for Tanker drivers? I would have thought Truck drivers especially tanker drivers and supermarket drivers would be in an especially strong position - more so than train drivers. Trains mainly carry people who can switch to the road on the event of a strike. Freight carried by rail is a tiny percentage compared to how much trucks carry. If for example the tube strikes for a day - yes it’s inconvenient but not as much if the tankers or supermarket truckers did that - chaos would ensue I think.
Danny27404:
Tramping in the summer no aircon to keep half the sweat off you no thanks. Sorry your out of a job seems some employers cant be kept happy recently.Good luck in next one.
Was it maybe something more to do with the loading the box on the train issue rather than the aircon comment !!
daveb0789:
@waynedlNice find on those vacancies on freightliner. But those driving jobs are for qualified drivers I think?
The person I posted that to was a qualified ex-train driver
But, also JD put in the employment boards on here that Freightliner are also taking on HGV drivers in Leeds, nowt on the job board, but may be worth a call if you live in that neck of the woods, no good to me, as far as I know, all Freightliner truck work is day work, 90+ mile round trip is too much for me everyday
The great thing about getting your HGV license is that you keep it for your career (subject to your DCPC). So you could have a ‘break’ and go back or you could just do casual or part time. Unfortunately this is not the case on the trains.
DonutUK:
malcolmj:
dont you think that the train drivers situation is that the train driver has a strong union behind him/her and they stick together not like most truck drivers always backstabbing one another?This is precisely why they have taken their earnings from around £15k immediately after privatisation in 1996 to £40k+ now. Not bad going in less than 20 yrs, to almost treble your industries wages. That isn’t including all the reductions in working hrs, increases in benefits etc
Plus a shed load of restrictive practices, which have hindered the introduction of technology.
Outdated systems, lack of effective management has all meant the since privatisation the subsidies given to the rail industry has in real terms trebled.
Scrap the rail subsidies and see how long the train drivers would last getting £40k pa for a few hours a week and massive paid holidays.
An industry that is long overdue a welcome to the real world.
The problem is railways need a huge amount of investment just to operate on the first place. In terms of operating costs, drivers salaries are a smaller percentage of operating costs compared with the PSV/HGV industry. On top of this training periods are far longer and standards are far higher. It’s worth noting that salaries for train drivers in France, Germany and Holland are similar to those in Britain.
I believe many freight companies such as Direct Rail Services or DB Schenker or Freightliner receive no subsidy. But their drivers aren’t on £10 an hour.
Have you thought about joining the industry ?
daveb0789:
Is there a union especially for Tanker drivers? I would have thought Truck drivers especially tanker drivers and supermarket drivers would be in an especially strong position - more so than train drivers. Trains mainly carry people who can switch to the road on the event of a strike. Freight carried by rail is a tiny percentage compared to how much trucks carry. If for example the tube strikes for a day - yes it’s inconvenient but not as much if the tankers or supermarket truckers did that - chaos would ensue I think.
I don’t think your post truly reflects how important te trains are in terms of heavy haulage, pretty sure you will find 90% of the fossil fuel for power stations and other industry is sent by train, and your average heavy train pulls 30/40 lorry loads behind it, much of the unrefined fuel and gas coming into the ports goes via rail around the uk, stuff that is not processed at sites around ports/docks.
I think what I’m saying here is that you would be surprised how large the short fall would be without them
Phantom Mark:
daveb0789:
Is there a union especially for Tanker drivers? I would have thought Truck drivers especially tanker drivers and supermarket drivers would be in an especially strong position - more so than train drivers. Trains mainly carry people who can switch to the road on the event of a strike. Freight carried by rail is a tiny percentage compared to how much trucks carry. If for example the tube strikes for a day - yes it’s inconvenient but not as much if the tankers or supermarket truckers did that - chaos would ensue I think.I don’t think your post truly reflects how important te trains are in terms of heavy haulage, pretty sure you will find 90% of the fossil fuel for power stations and other industry is sent by train, and your average heavy train pulls 30/40 lorry loads behind it, much of the unrefined fuel and gas coming into the ports goes via rail around the uk, stuff that is not processed at sites around ports/docks.
I think what I’m saying here is that you would be surprised how large the short fall would be without them
