paul b:
so basically everyone was earning an absolute mint twenty years ago because of caorse the cost living was a lot lower then as well, strange how all those that were making all that money are now working for eight quid an hour!
i think somethings a miss
The company I pulled for were taken over Paul, they cut the rates to a minimum and employed their own drivers through Lex Transfleet, since then the boss has died and the new owner is being investigated as stated in Commercial Motor a couple of months ago. He has since been banned from being a director of any company for 10 years and owes many thousands of pounds to people like you, and me
My unit and trailer cost £70,000 in 1986
I thought you were on for TransAlliance ? or is that Giraud who have just been bought out ?
Considering the current fuel prices, are you still going to be recommending that new wannabe owner driver’s should start up and give it a go even though many of you have admitted - in a round about way - that the cost of diesel is killing you off ?
I’m just wondering who’s seen the light, as it was only 2 months back that most of you were recommending to topcat, wharty and richiessex that it was the way forward . Bad advice imho .
Not seen any posts from them for a while, probably running all the hours god sends to try an make a wage. £1 per mile = £1=1.6 kms=£1 per litre=1 litre per 3 kms or so ; More than 50% of your turnover is going on fuel alone!
Those guys subbying wont be turning over more than £1700 per week and for that they have probably done over 3000 Kms which would have cost £1000 + in fuel, so how r they making that pay, time they take a wage and pay the tax/ni on it, there wont be much lefty to pay for your trailer(if you have ben charged or have your own),truck, insurance, repairs,expenses (phone etc) parking,road tax.
Considering the current fuel prices, are you still going to be recommending that new wannabe owner driver’s should start up and give it a go even though many of you have admitted - in a round about way - that the cost of diesel is killing you off ?
I’m just wondering who’s seen the light, as it was only 2 months back that most of you were recommending to topcat, wharty and richiessex that it was the way forward . Bad advice imho .
well after twenty years in the building game the best thing i ever did was get out and become an o/d but i don’t work for a quid a mile, i very rarely do above 1200 mile a week and i run a wagon that does 11 mpg so yes my advice would still be the same, which has always been, if you can find good work at the right money it’s a good move! at the same time the lads that are on boxes etc and havn’t been able to get a rate rise will really be strugeling now.
tell you what i do find strange is why there are three or four regular uses of these furoms that seem desperate to see o/d’s fail, is it jealousy, is it fustration at their own inability to get on in life? i’m not sure, but it seems really odd to me.
I thought you were on for TransAlliance ? or is that Giraud who have just been bought out ?
I work for Transalliance now, if you read my posts, I said these were the rates i was getting 20 years ago. however due to convicts cowboys sharks et-al I sold my truck and started working abroad.
I could name the company who ripped everyone off, but as it is an ongoing case and inquiry, it may jeapordise other owner operators who are still owed money
paul b:
tell you what i do find strange is why there are three or four regular uses of these furoms that seem desperate to see o/d’s fail, is it jealousy, is it fustration at their own inability to get on in life? i’m not sure, but it seems really odd to me.
Nothing strange about it but perhaps the truth is hurting Paul, hence why you have lashed out in your closing paragraph?
Like I said before, I’ll say it again (just to ruffle a few feathers ). The sooner you quid-per-mile owner driver’s realise that you (collectively) are a big contributory factor as to why the haulage rates are so low, the better. Perhaps then you’ll realise that you can’t make a decent living from it without either working 100hrs per week and/or running like a well-developed banana.
There are a small minority that have offered an excellent, professional service from day one (Neil springs to mind here and perhaps you too Paul B) and are no doubt very well for their services, but the majority of you are running about pulling knackered tilts, fridges and boxes for the likes of McBurney’s, De Rijke, Norfolk Line, Maritime, Hanbury Davies at way less than a quid per mile and it’s all because you’re just glory boys when it comes down to it, who want to pose about with your souped up V8 Scania’s with 300,000 kilowatt of light bolted to the front and your gay boy curtains, blue lights and name plates in the windows . You’re just [zb] the industry up for the rest of us that do want a decent wage and would quite happily drive around in an FL10 all week if the money was there. WAKE UP FFS.
it’s called having a go, it’s what the brittish are known for around the world
true, to some extent some lads are being exploited by ridiculously low rates but even those who are on the quid odd a mile type work your so fond of will earn more than they would doing the same job as a company driver, wether it’s worth all the hasle, thats their choice, certainly not yours or mine.
in my book anyone who’s prepared to stop whinging and whineing about how their expected to drive a truck thats not got latest electric this and air conditioned that and actually get out and make something happen off their own backs to improve their own situation deserves a bit of luck.
I thought you were on for TransAlliance ? or is that Giraud who have just been bought out ?
I work for Transalliance now, if you read my posts, I said these were the rates i was getting 20 years ago. however due to convicts cowboys sharks et-al I sold my truck and started working abroad.
I could name the company who ripped everyone off, but as it is an ongoing case and inquiry, it may jeapordise other owner operators who are still owed money
Im completely lost!! I thought you worked for Transalliance, but I have read your other posts about you swapping jobs and how you wanted to hand in your notice. You have also said that your b oss died and that the guy whos taken over has ripped off everybody else ? Is this for Transalliance ?
tell you what i do find strange is why there are three or four regular uses of these furoms that seem desperate to see o/d’s fail, is it jealousy, is it fustration at their own inability to get on in life? i’m not sure, but it seems really odd to me.
I thought you were on for TransAlliance ? or is that Giraud who have just been bought out ?
I work for Transalliance now, if you read my posts, I said these were the rates i was getting 20 years ago. however due to convicts cowboys sharks et-al I sold my truck and started working abroad.
I could name the company who ripped everyone off, but as it is an ongoing case and inquiry, it may jeapordise other owner operators who are still owed money
Im completely lost!! I thought you worked for Transalliance, but I have read your other posts about you swapping jobs and how you wanted to hand in your notice. You have also said that your b oss died and that the guy whos taken over has ripped off everybody else ? Is this for Transalliance ?
PM me if you want
Routier, I shall spell it out in simple sentences for you.
In 1986 I started as an owner driver.
The company I worked for as an owner driver are the one who paid the rates posted, then the company was taken over when the boss died. It is that company that are being investigated.
In 2004 I started working for Transalliance, a company that was not formed in 1986
In October 2005 {the present} I am changing jobs again and leaving Transalliance.
Have you got a 3 year old who could explain it to you?
Ok guys, this is an interesting thread so lets keep it that way and not let it drift off into personal attacks - remember attack the opinions NOT the poster
Routier, I shall spell it out in simple sentences for you.
In 1986 I started as an owner driver.
The company I worked for as an owner driver are the one who paid the rates posted, then the company was taken over when the boss died. It is that company that are being investigated.
In 2004 I started working for Transalliance, a company that was not formed in 1986
In October 2005 {the present} I am changing jobs again and leaving Transalliance.
Have you got a 3 year old who could explain it to you?
Dont appreciate your tone fella, I was just asking thats all, dont be insulting my intelligence
lets get back to reality.
wheelnut, so what your saying is these weren’t typical rates of the time rather exceptionally good rates that came to an end?
paul b:
lets get back to reality.
wheelnut, so what your saying is these weren’t typical rates of the time rather exceptionally good rates that came to an end?
They were fairly typical for the type of transport I was involved with. What spoiled it was these management companies coming in, they didnt call them logistic companies then. All they did was sit in an office with a couple of shiny mercedes outside and screw the hauliers, nothing really changes. From the 4 major hauliers who I worked with, there is only one left.
Well I’ve been an owner driver for over 20 years, and started bulk tippers in about 1988 I have been up to 5 of my own motors and 2 owner drivers, now there’s me driving 1 wagon, 1 driver and 2 owner drivers, in that time I’ve probably been in ■■■■ street about twice, and come out of it, and think, we’re heading that way again.
But I have just advised one of my best mates, an ex driver, to have a go on his own, he loves the job, and can’t be ‘killed with work’ and I believe disasters notwihstanding, he’ll be ok.
As for rates in 20 years, in our job they’ve probably gone up about 25%, with payloads also going up by 5t (20%), Maintenance has probably stayed about the same, due to better reliability of Trucks/trailers, as have tyres, due to improvements in tyre wear. Fuel, Insurance and wages have skyrocketed, and I do believe that rates will very shortly follow suit, so… If you love the job, and you’re not sick of the crap, the queues, and endless red tape, then the best of luck to you.
Me? I’m not so sure
There is no doubt that our haulage industry is in a mess…especially the international hauliers…its very difficult to find a brit haulage company looking for drivers now days. I know cos i been looking …i was thinking of setting up again on my own…but things have happened to my plans…There has been a steady decline of brit companies going to the continent driver accompanied…and i have seen many foreign hauliers only doing a one way trip to the uk…preferring to get a backload to somewhere from europe…so it must be to do with the rates…of course the price of fuel has some bearing…which is why we used to run the eastern bloc and middle east with belly tanks…till they were outlawed…the rates are diabolical with them being a lot less now than they were 20 years ago…freight forwarders are a lot to blame, for they take into account the lower prices on the continent for fuel…the spanish rates are exceptionally low…and they take account of that fact. Brit companies are now expecting their drivers to behave like the eastern bloc drivers…spend a great deal of time away from home…the minimum is 3 weeks…not many drivers are prepared to do that…and its reported that the poles are spending up to 6 weeks to 3 months tramping…so who exactly is to blame…the Exporters…the Freight Forwarders…Transport Companies…Drivers…i believe that the price is right when it comes from the Exporter…it just goes through so many hands…all taking their cut…and the transport company has to accept that rate or…dont get the work…they all have their crosses to bear…and their profits to maintain…so its then the driver who suffers…by being offered low rates…
Let me Quote a fellow member of TNUK who was advertising for drivers for international work…quoting the folowing…If your looking for a good wage…dont apply…if your looking for a good truck…Dont apply…must be prepared to spend 3 weeks away at a time…must live close to the depot… must be able to drive left hookers…must be very experienced…etc…etc…if this advertisement was posted a few years ago…he would never recruit drivers…and i dont blame him for the stipulations…but it infuriates me when as a very experienced driver…with all the experience…ie 40 yrs exp on the road…30 yrs international exp…LHD exp…etc…etc…feels like i`ve been thrown on the scrapheap when i cant get a job on international work…and home for the weekend…am i being too fussy by wanting time at home…
some good points, i hate to admit it as a relatively new o/d but there is to many wagons chassing to few jobs, something that is now far worse because of the europeans coming in, the answer? i don’t know, you can’t blame a bloke for taking a job on at rock bottom rates if he’s committed to one or more wagons on finance, those wagons have got to go out and at least cover their costs.
the one thing i do know is that in a year or two the brit haulage industry will far different to what it is now.
paul b:
you can’t blame a bloke for taking a job on at rock bottom rates if he’s committed to one or more wagons on finance, those wagons have got to go out and at least cover their costs.
You’ve hit the nail on the head there mate, the explosion of contract hire deals from the early 90’s on has’nt helped at all. As a former contract hirer I’ve yet to be convinced of its merits, If you own a truck outright or even to a lesser extent are buying it on finance, its much easier to park it up and wait for the right rates, rather than take it out just to cover the weekly hire cost and hope it picks up next week. Tax deductable maybe, but no profits=no tax as well.
…
. Bad advice imho 
.
). The sooner you quid-per-mile owner driver’s realise that you (collectively) are a big contributory factor as to why the haulage rates are so low, the better. Perhaps then you’ll realise that you can’t make a decent living from it without either working 100hrs per week and/or running like a well-developed banana.
and think, we’re heading that way again.