What did the EU do for us?

[carryfast]

Harry Monk:

windrush:
Well the EU enforced the use of tachographs so that transport bosses could no longer ask a driver to break the law by exceeding his hours or having insufficient breaks thus ensuring that everyone did the job correctly and to the letter of the law which protected the driver. Absolutely foolproof.

Pete.

Yes, I remember doing regular Italy trips in the late 1980s and the tachograph ensured that we drove to within the letter of the law (cough, cough. )

Yep and it also ensured that drivers couldn’t take a break or make a late start or an early finish without the boss knowing about it while enforcing their 15 hour shifts.

[wheel_nut]

Well now you only need £8k to maintain your first vehicle and £2500 for subsequent vehicles. Thats £250 quid less for two lorries.

[blue_estate]

the maoster:
Viaducts, underfloor heating, medicine to name a few. Hang on, I may be getting my films mixed up.

I didn’t know the EU was a few 1000 year old and they invaded us
Romans built those things
Tip don’t post when on the sauce

[robroy]

blue estate:

the maoster:
Viaducts, underfloor heating, medicine to name a few. Hang on, I may be getting my films mixed up.

I didn’t know the EU was a few 1000 year old and they invaded us
Romans built those things
Tip don’t post when on the sauce

Sorry bud, but it’s a classic 'WOOOSH moment there from your end.
Think this is what he meant…but I DO agree,.Maoster should keep off the drink anyway.

youtu.be/uvPbj9NX0zc

[the_maoster]

I’ll have you know that I was as judge as a sober!

[blue_estate]

the maoster:
I’ll have you know that I was as judge as a sober!

[blue_estate]

robroy:

blue estate:

the maoster:
Viaducts, underfloor heating, medicine to name a few. Hang on, I may be getting my films mixed up.

I didn’t know the EU was a few 1000 year old and they invaded us
Romans built those things
Tip don’t post when on the sauce

Sorry bud, but it’s a classic 'WOOOSH moment there from your end.
Think this is what he meant…but I DO agree,.Maoster should keep off the drink anyway.

youtu.be/uvPbj9NX0zc

[hyh]

VAT And requiring it to be a minimum of 15% by order of Directive 2006/112/EC

Speed limiters set at 90kmph max when the legal speed limit is 60mph (96.6kmph)

Oh and they stole our fish - BarStewards

[msgyorkie]

Hyh:
Oh and they stole our fish - BarStewards

Dont forget the fish!! Thieving cheese eating surrender monkeys!

[wheel_nut]

Franglais:

Harry Monk:
The eu did a lot of good, but the fatal mistake it made was of abandoning the decades-long tradition of expanding slowly and allowing one or two new members at a time, to expanding by admitting twelve countries in three years, the majority of whose economies were totally mis-matched to those of the existing members. In our own industry this has led to 15 years of almost total wage stagnation.

So, in 1989, the walls came down, what should have happened?
Yes, the acceptance of the ex-com bloc was done in a hurry, but what would have happened otherwise? A dozen poor, underfed, heavily armed countries at the frontiers? Would saying “No” too long have resulted in violence? Would it have meant loads of fit young men and women wanting a better future walking across a few yards? Look at all those coming from different continents, not just next door!
For decades we in the west had been talking of freedom for the oppressed east, so when they get it do we chuck them a crust and tell them to pick themselves because they ain`t getting a share of our pie?
How well would that have gone?

That took 15 years. The wall came down in 1989. The EU didn’t fully expand until 2004.

Timeline of EU
1957
Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. (6)

1973
Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom. (9)

1981
Greece. (10)

1986
Spain and Portugal. (12)

1989
Reunification of Germany.

1995
Austria, Finland and Sweden. (15)

2004
Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia. (25)

2007
Romania and Bulgaria. (27)

2013
Croatia. (28)

2020
United Kingdom Left The EU. (27)

Numbers in brackets show the year and total memberships.

[wheel_nut]

Franglais:

Harry Monk:
The eu did a lot of good, but the fatal mistake it made was of abandoning the decades-long tradition of expanding slowly and allowing one or two new members at a time, to expanding by admitting twelve countries in three years, the majority of whose economies were totally mis-matched to those of the existing members. In our own industry this has led to 15 years of almost total wage stagnation.

So, in 1989, the walls came down, what should have happened?
Yes, the acceptance of the ex-com bloc was done in a hurry, but what would have happened otherwise? A dozen poor, underfed, heavily armed countries at the frontiers? Would saying “No” too long have resulted in violence? Would it have meant loads of fit young men and women wanting a better future walking across a few yards? Look at all those coming from different continents, not just next door!
For decades we in the west had been talking of freedom for the oppressed east, so when they get it do we chuck them a crust and tell them to pick themselves because they ain`t getting a share of our pie?
How well would that have gone?

That took 15 years. The wall came down in 1989. The EU didn’t fully expand until 2004.

Timeline of EU
1957
Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. (6)

1973
Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom. (9)

1981
Greece. (10)

1986
Spain and Portugal. (12)

1989
Reunification of Germany.

1995
Austria, Finland and Sweden. (15)

2004
Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia. (25)

2007
Romania and Bulgaria. (27)

2013
Croatia. (28)

2020
United Kingdom Left The EU. (27)

Numbers in brackets show the year and total memberships.

[ets]

trevHCS:
Gave us a set of driving rules that are more complicated than the computer code for the space shuttle, then added this stupid WTD thing which just gives office bods more things to moan about.

So we should now expect these to be changed/removed? Let’s see how that goes

[blue_estate]

ETS:

trevHCS:
Gave us a set of driving rules that are more complicated than the computer code for the space shuttle, then added this stupid WTD thing which just gives office bods more things to moan about.

So we should now expect these to be changed/removed? Let’s see how that goes

I’m getting my log book ready as I type [emoji6][emoji23][emoji23][emoji23]

Sent from my truck

[beanie]

robroy:

trevHCS:
Gave us a set of driving rules that are more complicated than the computer code for the space shuttle, then added this stupid WTD thing which just gives office bods more things to moan about.

Including ‘allowing’ us (cheers for that) to work 15 hour days and in excess of 70 hour weeks (in the 20th and 21st century )…which had the effect of operators considering it as compulsory and many dim drivers considering it as targets.

Totally! Who in their right mind voted for 15 hour shifts and split breaks? Was it for Pierre in Lyon to go for afternoon glass of white and afternoon leg over with his mistress? Maybe it was for Pedro in Barcelona to have a siesta? Does Jim in Manchester get the same, no he gets told to crack on to Felixstowe (aka do a Maritime).
WTD, is it only the UK that complies to the rules. The big players (DHL, XPO, Wincanton, etc) are all scared of one minor infringement that a driver may get and “the company and you get fined.”
No they don’t, it’s only the pointy shoe brigade putting the fear into people!
My brother in law in a fierce remoaner and asks why I work so many hours. I point out about tachos and WTD and how the transport industry has gone back in time agreeing to longer working hours.
Was it a 12.5 hour spreadover, before the silly rules (as trevHCS put “Gave us a set of driving rules that are more complicated than the computer code for the space shuttle”) I would love a return to shorter hours!

[robroy]

beanie:

robroy:

trevHCS:
Gave us a set of driving rules that are more complicated than the computer code for the space shuttle, then added this stupid WTD thing which just gives office bods more things to moan about.

Including ‘allowing’ us (cheers for that) to work 15 hour days and in excess of 70 hour weeks (in the 20th and 21st century )…which had the effect of operators considering it as compulsory and many dim drivers considering it as targets.

Totally! Who in their right mind voted for 15 hour shifts and split breaks? Was it for Pierre in Lyon to go for afternoon glass of white and afternoon leg over with his mistress? Maybe it was for Pedro in Barcelona to have a siesta? Does Jim in Manchester get the same, no he gets told to crack on to Felixstowe (aka do a Maritime).
WTD, is it only the UK that complies to the rules. The big players (DHL, XPO, Wincanton, etc) are all scared of one minor infringement that a driver may get and “the company and you get fined.”
No they don’t, it’s only the pointy shoe brigade putting the fear into people!
My brother in law in a fierce remoaner and asks why I work so many hours. I point out about tachos and WTD and how the transport industry has gone back in time agreeing to longer working hours.
Was it a 12.5 hour spreadover, before the silly rules (as trevHCS put “Gave us a set of driving rules that are more complicated than the computer code for the space shuttle”) I would love a return to shorter hours!

Nobody voted for it mate, it was forced on us.
It’s always puzzled wtf 15 hour days in charge of a 44 tonne artic sharing a road with smaller vehicles (after having 9 hours rest consecutively x3 ) has any bearing to Health and Safety, …especially when the same H&S is rammed down our necks as being essential for far less trivial things.
It just shows it up like everything else in this job, a sham, put there only to look on the surface proper, but with no real substance.

You’re right btw, it was a 12 and half hour spread.
I think it was 8 hours driving, but it was in correlation with 8 hours paid basic, and time and a half over 8,
So it amuses me on here, when you point out how ridiculous rhe long hours in this job are, when you invariably get the inevitable…‘Nature of the job’ and ‘That’s the way it’s always been’ from the dim and the brainwashed 80 hours crew.
Happy new year Beanie mate btw.

[gidders]

If I recall correctly it was 12 and a half hours maximun spreadover.
11 hours duty.
10 hours driving.
Much more sensible and better for the drivers’ wellbeing.Having said that,there were still those for whom 24 hours/day was nowhere near enough.

[robroy]

Gidders:
If I recall correctly it was 12 and a half hours maximun spreadover.
11 hours duty.
10 hours driving.
Much more sensible and better for the drivers’ wellbeing.Having said that,there were still those for whom 24 hours/day was nowhere near enough.

I stand corrected, also as you say it was much more manageable…if adhered to at that time that is.

[the_nodding_donkey]

robroy:

beanie:

robroy:

trevHCS:
Gave us a set of driving rules that are more complicated than the computer code for the space shuttle, then added this stupid WTD thing which just gives office bods more things to moan about.

Including ‘allowing’ us (cheers for that) to work 15 hour days and in excess of 70 hour weeks (in the 20th and 21st century )…which had the effect of operators considering it as compulsory and many dim drivers considering it as targets.

Totally! Who in their right mind voted for 15 hour shifts and split breaks? Was it for Pierre in Lyon to go for afternoon glass of white and afternoon leg over with his mistress? Maybe it was for Pedro in Barcelona to have a siesta? Does Jim in Manchester get the same, no he gets told to crack on to Felixstowe (aka do a Maritime).
WTD, is it only the UK that complies to the rules. The big players (DHL, XPO, Wincanton, etc) are all scared of one minor infringement that a driver may get and “the company and you get fined.”
No they don’t, it’s only the pointy shoe brigade putting the fear into people!
My brother in law in a fierce remoaner and asks why I work so many hours. I point out about tachos and WTD and how the transport industry has gone back in time agreeing to longer working hours.
Was it a 12.5 hour spreadover, before the silly rules (as trevHCS put “Gave us a set of driving rules that are more complicated than the computer code for the space shuttle”) I would love a return to shorter hours!

Nobody voted for it mate, it was forced on us.
It’s always puzzled wtf 15 hour days in charge of a 44 tonne artic sharing a road with smaller vehicles (after having 9 hours rest consecutively x3 ) has any bearing to Health and Safety, …especially when the same H&S is rammed down our necks as being essential for far less trivial things.
It just shows it up like everything else in this job, a sham, put there only to look on the surface proper, but with no real substance.

You’re right btw, it was a 12 and half hour spread.
I think it was 8 hours driving, but it was in correlation with 8 hours paid basic, and time and a half over 8,
So it amuses me on here, when you point out how ridiculous rhe long hours in this job are, when you invariably get the inevitable…‘Nature of the job’ and ‘That’s the way it’s always been’ from the dim and the brainwashed 80 hours crew.
Happy new year Beanie mate btw.

I dont disagree with you in principle, but you are comparing apples with satsumas.
There is a big difference in driving a truck from that era, which was physically more demanding, and often included handball, afterwhich you had to find digs (usually shared… ). I agree that the rules need to be sorted, but to be honest, with todays level of comfort, doing a 9 or 10 hour rest in your sleeper is not that bad. What does need changing is allowing drivers to fit in a commute in a reduced rest, and allowing multiple reductions consecutively. (Apart from Friday…)

[beanie]

Gidders:
If I recall correctly it was 12 and a half hours maximun spreadover.
11 hours duty.
10 hours driving.
Much more sensible and better for the drivers’ wellbeing.Having said that,there were still those for whom 24 hours/day was nowhere near enough.

So let us return to these more manageable working hours.
11 hours is enough for anyone in this day in age.
You never hear a builder, plumber or decorator saying “yeah I’ll crack on and get a 15 in and same tomorrow so I can get 13 in for Thursday and do a late one Friday to get home.”
No, they pack up and go after 8 hours, maybe call at that foreigner ( for cash in hand at weekend) to check what they need to pinch off site.

[switchlogic]

What didn’t they do! Amazing wonderful Union. They abolished slavery, gave women the vote, invented the World Wide Web, brought down the Nazis and invented the flushing toilet. And that was just in 1926.