I think there will be a lot of unemployment after this episode. Unless the government extends the furlough scheme to those who’s businesses are not able to return to work. It is the only fair way as this is no fault of their own. A lot of businesses cannot ride this out by having to pay staff themselves. Those who return to work should consider themselves lucky.
blue estate:
toonsy:
I’ve been off for three weeks, got told Friday I’m off this coming week too “at least”Only that long [emoji47]I’ve been off sine April 1st [emoji22] no sign of going back yet
Sent while in furlough
I’m lucky we’ve kept going
Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk
blue estate:
toonsy:
I’ve been off for three weeks, got told Friday I’m off this coming week too “at least”Only that long [emoji47]I’ve been off sine April 1st [emoji22] no sign of going back yet
Sent while in furlough
To be fair I could’ve carried on but there was people at risk of furlough who would struggle with the money side like my mate who would struggle to lose 20% as his Mrs has been laid off, as in the place she worked has wound up. So I pushed myself towards it ‘in the hope’ that it kept someone who perhaps needed the cash more in work. Dunno if it worked but he’s still there pumping the hours in.
blue estate:
toonsy:
I’ve been off for three weeks, got told Friday I’m off this coming week too “at least”Only that long [emoji47]I’ve been off sine April 1st [emoji22] no sign of going back yet
Sent while in furlough
might be down to 60% soon blue 
Have been in since. I am like part of the furniture after years in the place. Now is the time to make sure you have a clean licence. It will be hard to get a job with points on your licence.
blue estate:
wrighty1:
R420:
I think a lot of drivers aren’t going to be going back to work; they just don’t know it yet.Definitely the case I think, once furlough is ended a lot of companies will be in the [zb].
Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk
I’m regularly checking the London gazette now just encase [emoji20]
My firm will be up the creek if the construction industry don’t pick back up , as one customer does cement facia cladding and tile board , other is the local factory of the Uk biggest cable manufacturer
We also do Pallet ways but there’s no money in thatSent while in furlough
Construction didn’t have to close afaik ? It’s obviously a job that can’t be done from home so they were allowed to continue. They chose to shut down because a lot of the materials suppliers upstream had closed so effectively made it impossible to operate?
This is why it’s not simply a case of opening everywhere back up again and it all goes back to ‘normal’ as the businesses all rely on each other in the supply chain. If one of the links is broken (shut down) then the rest of the chain falls apart.
Some companies have been shut down for that long that they won’t have the cash to place the orders needed to get going again. Remember that the banks have clamped down really hard on lending too, especially to SMEs, so those credit facilities are no longer available for a lot of businesses. Also factor in that every other business in the same sector will be reopening at the same time, so there will be a ‘run’ on the suppliers to get orders in which will cause long lead times and inevitable delays. The government grants only go so far and a lot of businesses will be forced under through no fault of their own.
All drivers should be looking at the type of haulage they do and the current demand for the product to gauge their relative job security.
carryfast-yeti:
blue estate:
toonsy:
I’ve been off for three weeks, got told Friday I’m off this coming week too “at least”Only that long [emoji47]I’ve been off sine April 1st [emoji22] no sign of going back yet
Sent while in furlough
might be down to 60% soon blue
I,can just about tick along on 60% but it don’t leave me much spare cash , luckily I’m single but I do live with My Mum and oldest brother who I joint pay mortgage £692 with
He’s still working as he’s a goods out for a telecoms supply company
Mum is a lady of leisure being 73 next month
Sent while in furlough
had a ball myself,But it was good to do a one off favour for my boss .One night out …easy tip, mt home…
given the chance the way Foreward for me at 62 years of age is going part time,However in reality it aint going to happen.And as my job is Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy anyway,Quite happy to see out my few remaining years. But i will be putting my name to the top of the list for a part time role at start up… Enabling the guys with mortgages and young children to earn the dosh…
Good to read some fellow philanthropic posts in here…
Well done Gentlemen, makes me proud to be British when I see others thinking akin for the welfare of thy fellow man [emoji868][emoji16][emoji636][emoji41]
I’ve now retired from hgv driving, got 6weeks under me though so not a bad crack at it I’d say… [emoji38]
Sent from my VOG-L09 using Tapatalk
No firing will happen in a big way until the end of furlough payments is announced.
Doubt it’s going to be pretty a lot of the retail/pub/restaurant businesses were up ■■■■ creek before all this started with chains regularly going bust.
blue estate:
toonsy:
I’ve been off for three weeks, got told Friday I’m off this coming week too “at least”Only that long [emoji47]I’ve been off sine April 1st [emoji22] no sign of going back yet
Sent while in furlough
Not 'til reading this thread have I noticed the lack of your firm on the road, some other local(ish) curtain-siders have been running throughout, probably not their whole fleet though.
Well I am not that for sure, I retired from the industry last Friday and have just had my first week as a pensioner.
I started driving commercially on a Bedford TK in 1975, passed my Class 1 at 21 and have been regularly employed for every day of my working life. Time to kick back and relax, and leave to the young ones to screw it up even more. I have not the remotest interest in the road transport business as it stands any more. All I can say is good luck to all of you who will have to endure the massive coming upheavals and uncertainty, please stay safe and stay lucky.I think my time on here is over too. Cheerio!
R420:
blue estate:
wrighty1:
R420:
I think a lot of drivers aren’t going to be going back to work; they just don’t know it yet.Definitely the case I think, once furlough is ended a lot of companies will be in the [zb].
Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk
I’m regularly checking the London gazette now just encase [emoji20]
My firm will be up the creek if the construction industry don’t pick back up , as one customer does cement facia cladding and tile board , other is the local factory of the Uk biggest cable manufacturer
We also do Pallet ways but there’s no money in thatSent while in furlough
Construction didn’t have to close afaik ? It’s obviously a job that can’t be done from home so they were allowed to continue. They chose to shut down because a lot of the materials suppliers upstream had closed so effectively made it impossible to operate?
This is why it’s not simply a case of opening everywhere back up again and it all goes back to ‘normal’ as the businesses all rely on each other in the supply chain. If one of the links is broken (shut down) then the rest of the chain falls apart.
Some companies have been shut down for that long that they won’t have the cash to place the orders needed to get going again. Remember that the banks have clamped down really hard on lending too, especially to SMEs, so those credit facilities are no longer available for a lot of businesses. Also factor in that every other business in the same sector will be reopening at the same time, so there will be a ‘run’ on the suppliers to get orders in which will cause long lead times and inevitable delays. The government grants only go so far and a lot of businesses will be forced under through no fault of their own.
All drivers should be looking at the type of haulage they do and the current demand for the product to gauge their relative job security.
Very true regarding the construction industry, and the “merchants” who seem to think this is a government sponsored holiday, both could have carried on with “distancing” and the supply chain would not have been taken off at the knees…
I personally can see a lot of tears & tantrums come the end of this month / early June when the government start slinging back some of the more spurious furlough claims. It wasn’t meant to be a chance to swan off for a month or three 
My neighbour is an accountant with one of the big three outfits [cant say which one], and they are putting forensic accounting teams together for HMRC, and this wont be for an after work 5-a-side footie bonding session for sure …
Vid:
blue estate:
toonsy:
I’ve been off for three weeks, got told Friday I’m off this coming week too “at least”Only that long [emoji47]I’ve been off sine April 1st [emoji22] no sign of going back yet
Sent while in furlough
Not 'til reading this thread have I noticed the lack of your firm on the road, some other local(ish) curtain-siders have been running throughout, probably not their whole fleet though.
Lamberts are part of Kynka or what ever they are , JPI do ERTS deboxing
Twoninety88:
Well I am not that for sure, I retired from the industry last Friday and have just had my first week as a pensioner.I started driving commercially on a Bedford TK in 1975, passed my Class 1 at 21 and have been regularly employed for every day of my working life. Time to kick back and relax, and leave to the young ones to screw it up even more. I have not the remotest interest in the road transport business as it stands any more. All I can say is good luck to all of you who will have to endure the massive coming upheavals and uncertainty, please stay safe and stay lucky.I think my time on here is over too. Cheerio!
A sad loss in my view mate. I for one have enjoyed your knowledgeable contributions on here, hopefully you will still pop in now and again. Best of luck in your retirement.
toonsy:
blue estate:
toonsy:
I’ve been off for three weeks, got told Friday I’m off this coming week too “at least”Only that long [emoji47]I’ve been off sine April 1st [emoji22] no sign of going back yet
Sent while in furlough
To be fair I could’ve carried on but there was people at risk of furlough who would struggle with the money side like my mate who would struggle to lose 20% as his Mrs has been laid off, as in the place she worked has wound up. So I pushed myself towards it ‘in the hope’ that it kept someone who perhaps needed the cash more in work. Dunno if it worked but he’s still there pumping the hours in.
My hat is tipped to you Toonsy. Not quite sure if your laudable efforts will catch on however in the new (I’m alright Jack) order.
Virtual pint sent over to you 
keepthefaith:
had a ball myself,But it was good to do a one off favour for my boss .One night out …easy tip, mt home…
given the chance the way Foreward for me at 62 years of age is going part time,However in reality it aint going to happen.And as my job is Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy anyway,Quite happy to see out my few remaining years. But i will be putting my name to the top of the list for a part time role at start up… Enabling the guys with mortgages and young children to earn the dosh…
Another top man who get’s it…
After a long talk to myself ( and a bit of input from the wife , who I dont usually listen to ) I think I have retired for the second time. Its going to be a week of getting through to the DWP and hope they can get any sence out of my ex employer and sort out the money situation, again.
Maybe the occasional drive to keep my hand in, maybe.
eagerbeaver:
Twoninety88:
Well I am not that for sure, I retired from the industry last Friday and have just had my first week as a pensioner.I started driving commercially on a Bedford TK in 1975, passed my Class 1 at 21 and have been regularly employed for every day of my working life. Time to kick back and relax, and leave to the young ones to screw it up even more. I have not the remotest interest in the road transport business as it stands any more. All I can say is good luck to all of you who will have to endure the massive coming upheavals and uncertainty, please stay safe and stay lucky.I think my time on here is over too. Cheerio!
A sad loss in my view mate. I for one have enjoyed your knowledgeable contributions on here, hopefully you will still pop in now and again. Best of luck in your retirement.
I’ll second every word that eagerbeaver has written^^^
From a guy with a similar starting record who started commercial driving in 1976 on a Ford “D” series, and passed HGV 1 in 1979.
I also owned a 290 F88 for a short while in the early 80s, so another similarity. 
I’ll 3rd that Twoninety, (and have a mad retirement rather than a quiet one. )
Thing is though why leave the forum ?
A man with your experience can give the benefit of it, especially to new drivers, …not to mention some of the helmets on here, with their bizarre views on how the job should be done,.
Who knows? Your guidance to the brainwashed (who think it is normal to chase around like ■■■■ idiots) will.maybe save them from themselves. 
Good luck mate anyhow.