Truck Trains

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As there's a severe shortage of truck drivers, it's actually a solution to a problem.
 
As there's a severe shortage of truck drivers, it's actually a solution to a problem.
Well, there isn't a shortage of truck drivers, there is a shortage of drivers who will work for peanuts... There is a waiting list of drivers trying to get in to the better hauliers in my area..... Driving a shopping trolley for Tesco used to be a cream job but then it was all farmed out to Eddie Stobart and the job went down hill.....Car transporter and chemical tank drivers used to be at the top of the driving tree bringing home £750/week 25 years ago, now it is just as crummy as driving a bin lorry... It is a lot of responsibility for carp pay these days, better of stacking bean cans in Aldi
The rot really set in when the cabotage rules changed allowing hauliers from EU countries to bid for work in the UK. This may not sound like a bad thing, but many of the hauliers were based in EU countries who benefitted from EU funding, so out went their wheezing old Pegassos and Kamaz for a nice new fleet of top of the range VolvoFHs or Mercedes Actros to compete with UK hauliers.. Rates went down and becoming a lory driver was no longer a decent career option for many folk who were keen, consientious and hard working but not an accademic...
 
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The report I was listening to a few months ago, only mentioned a shortage of drivers; but if wages are crap, and they are struggling to recruit, then wages normally have to rise. It's only when there are too many drivers available, that wages can be reduced.
 
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The report I was listening to a few months ago, only mentioned a shortage of drivers; but if wages are crap, and they are struggling to recruit, then wages normally have to rise. It's only when there are too many drivers available, that wages can be reduced.
Yeah, it is the companies who want cheap labour who tell you that there is a shortage... The cost of training has gone up too, once upon a time, you could go from a Ford Escort to a 40 tonner with one test... But no company would let a newby out in a 40 tonner, when you managed to get taken on, your first truck was a ford transit 3.5 tonner and over time you worked your way up, at all times being supervised by an old driver...
 
Yeah, it is the companies who want cheap labour who tell you that there is a shortage... The cost of training has gone up too, once upon a time, you could go from a Ford Escort to a 40 tonner with one test... But no company would let a newby out in a 40 tonner, when you managed to get taken on, your first truck was a ford transit 3.5 tonner and over time you worked your way up, at all times being supervised by an old driver...

Thats unfettered market capitalism which you obviously must agree with as you vote for it, so why are you complaining about it?
 
Thats unfettered market capitalism which you obviously must agree with as you vote for it, so why are you complaining about it?
I support capitalism but did not vote for the Cabotage laws to be changed allowing the labour market to be flooded with cheap labour... That is the wet dream of the lefties
 
Bloke I used to work with (still good friends) used to drive an HGV for the Coop delivering milk

drove under a rail way bridge that was to low and 10,000 pints of milk ended up down the road plus the rail way line got shut down for several hours

no one got hurt , but the coop took a dim view & sent some one out to sack him on the spot :eek:

:)
 
There is no excuse for hitting a bridge, glad he got his cards... The height of the vehicle is in the cab where the driver can see it, If it is a variable height load, such as a car transporter, then the driver must measure his height and record it where he can see it..
 
The report I was listening to a few months ago, only mentioned a shortage of drivers; but if wages are crap, and they are struggling to recruit, then wages normally have to rise. It's only when there are too many drivers available, that wages can be reduced.
That sounds logical - but it doesn't work like that any more.

What Firebrand says above is true.
 
There is no excuse for hitting a bridge, glad he got his cards... The height of the vehicle is in the cab where the driver can see it, If it is a variable height load, such as a car transporter, then the driver must measure his height and record it where he can see it..

that's the attitude the bloke from the Coop took :)

British Rail took a dim view as well,as it happened in the rush hour , bridge had to be inspected by engineers.
 
The report I was listening to a few months ago, only mentioned a shortage of drivers; but if wages are crap, and they are struggling to recruit, then wages normally have to rise. It's only when there are too many drivers available, that wages can be reduced.
Further -

It's like prices for things like milk and vegetables.
The producers have to take what the supermarkets say they will pay so they can't pay workers more.
 
Whih sat nav was he using.

this was way before sat nav we are talking in the late 70's (?)

those were the days when u would be sacked in the morning & have another job by the afternoon. he continued driving & still has an HGV licence afaik

he is 69 now
 
Further -

It's like prices for things like milk and vegetables.
The producers have to take what the supermarkets say they will pay so they can't pay workers more.
I agree, the hauliers are contracted to the supermarkets and cannot change their rate 'till the end of their contract, so they are caught between a fixed income and rising labour rates, but in time the rates for drivers will rise as the balance tips towards the hauliers... Though the supermarkets may well then take their transport in house again.... There are always labour shortages during peak times... There are never enough drivers at Christmas just like there is a shortage of heating engineers in a cold winter
 
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