| keep on trucking 07:05 - Sep 24 with 2581 views | Swanboyo |
bring in the army |  | | |  |
| keep on trucking on 08:22 - Sep 24 with 1789 views | Kilkennyjack |
You cant really plug a 100,000 shortfall with 2,000, but yes its now essential.
Broken Brexit Britain. 🇬🇧 GSTQ |  |
| Beware of the Risen People
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| keep on trucking on 08:49 - Sep 24 with 1778 views | felixstowe_jack |
| keep on trucking on 08:22 - Sep 24 by Kilkennyjack |
You cant really plug a 100,000 shortfall with 2,000, but yes its now essential.
Broken Brexit Britain. 🇬🇧 GSTQ |
Driver short in EU. Germany is short of 45,000 HGV drivers and Poland short of 125,000.
Is this due to Brexit? | |
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| keep on trucking on 10:34 - Sep 24 with 1737 views | Boundy |
| keep on trucking on 08:49 - Sep 24 by felixstowe_jack |
Driver short in EU. Germany is short of 45,000 HGV drivers and Poland short of 125,000.
Is this due to Brexit? |
I still have my (then called Class 1 licence ) ,but now lapsed . I have been tempted to change jobs but with only a year or so before permanent de mob (retirement) is it worth the hassle | |
| "In a free society, the State is the servant of the people—not the master." |
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| keep on trucking on 10:43 - Sep 24 with 1730 views | BarrySwan |
Both Conservative and labour parties have reduced the British armed forces to a hollow shell, the thought that the British armed forces can provide enough HGV drivers to even make a dent in the current problem is laughable.
As I may have mentioned before I was reading about the predicted crisis in HGV driver numbers 7 or 8 years ago in reports in Trade magazines and other media outlets well before Brexit for example was even a glint in David Camerons eye.
So one must ask what exactly were the government, the haulage association and driving contract firms doing to address the matter during all these years other than covering up the emerging crisis by employing cheap Eastern European labour yet again?
Anyway don't take my word for it have a little gander at this account by someone claiming to be an ex lorry driver giving a whole host of reasons for the crisis which readers ( especially the Brexit rewhingers ) may not have considered.
Sorry for the length of it but worth reading if you are interested.
Jim Titheridge
4 d
Â
·
So, you are running out of food on the shelves, fuel in the garages, you can’t buy things you need, because the shops can’t get their supplies.
Why is that?
A shortage of goods? No
A shortage of money? No
A shortage of drivers to deliver the goods? Well, sort of.
There isn’t actually a shortage of drivers, what we have, is a shortage of people who can drive, that aren't willing to drive any more. You might wonder why that is. I can’t answer for all drivers, but I can give you the reason I no longer drive. Driving was something I always yearned to do as a young boy, and as soon as I could, I managed to get my driving licence, I even joined the army to get my HGV licence faster, I held my licence at the age of 17.
It was all I ever wanted to do, drive trucks, I had that vision of being a knight of the roads, bringing the goods to everyone, providing a service everyone needed. What I didn’t take into account was the absolute abuse my profession would get over the years.
I have seen a massive decline in the respect this trade has, first, it was the erosion of truck parking and transport café’s, then it was the massive increase in restricting where I could stop, timed weight limits in just about every city and town, but not all the time, you can get there to do your delivery, but you can’t stay there, nobody wants an empty truck, nobody wants you there once they have what they did want.
Compare France to the UK. I can park in nearly every town or village, they have marked truck parking bays, and somewhere nearby, will be a small routier, where I can get a meal and a shower, the locals respect me, and have no problems with me or my truck being there for the night.
Go out onto the motorway services, and I can park for no cost, go into the service area, and get a shower for a minimal cost, and have freshly cooked food, I even get to jump the queues, because others know that my time is limited, and respect I am there because it is my job. Add to that, I even get a 20% discount of all I purchase.
Compare that to the UK £25-£40 just to park overnight, dirty showers, and expensive, dried (under heat lamps) food that is overpriced, and I have no choice but to park there, because you don’t want me in your towns and cities.
Ask yourself how you would feel, if doing your job actually cost you money at the end of the day, just so you could rest.
But that isn’t the half of it. Not only have we been rejected from our towns and cities, but we have also suffered massive pay cuts, because of the influx of foreign drivers willing to work for a wage that is high where they come from, companies eagerly recruited from the eastern bloc, who can blame them, why pay good money when you can get cheap labour, and a never ending supply of it as well. Never mind that their own countries would suffer from a shortage themselves, that was never our problem, they could always get people from further afield if they needed drivers.
We were once seen as knights of the road, now we are seen as the lepers of society. Why would anyone want to go back to that?
If you are worried about not getting supplies on your supermarket shelves, ask your local council just how well they cater for trucks in your district.
I know Canterbury has the grand total of zero truck parking facilities, but does have a lot of restrictions, making it difficult for trucks to stop anywhere.
Do you want me to go back to driving trucks? Give me a good reason to do so. Give anyone a good reason to take it up as a profession.
Perhaps once you work out why you can’t, you will understand why your shelves are not as full as they could be.
I tried it for over 30 years, but will never go back, you just couldn't pay me enough. [Post edited 24 Sep 2021 10:45]
| | | |
| keep on trucking on 10:54 - Sep 24 with 1710 views | onehunglow |
| keep on trucking on 10:43 - Sep 24 by BarrySwan |
Both Conservative and labour parties have reduced the British armed forces to a hollow shell, the thought that the British armed forces can provide enough HGV drivers to even make a dent in the current problem is laughable.
As I may have mentioned before I was reading about the predicted crisis in HGV driver numbers 7 or 8 years ago in reports in Trade magazines and other media outlets well before Brexit for example was even a glint in David Camerons eye.
So one must ask what exactly were the government, the haulage association and driving contract firms doing to address the matter during all these years other than covering up the emerging crisis by employing cheap Eastern European labour yet again?
Anyway don't take my word for it have a little gander at this account by someone claiming to be an ex lorry driver giving a whole host of reasons for the crisis which readers ( especially the Brexit rewhingers ) may not have considered.
Sorry for the length of it but worth reading if you are interested.
Jim Titheridge
4 d
Â
·
So, you are running out of food on the shelves, fuel in the garages, you can’t buy things you need, because the shops can’t get their supplies.
Why is that?
A shortage of goods? No
A shortage of money? No
A shortage of drivers to deliver the goods? Well, sort of.
There isn’t actually a shortage of drivers, what we have, is a shortage of people who can drive, that aren't willing to drive any more. You might wonder why that is. I can’t answer for all drivers, but I can give you the reason I no longer drive. Driving was something I always yearned to do as a young boy, and as soon as I could, I managed to get my driving licence, I even joined the army to get my HGV licence faster, I held my licence at the age of 17.
It was all I ever wanted to do, drive trucks, I had that vision of being a knight of the roads, bringing the goods to everyone, providing a service everyone needed. What I didn’t take into account was the absolute abuse my profession would get over the years.
I have seen a massive decline in the respect this trade has, first, it was the erosion of truck parking and transport café’s, then it was the massive increase in restricting where I could stop, timed weight limits in just about every city and town, but not all the time, you can get there to do your delivery, but you can’t stay there, nobody wants an empty truck, nobody wants you there once they have what they did want.
Compare France to the UK. I can park in nearly every town or village, they have marked truck parking bays, and somewhere nearby, will be a small routier, where I can get a meal and a shower, the locals respect me, and have no problems with me or my truck being there for the night.
Go out onto the motorway services, and I can park for no cost, go into the service area, and get a shower for a minimal cost, and have freshly cooked food, I even get to jump the queues, because others know that my time is limited, and respect I am there because it is my job. Add to that, I even get a 20% discount of all I purchase.
Compare that to the UK £25-£40 just to park overnight, dirty showers, and expensive, dried (under heat lamps) food that is overpriced, and I have no choice but to park there, because you don’t want me in your towns and cities.
Ask yourself how you would feel, if doing your job actually cost you money at the end of the day, just so you could rest.
But that isn’t the half of it. Not only have we been rejected from our towns and cities, but we have also suffered massive pay cuts, because of the influx of foreign drivers willing to work for a wage that is high where they come from, companies eagerly recruited from the eastern bloc, who can blame them, why pay good money when you can get cheap labour, and a never ending supply of it as well. Never mind that their own countries would suffer from a shortage themselves, that was never our problem, they could always get people from further afield if they needed drivers.
We were once seen as knights of the road, now we are seen as the lepers of society. Why would anyone want to go back to that?
If you are worried about not getting supplies on your supermarket shelves, ask your local council just how well they cater for trucks in your district.
I know Canterbury has the grand total of zero truck parking facilities, but does have a lot of restrictions, making it difficult for trucks to stop anywhere.
Do you want me to go back to driving trucks? Give me a good reason to do so. Give anyone a good reason to take it up as a profession.
Perhaps once you work out why you can’t, you will understand why your shelves are not as full as they could be.
I tried it for over 30 years, but will never go back, you just couldn't pay me enough. [Post edited 24 Sep 2021 10:45]
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Good post.
I do have a former Police chum who retired and now drives a truck for Iceland.He loves it.
Strange boy | |
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| keep on trucking on 11:05 - Sep 24 with 1706 views | Catullus |
I read that and it makes perfect sense, people leaving the job because we've almost literally been punishing them for what they do even though it's an essential service.
Things seem to be changing now though, not in the conditions, the restrictions and lack of facilities for lorries is probably at least as bad as he says but the wages have gone up and drivers are urgently needed.
I've been considering going for an HGV license all the same. I'm not interested in tramping though, I don't want to be away from home for days on end, stuck in foreign climes. I'll work nights and even weekends and bank holidays but...is it worth the effort? | |
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| keep on trucking on 11:10 - Sep 24 with 1704 views | controversial_jack |
| keep on trucking on 11:05 - Sep 24 by Catullus |
I read that and it makes perfect sense, people leaving the job because we've almost literally been punishing them for what they do even though it's an essential service.
Things seem to be changing now though, not in the conditions, the restrictions and lack of facilities for lorries is probably at least as bad as he says but the wages have gone up and drivers are urgently needed.
I've been considering going for an HGV license all the same. I'm not interested in tramping though, I don't want to be away from home for days on end, stuck in foreign climes. I'll work nights and even weekends and bank holidays but...is it worth the effort? |
Wages have gone up considerably and still are - good luck to the drivers, but it's a tough life. For many, it's sleeping in the cab, nights away from the family, having to meet tough deadlines, unsociable hours, driving at 4 am is no picnic, plus strict regulations with penalties if you transgress. I wouldn't do it for any money and I was a seasoned shift worker. | | | |
| keep on trucking on 12:43 - Sep 24 with 1671 views | Boundy |
For the time I did it I enjoyed it although not considered a regular driver ,( driving for a Utility company in which I also didn't have to use the tacho just your driving hours log book)
I obtained my ordinary and tracked vehicle licence in the Army (driving APCs etc) then Class 1 in the early 80's and then a fork lift, none of which I had to pay for . It used to be an option to train to become LGV driver if you became unemployed but I guess the costs now are now inhibitive ,. hind sight is a wonderful thing | |
| "In a free society, the State is the servant of the people—not the master." |
| |
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| keep on trucking on 14:04 - Sep 24 with 1640 views | controversial_jack |
I read somewhere that only 2% are women. Why don't they apply? | | | |
| keep on trucking on 14:08 - Sep 24 with 1634 views | CountyJim |
| keep on trucking on 10:34 - Sep 24 by Boundy |
I still have my (then called Class 1 licence ) ,but now lapsed . I have been tempted to change jobs but with only a year or so before permanent de mob (retirement) is it worth the hassle |
Fair few offering golden hello's mind |  | | |
| keep on trucking on 14:10 - Sep 24 with 1631 views | CountyJim |
| keep on trucking on 14:04 - Sep 24 by controversial_jack |
I read somewhere that only 2% are women. Why don't they apply? |
Who would park up for them  | | | |
| keep on trucking on 15:04 - Sep 24 with 1613 views | controversial_jack |
| keep on trucking on 14:10 - Sep 24 by CountyJim |
Who would park up for them |
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| keep on trucking on 16:12 - Sep 24 with 1592 views | Kilkennyjack |
| keep on trucking on 14:10 - Sep 24 by CountyJim |
Who would park up for them |
ðŸ‘🾠| |
| Beware of the Risen People
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| keep on trucking on 16:16 - Sep 24 with 1587 views | Boundy |
| keep on trucking on 14:08 - Sep 24 by CountyJim |
Fair few offering golden hello's mind |
I know and its tempting but I'm too old in the tooth to relearn old skills ( in my head I'm 20 its just a, pity that can't translate into my body ) .Great opportunities for youngster these days though , a million vacancies in the country , the first time ever. | |
| "In a free society, the State is the servant of the people—not the master." |
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| keep on trucking on 19:59 - Sep 24 with 1550 views | Luther27 |
| keep on trucking on 16:16 - Sep 24 by Boundy |
I know and its tempting but I'm too old in the tooth to relearn old skills ( in my head I'm 20 its just a, pity that can't translate into my body ) .Great opportunities for youngster these days though , a million vacancies in the country , the first time ever. |
I had the same thoughts…and the same age issues lol. One thing I can’t understand is why Business didn’t foresee a driver shortfall….and other staffing problems in 2016 after the Brexit result and never started training people to fill at least some of the potential skill gaps. | | | |
| keep on trucking on 21:22 - Sep 24 with 1525 views | majorraglan |
Looks like there’s no need for the army now, media reporting we’re opening up to foreign drivers again. I’d imagine those HGV drivers who just got d3cent wages rises won5 be very happy with this. | | | |
| keep on trucking on 21:29 - Sep 24 with 1520 views | Dr_Winston |
No doubt Brexit has played a role in this, but nowhere near as big a one as the EU sycophants would have you believe. Germany is about 80,000 short of HGV drivers too, and as far as I can tell they're still in the EU.
What we're experiencing is a skills shortage. For some reason Western Governments have forgotten that not everyone can or should go to University. School leavers lacking the academic bent should be overwhelmed with opportunities to learn a useful trade. Certainly in the UK opportunities to do so have been lacking.
The Pandemic has accelerated the shortage of HGV drivers being an issue, but there will be more. If you need any building work done, I'd do it in the next ten years because that's probably going to be next. [Post edited 24 Sep 2021 21:33]
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| Pain or damage don't end the world. Or despair, or f*cking beatings. The world ends when you're dead. Until then, you got more punishment in store. Stand it like a man... and give some back. |
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| keep on trucking on 21:50 - Sep 24 with 1498 views | KeithHaynes |
| keep on trucking on 10:34 - Sep 24 by Boundy |
I still have my (then called Class 1 licence ) ,but now lapsed . I have been tempted to change jobs but with only a year or so before permanent de mob (retirement) is it worth the hassle |
Not at all mate, retire, then seize the day 👠|  |
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| keep on trucking on 09:17 - Sep 25 with 1453 views | felixstowe_jack |
| keep on trucking on 21:29 - Sep 24 by Dr_Winston |
No doubt Brexit has played a role in this, but nowhere near as big a one as the EU sycophants would have you believe. Germany is about 80,000 short of HGV drivers too, and as far as I can tell they're still in the EU.
What we're experiencing is a skills shortage. For some reason Western Governments have forgotten that not everyone can or should go to University. School leavers lacking the academic bent should be overwhelmed with opportunities to learn a useful trade. Certainly in the UK opportunities to do so have been lacking.
The Pandemic has accelerated the shortage of HGV drivers being an issue, but there will be more. If you need any building work done, I'd do it in the next ten years because that's probably going to be next. [Post edited 24 Sep 2021 21:33]
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Well said doubt the remainers will admit it but clearly the pandemic has been the main cause. A vast increase in online shopping has seen a huge surge in drivers switching to while vans to deliver goods, for better pay and conditions than HGV drivers and of course they get home every night. | |
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| keep on trucking on 10:09 - Sep 25 with 1432 views | Kilkennyjack |
| keep on trucking on 09:17 - Sep 25 by felixstowe_jack |
Well said doubt the remainers will admit it but clearly the pandemic has been the main cause. A vast increase in online shopping has seen a huge surge in drivers switching to while vans to deliver goods, for better pay and conditions than HGV drivers and of course they get home every night. |
Dont be a dickhead mun …. | |
| Beware of the Risen People
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| keep on trucking on 13:33 - Sep 25 with 1400 views | Boundy |
| keep on trucking on 21:50 - Sep 24 by KeithHaynes |
Not at all mate, retire, then seize the day 👠|
When I finish working my intention is to while away my days lazing and completing the many tasks around the house I never had time to do , but who knows Eh? | |
| "In a free society, the State is the servant of the people—not the master." |
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| keep on trucking on 13:50 - Sep 25 with 1385 views | onehunglow |
| keep on trucking on 13:33 - Sep 25 by Boundy |
When I finish working my intention is to while away my days lazing and completing the many tasks around the house I never had time to do , but who knows Eh? |
Time flie Boundy,retirement or not.
Im always short of time seemingly.
Treasure every time you hear music | |
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| keep on trucking on 22:06 - Sep 25 with 1353 views | Boundy |
| keep on trucking on 13:50 - Sep 25 by onehunglow |
Time flie Boundy,retirement or not.
Im always short of time seemingly.
Treasure every time you hear music |
I do get slightly paranoid when I realise how old I am and getting, sometimes panicking about not having enough time to do all I want but then that can be true for most I suppose, when you think about it who knows whats around the corner.
I've had one scare with cancer and so far survived that , still fairly fit , still in full time work which has physical aspect to it . A loving family which seems to get bigger rather than decrease ( which is how I prefer it) . As to music , well what more can be said other than it provides so many benefits to everyday living and I couldn't be without it . | |
| "In a free society, the State is the servant of the people—not the master." |
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| keep on trucking on 11:19 - Sep 26 with 1288 views | felixstowe_jack |
| keep on trucking on 10:54 - Sep 24 by onehunglow |
Good post.
I do have a former Police chum who retired and now drives a truck for Iceland.He loves it.
Strange boy |
Hardly strange no doubt he gets a full police pension and a decent wage from Iceland. | |
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