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[News] A lorry drivers view of driver shortage, fuel shortage and Brexit.
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Send what you can. I like gingerbread and ladies in Dirndl
This is very true, as it has been true in the 25 years I’ve been driving lorries, the difference this year is they’re not being replaced because people can’t get a test date for many many months due to the covid backlog.
Thunder Bolt
Silly old bat
Copied and pasted from Jim Titherbridge on Facebook.
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 are 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.
Thank you to all those people who have shared this post. I never expected such a massive response, but am glad that this message is getting out there. I really hope that some people who are in a position to change just how bad it is for some drivers, can influence the powers that be to make changes for the better. Perhaps some city and town councillors have seen this, and are willing to bring up these issues at their council meetings. It surely cannot be too much to ask of a town/city to provide facilities for those who are doing so much to make sure their economies run and their shops and businesses are stocked with supplies. I never wanted any luxuries, just somewhere safe to park, and some basic ablutions that are maintained to a reasonable standard. I spent my nights away from my home and family for you, how much is it to ask that you at least give me access to some basic services.
There are tens, maybe hundreds of thousands of licence holders just like me, who will no longer tolerate the conditions. So the ball is firmly in the court of the councils to solve this problem.
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 are 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.
Thank you to all those people who have shared this post. I never expected such a massive response, but am glad that this message is getting out there. I really hope that some people who are in a position to change just how bad it is for some drivers, can influence the powers that be to make changes for the better. Perhaps some city and town councillors have seen this, and are willing to bring up these issues at their council meetings. It surely cannot be too much to ask of a town/city to provide facilities for those who are doing so much to make sure their economies run and their shops and businesses are stocked with supplies. I never wanted any luxuries, just somewhere safe to park, and some basic ablutions that are maintained to a reasonable standard. I spent my nights away from my home and family for you, how much is it to ask that you at least give me access to some basic services.
There are tens, maybe hundreds of thousands of licence holders just like me, who will no longer tolerate the conditions. So the ball is firmly in the court of the councils to solve this problem.
- Jul 10, 2003
- 27,767
Maybe while they're drafting those up, it may prove efficient to draft similar for Care Home workers, Fruit Pickers, Food Preparation, Refuse Collection, Hospitality etc etc
I won’t disagree with you, the government is completely out of touch with the everyday world, but working in the industry, the fact is, we have a years backlog of people wanting HGV tests which has upset the whole HGV ecosystem and that’s not due to brexit but totally down to covid.
The Road Haulage Association, or whatever they’re called, advised their members to vote for Brexit. They duly did. Just like many others, they don’t want to admit to their mistake.
Thanks for posting that - eye opening
There are many contributing factors but Brexit and Covid are the two main ones. Head of the RHA said that we are losing 15k drivers per year more than those entering the industry. That is a gradual process however Brexit meant we lost tens of thousands of drivers in one go which meant the industry hasn't been able to adjust gradually.
To reverse the trend in the immediate term, the government seem to be backtracking on changing the rules on 'essential' workers to allow visas for more overseas drivers. In the long term I suspect conditions and pay will need to improve and that will affect prices.
The bit about tests is a red herring. Yes there were no tests for 8 out of the last 17 months but the government announcing there will be about 50k of tests available doesn't mean there are 50k of candidates waiting to take those tests!!
Also, this from the government website :-
Tests will also be made shorter by removing the ‘reversing exercise’ element – and for vehicles with trailers, the ‘uncoupling and recoupling’ exercise – and having it tested separately by a third party. This part of the test is carried out off the road on a manoeuvring area and takes a significant amount of time. Testing such manoeuvres separately will free up examiner time, meaning they can carry out another full test every day.
Car drivers will no longer need to take another test to tow a trailer or caravan, allowing roughly 30,000 more HGV driving tests to be conducted every year.
This new legislation is changing previous EU regulations which the UK is no longer obliged to use.
Seems to me that compromises on safety are being made to expedite training. This is as ingenious as removing the hard shoulder from motorways to get the traffic moving at the expense of safety.
Neville's Breakfast
Well-known member
This is the reason we have difficulty discussing a lot of issues on NSC. When people want to blame Brexit it becomes a part of that discussion instead. I am not qualified to judge either way on this issue but some people do seem very sure of their view without, as you say, any particular substance or experience in the industry.
Neville's Breakfast
Well-known member
Or they disagree with you ? Remember, in this discussion you are the one that lacks expertise, just like me.
JC Footy Genius
Bringer of TRUTH
- Jun 9, 2015
- 10,568
I think you mean know **** all's. Its called Brexit Tourettes syndrome, lots of sufferers on here sadly.
Sent from my SM-G970F using Tapatalk
- Jul 10, 2003
- 27,767
Nobody has said it's all down to Brexit, but if Brexit wasn't a significant factor, why the f*** would the government do this ?
Petrol driver shortage: Visa scheme planned to ease problems
Ministers are working on plans for a temporary visa scheme to make it easier for foreign lorry drivers to come to the UK. Final details of exactly how the initiative will work are expected to be announced this weekend. Any changes to immigration rules will be temporary, with a cap on the number of workers allowed to enter the UK.
The shortage of hauliers threatens more disruption to deliveries of petrol, food and other goods. It is estimated that the UK is short of about 100,000 HGV drivers - with existing shortages made worse by the pandemic and Brexit.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-58670792
Brilliant. Another discussion where brexit is CLEARLY part of the issue but not the whole issue. Yet again because there are other issues in play some come on here and say brexit is irrelevant. Goodness me. It is another perfect example of the drip drip drip negative impact of brexit. It might not be the only cause but to argue it is not a factor is completely and utterly nonsense. Therefore dismissing it as relevant in this discussion is also ridiculous.
As per other discussions this week. We are like an over handicapped racehorse where lots of factors are in play (the weight on the handicap) but the brexit handicap is definitely part of the issue. Arguing otherwise is simply brexit apologist syndrome.
As per other discussions this week. We are like an over handicapped racehorse where lots of factors are in play (the weight on the handicap) but the brexit handicap is definitely part of the issue. Arguing otherwise is simply brexit apologist syndrome.
Guy Fawkes
The voice of treason
- Sep 29, 2007
- 8,297
So wage inflation in the sector for an area that is traditionally undervalued by our society is a bad thing then??
One solution is for them to pay better wages to attract workers into the sector, (or other traditionally poorly paid and undervalued sectors, like the care homes, or hospitality, or fruit picking, etc) which will help those who are more likely to struggle to make ends meet and need to rely on food banks, statutory minimum wage / living wage legislation
DumLum
Well-known member
And why would an 18 year old consider a driving career when they can see themselves being replaced by self driving vehicles in the near future?
Neville's Breakfast
Well-known member
Nobody has said it is not a factor. Equally, many people don’t think it is the biggest factor. There are structural problems in the industry and who can say where we would be without Brexit. The important thing is that the answer to that problem is irrelevant apart from to people such as you who keep using issues to re-open the debate. We need the Government to address the underlying issues in road haulage but instead they are going for your sticking plaster of more visas. You should be pleased.
- Jul 10, 2003
- 27,767
I honestly think there is less denial in George Street Weatherspoons at this time on a Saturday morning
"Hello? Irony club? Is the post of "Lack of Self Awareness Officer" still open?"
But many - most? - lorry drivers voted for Brexit (as did most of the Sun-reading English working-class generally), and so rather than admit they were mistaken, or lied to by those shameless self-serving, publicity-addicted, charlatans Johnson and Farage, they are trying to blame our current problems on other factors, like Covid.
I kind of understand, because no-one likes to admit they were wrong, or allowed themselves to be manipulated, particularly when the disastrous consequences are becoming clearer with every passing day..