Lorry drivers to get up to 25% pay rise

[Silver]

Britain is short of around 60,000 lorry drivers, according to The Road Haulage Association. The Freight Transport Association said there were 320,000 drivers in total in the UK in 2020.

'A lot of money'

The laws of supply and demand are in full swing, pushing up wages.

Big supermarket chains, desperate to ensure their food gets to their stores, are offering drivers nearly double the going rate.

Small firms have had to compete to stay on the road.

Mr Cook told me they have just given their drivers a 25% pay rise.

He said: "That's a lot of money, and we are retaining our drivers and bringing new employees into the company. But we have had to pass that cost onto our customers."

Brexit and Covid cause big jump in pay for lorry drivers - BBC News

Edited July 3, 2021 by ted hughes

[diddyman68]

This 11 minute clip pretty much sums up why there is a shortage and how to fix it.

 

[Silver]

A great video, and a very articulate driver!

I've been banging on about this for years. I listen to R4 in my car, and they have had a lot lately about how badly delivery drivers like Yodel and Hermes are treated as well- gig work so no benefits like sick pay, sometimes they have to pay for their own van livery, and some are goaded on by PDAs.

I'm glad the lockdowns at least had the benefit of teaching us that drivers are essential workers.  

And it really annoys me reading about people being 'disgusted' because they see a driver peeing somewhere, or dropping off bottles of urine, yet if they were asked by one of them if they could use their toilet they would complain to the company! Drivers are only human. Or they complain if the driver knocks too loudly, or because they don't knock and leave their parcel on the doorstep.

The driver shortage will hopefully ramp up their wages to reflect the responsibility they have too, especially HGV drivers! 

Rant over.

[diddyman68]

My thoughts exactly.the fact there are 70,000 cirtified hgv drivers just needing an incentive speaks volumes.also the issue of the driver and not the company gets fined for overweight trucks needs looking at.oh and the agencies creaming off the cash.

[ethereal_scout]

Like to see the laws of supply and demand working. Downside is food will cost more but thats economics.

[diddyman68]

Shops wouldn't have to pass the cost to the consumer if the agencies were not so greedy.

[odas]

On 7/3/2021 at 4:32 AM, ted hughes said:

A great video, and a very articulate driver!

I've been banging on about this for years. I listen to R4 in my car, and they have had a lot lately about how badly delivery drivers like Yodel and Hermes are treated as well- gig work so no benefits like sick pay, sometimes they have to pay for their own van livery, and some are goaded on by PDAs.

I'm glad the lockdowns at least had the benefit of teaching us that drivers are essential workers.  

And it really annoys me reading about people being 'disgusted' because they see a driver peeing somewhere, or dropping off bottles of urine, yet if they were asked by one of them if they could use their toilet they would complain to the company! Drivers are only human. Or they complain if the driver knocks too loudly, or because they don't knock and leave their parcel on the doorstep.

The driver shortage will hopefully ramp up their wages to reflect the responsibility they have too, especially HGV drivers! 

Rant over.

"Truck Driver shortage" is a "problem" here in Canada too, please note the " ".

There is no Truck/Lorry Driver shortage. But there is a shortage of Truck Drivers who are willing to take on all the s#%t that is thrown on them, by the companies, car drivers, police... being out for days on the road and still making no money ( yes, there is money but if you practicly work 24/7 but officialy only 10 to 16 hours a day and make only as you would work 10 hours...you get the point). 

As a Truck Driver myself I can assure you that wage is an issue-like for any other job- but the biggest issue is the disrespect of your own company and shippers and receivers at the customer. Even a perfect day on the road, perfect timing...they manage to destroy with their "me boss, you stupid driver" attitude.

[Silver]

The view from NewsThump:

HGV drivers must work longer hours to fix the Brexit problems we created, insists government

The post-Brexit shortage of HGV drivers can be solved by putting over-worked and tired drivers behind the wheel of a 40-tonne vehicle for longer than was previously claimed as safe, according to the government today.

As hauliers insist that there is a shortage of drivers caused in part by European drivers ‘going back home’ after Brexit, pro-Brexit ministers such as Grant Shapps have insisted the issue can easily be fixed by making the existing HGV drivers work just a little bit harder.

Transport secretary Grant Shapps told reporters, “We’re all in this together, and if there is one thing we’ve learned since Brexit, it’s that this country is full of people willing to work even harder to make up for the problems we have caused.  No, not us, obviously. You. I mean you.

“And yes, technically, for safety reasons we did previously limit the number of hours an HGV driver can spend behind the wheel of a vehicle that could crush you in the blink of an eye, but now we have to weigh the safety of all road users up against businesses not being able to function properly.

“And I think our approach to ending lockdown will tell you which of those is more important to this government.

“So yes, the nation’s roads will have some drivers in massive trucks who have been driving for longer than we previously said was safe; but on the plus side, this is another Brexit problem we can claim to have completely solved and can therefore dismiss it as Project Fear.

“It’s win-win.”

HGV drivers must work longer hours to fix the Brexit problems we created, insists government (newsthump.com)

Edited July 8, 2021 by ted hughes

[odas]

11 hours ago, ted hughes said:

The view from NewsThump:

HGV drivers must work longer hours to fix the Brexit problems we created, insists government

The post-Brexit shortage of HGV drivers can be solved by putting over-worked and tired drivers behind the wheel of a 40-tonne vehicle for longer than was previously claimed as safe, according to the government today.

As hauliers insist that there is a shortage of drivers caused in part by European drivers ‘going back home’ after Brexit, pro-Brexit ministers such as Grant Shapps have insisted the issue can easily be fixed by making the existing HGV drivers work just a little bit harder.

Transport secretary Grant Shapps told reporters, “We’re all in this together, and if there is one thing we’ve learned since Brexit, it’s that this country is full of people willing to work even harder to make up for the problems we have caused.  No, not us, obviously. You. I mean you.

“And yes, technically, for safety reasons we did previously limit the number of hours an HGV driver can spend behind the wheel of a vehicle that could crush you in the blink of an eye, but now we have to weigh the safety of all road users up against businesses not being able to function properly.

“And I think our approach to ending lockdown will tell you which of those is more important to this government.

“So yes, the nation’s roads will have some drivers in massive trucks who have been driving for longer than we previously said was safe; but on the plus side, this is another Brexit problem we can claim to have completely solved and can therefore dismiss it as Project Fear.

“It’s win-win.”

HGV drivers must work longer hours to fix the Brexit problems we created, insists government (newsthump.com)

So Truck Drivers and their families have to pay the price for political games they have nothing to do with?

Well, there should be a counter offer - nation wide or even better yet, a world wide solidarity strike. One day. It needs just one day in the middle of the week to stop driving to teach them a lesson. This is not socialism talking but asking for fair wages, family time and safety on the road.

I understand that will not happen yet, but there is a new truck driver breed coming whos does not think of Truck Driving as a way of life but as a regular job, profession. The governments better take note.

One day. Just one single day.

[Silver]

On 7/8/2021 at 4:50 PM, odas said:

So Truck Drivers and their families have to pay the price for political games they have nothing to do with?

Well, there should be a counter offer - nation wide or even better yet, a world wide solidarity strike. One day. It needs just one day in the middle of the week to stop driving to teach them a lesson. This is not socialism talking but asking for fair wages, family time and safety on the road.

I understand that will not happen yet, but there is a new truck driver breed coming whos does not think of Truck Driving as a way of life but as a regular job, profession. The governments better take note.

One day. Just one single day.

I wonder what those involved with  truck driving think of this: 20 reasons why there is shortage of drivers in the UK – orynski.eu

It is an interesting read in itself.

[godnodog]

On 7/3/2021 at 6:20 AM, ted hughes said:

 

He said: "That's a lot of money, and we are retaining our drivers and bringing new employees into the company. But we have had to pass that cost onto our customers."

Brexit and Covid cause big jump in pay for lorry drivers - BBC News

Clearly no one told that man that even if then driver had his pay tripled the price is diluted by the all productswich always end up being a small fraction of the cost. The main cost in transportation is not wages its fuel. And lets not forget the absurd margins many products have after transportation, but that is a no go subject because we have to defend the stonckholders interests above all and against all.

[Autochthon1990]

Well you screwed over the bottom part of your economy upon which all the rest of it stands on, but you sure showed those EU regulations on gluten and that 5% Muslim population that FREE ENGLISH do not tolerate oppression, in fact has soon as they manage to find some, they'll let you know! 

[odas]

18 hours ago, ted hughes said:

I wonder what those involved with  truck driving think of this: 20 reasons why there is shortage of drivers in the UK – orynski.eu

It is an interesting read in itself.

Thanks. From a driverd perspective ( currently not driving, working as a purchaser ) all 20 points are spot on. I do however blame it less on Covid, a big deal on Brexit when it comes to UK, but the work conditions and pay, safety and inboard survaillance are the main reasons. That is why people like me quit although loving the job, and that is why I discurage young people to get into trucking.

If you work the same hours aprox 12 hours a day at McDonalds, you will make almost the same amount of money with less expenses, less stress, more brakes and a much safer working environment. Not to mention the use of a clean restroom whenever the butt gives a call.

[Silver]

 

The Transport Industry has called for EU drivers to be allowed back in the UK:

Government plans to tackle the UK’s chronic lorry driver shortage will take at least five months to take effect and will not address the threat of food shortages this summer, industry leaders have warned.

Transport secretary Grant Shapps’ offer to fast-track licensing processes to get an army of new drivers on the road is not enough to fix the problem affecting summer, autumn and Christmas supplies, they said.

They say the shortage of drivers can only be fixed if EU drivers are allowed back in the country.

“While they have laid out some things they would like to do, the way things stand we cannot see a solution this side of Christmas,” said James Firth, head of road freight regulatory policy at Logistics UK, which represents freight owners including supermarkets.

HGV licence fast-track won’t stop UK food shortages, industry warns | Transport policy | The Guardian

Edited July 20, 2021 by ted hughes

[ThereWeAreThen]

On 7/3/2021 at 6:20 AM, ted hughes said:

Britain is short of around 60,000 lorry drivers, according to The Road Haulage Association. The Freight Transport Association said there were 320,000 drivers in total in the UK in 2020.

'A lot of money'

The laws of supply and demand are in full swing, pushing up wages.

Big supermarket chains, desperate to ensure their food gets to their stores, are offering drivers nearly double the going rate.

Small firms have had to compete to stay on the road.

Mr Cook told me they have just given their drivers a 25% pay rise.

He said: "That's a lot of money, and we are retaining our drivers and bringing new employees into the company. But we have had to pass that cost onto our customers."

Brexit and Covid cause big jump in pay for lorry drivers - BBC News

But but but I thought prices weren't going to go up after Brexit?

[odas]

15 hours ago, ThereWeAreThen said:

But but but I thought prices weren't going to go up after Brexit?

I do not think Brexit is the reason rather the excuse. No matter what, high demand or low demand, prices are giong up at a fast rate everywhere. The only reason is the competition by billionairs who will make it on the Forbes list. Just Greed.

[Silver]

Tests to be made easier to get more drivers on the roads:

Safety fears as tests for lorry and van drivers on UK roads are relaxed to tackle shortage after Brexit

Campaigners condemn ‘watering down’ of the rules – also hailed as benefit from ‘increased sovereignty’ after Brexit

Tests for lorry and van drivers on UK roads are being relaxed to help tackle a huge shortage, triggering protests that safety will be put at risk.

Road safety campaigners and Labour have both raised the alarm over the move, sparked by fears of gaps on supermarket shelves because deliveries cannot be made on time.

It follows the sudden decision to allow longer journeys before lorry drivers must take a rest – and is also being hailed as benefit from “increased sovereignty” after Brexit.

The controversy has blown up after Grant Shapps, the transport secretary, issued an action plan to boost the number of drivers passing tests above the current level of 1,500 a week.

It will strip the examination of “off-road manoeuvres” out of the official test to “increase overall testing capacity”.

Safety fears as lorry driver tests are relaxed to tackle shortage after Brexit | The Independent

Edited July 22, 2021 by Ted E Hughes

[L.A.T.1961]

3 hours ago, Ted E Hughes said:

Tests to be made easier to get more drivers on the roads:

Safety fears as tests for lorry and van drivers on UK roads are relaxed to tackle shortage after Brexit

Campaigners condemn ‘watering down’ of the rules – also hailed as benefit from ‘increased sovereignty’ after Brexit

Tests for lorry and van drivers on UK roads are being relaxed to help tackle a huge shortage, triggering protests that safety will be put at risk.

Road safety campaigners and Labour have both raised the alarm over the move, sparked by fears of gaps on supermarket shelves because deliveries cannot be made on time.

It follows the sudden decision to allow longer journeys before lorry drivers must take a rest – and is also being hailed as benefit from “increased sovereignty” after Brexit.

The controversy has blown up after Grant Shapps, the transport secretary, issued an action plan to boost the number of drivers passing tests above the current level of 1,500 a week.

It will strip the examination of “off-road manoeuvres” out of the official test to “increase overall testing capacity”.

Safety fears as lorry driver tests are relaxed to tackle shortage after Brexit | The Independent

It looks like a good idea, expect these type of rule changes to be adopted by EU nations with similar staffing problems. 

 

France struggles with worker shortages, supply chains as economy rebounds.

A shortage of qualified workers and supply-chain havoc are proving problematic for some companies as they try to ride France’s recovery from the pandemic but struggle to fill vacancies, business leaders said.

The CEO of one major French manufacturer said that his company had 150 vacancies advertised at two French factories, and no resumes were coming in.

Nearly half construction companies, 41 per cent of service companies and a quarter of industrial companies are struggling to recruit workers, according to the Bank of France’s latest business climate survey.

https://cyprus-mail.com/2021/07/05/france-struggles-worker-shortages/

[Silver]

4 minutes ago, L.A.T.1961 said:

It looks like a good idea, expect these type of rule changes to be adopted by EU nations with similar staffing problems. 

 

France struggles with worker shortages, supply chains as economy rebounds.

A shortage of qualified workers and supply-chain havoc are proving problematic for some companies as they try to ride France’s recovery from the pandemic but struggle to fill vacancies, business leaders said.

The CEO of one major French manufacturer said that his company had 150 vacancies advertised at two French factories, and no resumes were coming in.

Nearly half construction companies, 41 per cent of service companies and a quarter of industrial companies are struggling to recruit workers, according to the Bank of France’s latest business climate survey.

https://cyprus-mail.com/2021/07/05/france-struggles-worker-shortages/

Well, now is the time for drivers to push for better wages and conditions.

[L.A.T.1961]

German staffing shortages. -

Germany ‘desperately searching’ for skilled workers to plug shortage.

The German Integration Commissioner, Annette Widmann-Mauz, has warned that the German economy is facing a “desperate” search for skilled labour.

In an interview with the German Editorial Network, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) politicians revealed that German companies were already missing around 270,000 qualified men and women.

“The number of additional skilled workers and workers from the EU in Germany fell by around 25 percent last year,” she said.

https://www.thelocal.de/20210623/germany-desperately-searching-for-skilled-workers-to-plug-shortage/

Makes you wonder how Germany lost 25% of its EU work force while not leaving the EU. 

[Silver]

4 minutes ago, L.A.T.1961 said:

German staffing shortages. -

Germany ‘desperately searching’ for skilled workers to plug shortage.

The German Integration Commissioner, Annette Widmann-Mauz, has warned that the German economy is facing a “desperate” search for skilled labour.

In an interview with the German Editorial Network, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) politicians revealed that German companies were already missing around 270,000 qualified men and women.

“The number of additional skilled workers and workers from the EU in Germany fell by around 25 percent last year,” she said.

https://www.thelocal.de/20210623/germany-desperately-searching-for-skilled-workers-to-plug-shortage/

Makes you wonder how Germany lost 25% of its EU work force while not leaving the EU. 

Makes you wonder if there had been some sort of global health problem, something about a pan...something...no, I thought I had it. No, can't remember.

[L.A.T.1961]

Looks like Italy's EU workers have run off as well, maybe its Alien abductions.  

Labour shortage a major concern for Italy.

Valtiero Mazzotti, Director General for Agriculture and Fishery in Italy's largest fruit-producing region, Emilia-Romagna, said the longer-term impact of coronavirus on the country's fresh produce industry was going to be felt most in the production phase, where the need for immigrant workers remains absolutely critical.

"We need the government to support us," he told Fruitnet, echoing calls from other officials in the region who have requested a raft of official measures to support producers, including tax breaks, suspension of loan payments and other financial support.

http://www.fruitnet.com/eurofruit/article/181149/labour-shortage-a-major-concern-for-italy

[Silver]

15 hours ago, L.A.T.1961 said:

Looks like Italy's EU workers have run off as well, maybe its Alien abductions.  

Labour shortage a major concern for Italy.

Valtiero Mazzotti, Director General for Agriculture and Fishery in Italy's largest fruit-producing region, Emilia-Romagna, said the longer-term impact of coronavirus on the country's fresh produce industry was going to be felt most in the production phase, where the need for immigrant workers remains absolutely critical.

"We need the government to support us," he told Fruitnet, echoing calls from other officials in the region who have requested a raft of official measures to support producers, including tax breaks, suspension of loan payments and other financial support.

http://www.fruitnet.com/eurofruit/article/181149/labour-shortage-a-major-concern-for-italy

I'm not in the industry myself, but those in the industry put the blame for labour shortages in the UK firmly on Brexit.  Of course there are shortages everywhere in Europe, but only Britain has taken steps to expel the EU workforce. Perhaps this issue should continue in the Brexit thread though, as this is about UK drivers conditions: 

"Brexit has meant a lot of European HGV drivers can earn more money elsewhere and we have had a lot contact us to say they are leaving and not returning. It's meant we have had to look at promoting within; driver apprenticeships, and promoting warehouse workers and van drivers to HGV.

"We're trying everything in our power to get more people in the industry and it's not enough" added the 45-year old.

'We're on fire' says Welsh haulier facing worst driver shortage in 50 years due to Brexit - Wales Online

Edited July 23, 2021 by Ted E Hughes

[Silver]

 

Good.

UK lorry drivers plan to strike over low pay and poor working conditions

Nearly 3,000 hauliers are proposing a ‘stay at home’ day, prompting fears over already creaking food supply chains

As shelves empty, drivers say ‘our time has come’. 

Lorry drivers are planning a nationwide strike over their working conditions, prompting warnings that this would magnify food shortages and cripple the country’s already creaking supply chains.

Hauliers are proposing a “stay at home” day next month in response to low pay and working terms, an event designed to compound the effect of the UK’s lorry-driver shortage , which last week led to widespread stock shortages. However the Road Haulage Association, which represents commercial road haulage companies and has more than 7,000 members, warned drivers against taking action saying it would make a “bad situation worse” and severely disrupt automated chains.

So far the “stay at home” action on 23 August has attracted nearly 3,000 HGV drivers with another 340 joining last week. Lorry driver Mark Schubert said: “For far too many years we have been ignored, exploited and taken for granted. Now our time has come, now we have a window of opportunity to be listened to.”

UK lorry drivers plan to strike over low pay and poor working conditions | Transport | The Guardian

Edited July 24, 2021 by Ted E Hughes

[ThereWeAreThen]

On 7/21/2021 at 3:32 PM, odas said:

I do not think Brexit is the reason rather the excuse. No matter what, high demand or low demand, prices are giong up at a fast rate everywhere. The only reason is the competition by billionairs who will make it on the Forbes list. Just Greed.

Brexit is one of the reasons actually, more migrants leaving, more jobs come available, lazy british people dont want the jobs so the companies are gonna put wages up which will mean more prices increases. Not all brexit's fault but its a big part, specially as theres shortages of stock atm.