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There are many trade unions which represent truck drivers and freight carriers, both nationally and internationally, and many reasons for joining a union. Trade unions are agencies which represent the professional interests of their members, negotiating on issues such as pay, working conditions and health and safety, as well as lobbying and acting as industry advocate  on political and legislative issues which affect their members. Membership of trade unions in the UK is entirely voluntary for the individual worker. However workers have the right to union representation if the majority of the workforce wants it.

Contact the appropriate union for you – such as the Transport and General Section of Unite – and it will guide you through the process in which at least 40% of the staff must vote on the issue and most of those must want representation. Following a successful ballot many employers recognise the union voluntarily – if not, unions can pursue recognition through legal process. Membership of a trade union usually costs a monthly fee based on a percentage of earnings. The unions claim however that  members receive benefits many times greater than their contribution.

The Transport and General section of Unite

The Transport and General Workers' Union merged with Amicus last year to form a much larger union with over two million members. Unite has an annual income of £150m and represents workers across transport, aviation, print, manufacturing, farming, food and public services. Truck and vans drivers join 200,000 transport workers, including passenger transport and airline staff, but the road transport (commercial) sector is by far the largest. The T&G section of Unite campaigns for truck and van drivers, has a Commercial Vehicle Drivers' Charter and focuses on the 4Ps – pay, professionalism, pensions and productivity.

The International Road Transport Union (IRU)

The International Road Transport Union or IRU represents freight carriers and workers worldwide. Its remit is to facilitate the movement of people and goods and as an international body is influential in shaping cross-border regulations. As such it is the guarantor of the TIR Carnet system which allows loads to be sealed by customs and then proceed across borders without further interference until they reach their destinations. The IRU speaks for the operators of road transport across all sectors and of all sizes from large logistics outfits to owner-drivers.

The United Road Transport Union (URTU)

The United Road Transport Union (URTU) is one of the smallest trade unions in the UK, having shunned the merger path chosen by so many. It now claims to be unique in that it only represents those workers within the road transport industry. It does however have links within the international community, being particularly involved with labour movement organisations within the European Union. URTU campaigns on many of the same issues as the other road transport unions – namely pay and working conditions - and it tries to raise the skill level within the road transport sector with the promotion of learning reps. It offers advice on such issues as driver fatigue and the Driver CPC. Individual truck drivers can join URTU by ringing 0800 52 66 39.

Prospect

Prospect does not represent truck drivers but deserves a mention here because it represents professional engineers including mechanics and vehicle inspectors and therefore does have a presence within the road transport community. In particular many vehicle-oriented jobs within VOSA are represented by Prospect.