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Comments (3)
The state of the transprt industry is forever being critisised by people from the covernment to the employed staff, i have worked in this industy for over 40 years. Being a hgv driver, or a trucker, as the new breed of drivers like to be called, it will always be, at times, a difficult and rewardless occupation. The vehicles we drive have never been easier to operate, drivers dont have to load or unload often these days, in fact most drivers resent being asked to leave the warmth of their cabs at all. Drivers under 40 years of age have never experienced either fog or even snow, modern drivers cant read a map, not since the introduction of sat nav, I was talking to a driver, sorry trucker, recently who had no idea that the M1 was not there in the oldendays, he must have thought the romans built it, as for telling me where places were, he had difficulty using his toilet paper. The state the industry is in, must be due to many things, first truckers are over payed and under worked, their working conditions are such that any alteration to them causes worry amonst the work force, and fear that they may have to lift some thing, or, god forbid, help a work mate whose work load is too much. The training drivers get now is better than it has ever been, thank god for that. The safety is also better than its ever been, and so it should be. They deserve it. What upsets me is the constant moaning and compaining you hear, usualy from the lazy driver who the companies would not employ, if the driver shortage was not so severe. One great help for companies is the influx of Polish drivers into our country, their back ground is one where you work and get paid, or dont work, and you starve. If only some of the british drivers could take a long look at them selfs, sorry they are too bust looking at what everbody else is doing, i forgot. We used to work in a great industy, I only hope the driver comming from the European countries can help the industry to get through the driver shortage. If they maon at least we cant tell what they are moaning about, allowing these drivers to drive here without taking a theory test will also help the industy to survive the shortage. I remember years ago, we used to go to the docks, the dockers would sit and watch us loading and unloading trucks, the same with the car workers, where are they now, your right, there are none, if our drivers dont start to be more responsible they also will be come a part of history, thenty years from now you may be saying " I can remember when Bits drove trucks"
Posted by joe connolly | December 4, 2007 9:03 PM
Posted on December 4, 2007 21:03
how can we be paying these drivers so much £41k a year is this now the going rate for a driver?
Posted by jeff haines | June 18, 2008 7:08 PM
Posted on June 18, 2008 19:08
I wandered into this blog ,simply to check the drivers CPC requirement which will not in anyway sort out "white van man". neither is it fair to the UK industry as foreign plates and drivers will have a lower fine scale than the UK.
On the basis however of the appalling view from any motorway,with an overview of just hazardous plates and where seemingly required Placards for shipment) and the misuse of hazard labels when none are required, we appear to expect drivers to pass a CPC , which if policed by VOSA or the Police as is the above motorway detail on hazardous goods purely just on a general thought , there is no way this will have any great bearing on the subject especially of safety and security.
If the Police had(as they did) trained and I mean properly trained Traffic officers, we could rid our roads firstly of improperly marked, or placarded vehicles. This may include along the way , Council vehicles, NHS vehicles and others, as well as commercials but is a starting point.
We could then address what training ? My experience since 2000 of any ADR trained driver is that they appear to have some knowledge interspersed with hearsay or instruction from obviously untrained management.
Do we really think that the countries of the EU are generally going to adopt the standard we will ?
As one who has been over 46 years in the freight business in September, the answer is that goods and freight only flow where systems and facilities allow them to do.
UK Ltd may not even have enough time under a new government in 2 years time to decide its business priorities.
Roger Kagan Finst FF, FInst D , FICM, MIex,DGSA and holder of an EU Stevedoring and lairage operating certificate, CPC with grandfather rights dating from 1974.
Posted by Roger Kagan | August 4, 2008 12:06 PM
Posted on August 4, 2008 12:06