Steph & Lorry Drivers

[TWR]

I have just been watching Steph's report on Breakfast, "Why is there a shortage of lorry drivers" would you work 15hr days, abusive customers, Police, Ministry of transport, starting work at 2 am & finishing 6pm daily ( Legal) Traffic, Diversions only for HGVs, getting your HGV Broken into while you sleep, money that is rubbish no matter what you have heard, the rules and regulations you would not believe it, on a break of 45 mins, if you set off a min before your 45 could end up costing you Hundreds of pounds, I came out of this rat race a few years ago because of company's pushing you, phone call, where are you, how long will it take you to get there, are you there yet, what time will you get tipped, how many in front of you, re you off loaded yet, what time will you get to the next customer, that is only a part of it, Violin, not really, trying to do your job to pay your bills more like, all for a pittance, the person getting interviewed stated £20 an hour, in some cases that was a lie, more like £8 per hour in your lucky, would you put up with this crp?

[murraymints]

no

[douglas9401]

Could be worse.

[waterboatman]

Been there, done that and I agree.

[-Talbot-]

succinctly Put, Minty and seconded.

[EDDIE51]

No. And the shortage of drivers is a reality that can only get worse.

[albaqwerty]

are they legally allowed to work 15 hr days?

I also saw on that report the interview with the lady from Manpower (whatever that is) that some companies are 'stockpiling' drivers.

And No, I wouldn't put up with it.

[TWR]

Alba, just seen your post, yes 15 hrs days can be done 3 times a week, a normal day for some drives is 15, depending on their fortnightly hours determins the time off & when you can start, that woman from Manpower, Manpower is an agency that exploit drivers, they find you the work, they charge the company a fee then they pay you, regards her comment of £20 an hour, she is talking through her rs, the only Drivers that CAN EARN this sort of money are Petrol Tanker or Chemical Drivers, those drivers have to pass a HAZCHEM Cert to be allowed to driver these Chemical Tankers, what I have stated in my previous post is true and correct, when I was driving the hours were 12hrs per day that give you a good rest period, Night out Drivers get approx. £20>>>£30 Night out but not every comp pays this amount, what I stated regards getting harassed by phone calls is correct ( Been There), the Truck is Monitored by Sat Nav, Phones, Trackers, phone calls to the customers asking where is the driver, the lorry, has he arrived / left, phoning the next delivery customer with has he / she arrived, what time did the driver get there, harassment you would not know the half, get fined for been one min over your driving time, your break time, if you are asked to move & on a break, you can get done, the taco is checked by the DVLA & any infringments on the card even from the week previous you can get done, whoever asks my what do I think about the job, I give an honest answer, get your head examined.

[Hymie]

Why would anyone spend money to train as an HGV driver when in 10 or so years time you will have no job because vehicles will be autonomous (driving themselves)?

In the meantime for those in the industry, the shortage of suitable driving candidates could result in better pay & conditions.

Autonomous HGVs will revolutionise the logistics industry, with no need for drivers and robotic systems loading and un-loading the cargo – shipping costs in the industry will fall dramatically, resulting in a price reduction for most goods.

[TWR]

Hymie, dream on it will never happen, no matter what you see regards the HGVs in a 3 convoy that's been shown on TV.

[jno]

well, I wouldn't, and to prove it, I haven't. Maybe the answer is to improve the railways.

[ToraToraTora]

well according to our resident genii trucks will all be 200mph autonomous vehicles soon anyway TWR!

[ToraToraTora]

sounds like trucking is not the job for you TWR! Hymie, still dreaming of autonomous vehicles! PMSL!

[bhg481]

for TTT
Amazon.co.uk User Recommendation

[douglas9401]

Oh Hymie, we were getting a pill once a day so we didn't have to eat and automation was going to set us all free to cycle in the sunshine and generally cavort about the place.
If all these people are out of work where do they get the cash to buy stuff to be delivered by these marvels?
I have a unicorn for sale if you're interested. :-)

[New Judge]

“…are they legally allowed to work 15 hr days?”

No.

I don’t know where TWR gets his info from. Maybe the rules have changed since he left the business (but they’ve been as they are now for at least fifteen years as far as I know). Most HGV drivers are subject to the EU rules on driving hours. Basically the rules are these:

• In any working day the maximum amount of driving permitted is 9 hours but this may be extended to 10 hours twice in any one week.

• No more than 56 hours driving in a week.

• No more than 90 hours driving in two weeks.

In addition the driver must have:

• at least 11 hours rest every day - this may be reduced to 9 hours rest 3 times between any 2 weekly rest periods

• an unbroken rest period of 45 hours every week - this can be reduced to 24 hours every other week

• a break or breaks totalling at least 45 minutes after no more than 4 hours 30 minutes driving

UK rules (to which some drivers are subject) allow slightly more driving, but nothing like fifteen hours in a day.

[albaqwerty]

I have a sneaky feeling that some companies and/or agencies try to flout the rules.
Have no proof, just a feeling.

Thank you TWR and NJ.

Hymie, how on earth can what you propose result in a reduction in cost of goods when the technology will need to be not only financed but serviced?

[Bazile]

NO - but of course i appreciate that someone does and puts up with the 'crp' ; in this consumer driven society of ours

[New Judge]

"I have a sneaky feeling that some companies and/or agencies try to flout the rules."

HGV driving is robustly regulated and the penalties for breaking the rules are quite severe.

[albaqwerty]

I would certainly hope so NJ, not only for the safety of the drivers but other road users too.

[douglas9401]

I've had notification from our transport manager for setting off too quickly after a statutory break, less than one minute but the rule is there and there's no grey area.
Although the readout says 45 minutes I now wait at least one more full minute just to be sure.
It's not impossible to get away with stuff for a while but they'll get them in the end, sadly often as a result of an accident.