Lorry driver shortage

[Pennine Ploughing]

Agree that its needed but does need changing with some core elements like drivers hours as a must. Just look on any truck forum or social media and see how many are asking basic questions on drivers hours. I think the hours are easier to understand these days especially as no more compensating reduced daily rests, or using the split rest to do a 16 hour day One thing I do miss is the ability to split the break into 3x15 mins or a 20 and a 25 minute, especially as most of the places I load usually only take 20-25 mins and want me out of the way as soon as I'm loaded so struggle to get the 30 mins in.

Are you confused,
You said some dont know the basic drivers hours, then go on to say your struggling to get a 30 minute break in when loading,

 

[cheshire moleman]

The middle of the night, the A75, a fridge unit and a mag**t (Some will know, some won't) and the keyphrase coming down the CB "Go on ahead".. those where the glory days that all the money in the world can never replace.
I'm not condoning it but it happened and it was fun.

I feel sorry for so called drivers that are just in it for the money.

I was that soldier

 

[Dead Rabbits]

They`d ignore apprenticeships because the survey was to show how much more graduates can earn , tech degree`s such as BEng are degree`s so would be counted as such ,people who do a full time apprenticeship generally earn more than those who have no formal education beyond school, getting trained up in any subject will see you better through life than winging it .

Can’t speak to what exact metrics are used in that survey as the link wasn’t working. I’m sure it’s similar to here where anything less than a 4year bachelors degree is lumped in with every other job. it’s not an honest comparison.

I’m not against bachelor degrees or any education but I am against how hard it’s promoted and how the trades are seen as lesser.

 

[How much]

i was watching an american mechanic youtuber who repairs anything from lorries to farm tractors, he was ranting saying in the USA that paying anyone there 20-30 dollars an hour, unskilled he said was wrong? get a skill such as him? What we need here in the UK i think, is not more UNIS but more trade schools, colleges to help train, give skills to young people. And more contact with young people at secondary school level explaining the merits of skilled jobs such as the construction, engineering industry, far far to much is put into to get in a university, its almost looked at as a failure if you leave education early with no so called Qualifications? Many of the most successful people i know both young and old had no what you called proper education? but they have, had the drive and determination to get ON?

What you say here is 100% true , the only thing that i would add would be that same person with the drive and determination to make a great business but no formal qualification from either trade school or collage will unfortunately find financing his business via a bank pretty hard these days as they seem to be more happy to lend to an idiot with a qualification then a committed person without regardless, of the business case. That is great shame.

I have relation wanting to become a truck driver and he has been waiting over 8 weeks now for his provisional licence DVLA still not sent it out , then another wait for theory test of 8 to 10 weeks ? then diving lessons /test then 5 day CPC !!! he is not going to be driving before new year at least , then only if he can find an employer who will hire someone under 25 without experience .

 

[Lincoln75]

Can’t speak to what exact metrics are used in that survey as the link wasn’t working. I’m sure it’s similar to here where anything less than a 4year bachelors degree is lumped in with every other job. it’s not an honest comparison.

I’m not against bachelor degrees or any education but I am against how hard it’s promoted and how the trades are seen as lesser.

Trades are often seen as lesser in academic terms as they are , the ones with degree`s often teach the trades , you need a degree to be a teacher , getting a degree is no big deal if you put the effort in .

 

[JP1]

Must be bad then, before you just had to whistle and one would arrive within 30 mins.
Allegedly!

Wont help those arable folk with just a beet pad for grain storage....

3 Bartlow Estate wagons leading off 3 combines at Sawston tonight about an hour ago

 

[FonterraFarmer]

Trades are often seen as lesser in academic terms as they are , the ones with degree`s often teach the trades , you need a degree to be a teacher , getting a degree is no big deal if you put the effort in .

I'd rather see someone from a trade run a country than an academic, only a fool or an idiot would rank a trades person as "lower" than an academic.

 

[Harvey the rabbit]

The middle of the night, the A75, a fridge unit and a mag**t (Some will know, some won't) and the keyphrase coming down the CB "Go on ahead".. those where the glory days that all the money in the world can never replace.
I'm not condoning it but it happened and it was fun.

I feel sorry for so called drivers that are just in it for the money.

Or 4 abreast running down windy hill m62 all in silent 7th trying to be first to Cargill's at brocklebank to claim the pot you all chipped into.

 

[Lincoln75]

I'd rather see someone from a trade run a country than an academic, only a fool or an idiot would rank a trades person as "lower" than an academic.

So trades people without degree`s design aeroplanes, cars and tractors etc ? it`s one thing repairing or driving a machine , see how far you get designing them , drawing on the back of a fag packet never did cut it in any era, you need to study for a few years.

 

[Agrijas]

I can 100% confirm that decent truck firms are paying over a £1000 a week for 4 nights out in a brand new truck with every option ticked, I know this as I have got one such job today with a very good firm in the construction sector that a few guys I know work there and recommended to me. yes its away, but guaranteed home every Saturday and Sunday WHATEVER THE WEATHER! In all honesty what do we all do of an evening? Eat, watch telly and sleep.
As a combine,forager, pa1+2 operator with over 20yrs experience I’ve had enough. I know others in the same boat and can see there is a big problem for ag in the next 5-10 yrs
Farming is not a career I would recommend to anyone anymore and I honestly never thought I would think like that.
Agriculture needs to wake up and realise it’s 2021

 

[FonterraFarmer]

So trades people without degree`s design aeroplanes, cars and tractors etc ? it`s one thing repairing or driving a machine , see how far you get designing them , drawing on the back of a fag packet never did cut it in any era, you need to study for a few years.

You be amazed over the years what many people have designed and made without tertiary education , the fact that some people haven't got a degree shouldn't limit ones opportunities or chances.

 

[B'o'B]

So trades people without degree`s design aeroplanes, cars and tractors etc ? it`s one thing repairing or driving a machine , see how far you get designing them , drawing on the back of a fag packet never did cut it in any era, you need to study for a few years.

Did the Wright brothers have a degrees? Henry Ford? Harry Ferguson? James Dyson

 

[tepapa]

So trades people without degree`s design aeroplanes, cars and tractors etc ? it`s one thing repairing or driving a machine , see how far you get designing them , drawing on the back of a fag packet never did cut it in any era, you need to study for a few years.

You can flip that argument around and say the people with degree's designing cars and tractors have never changed a filter or a component, or they would do a better job at designing with maintenance and repairs in mind.

 

[Jackov Altraids]

You can flip that argument around and say the people with degree's designing cars and tractors have never changed a filter or a component, or they would do a better job at designing with maintenance and repairs in mind.

Especially when you consider they can only do their designing using software that is created by someone else, maybe someone without a degree.
And I'm sure designing has got worse. The best products are designed and improved by those that also use them.

 

[Dead Rabbits]

Trades are often seen as lesser in academic terms as they are , the ones with degree`s often teach the trades , you need a degree to be a teacher , getting a degree is no big deal if you put the effort in .

That’s not the argument I’m making. Earning a degree is sold as an investment in your future earnings, which it can be if chosen wisely. For many they are not choosing wisely and end up with a significant debt burden and not the pay out of the gate they expected. 22 years old and shackled with the equivalent of a mortgage payment with no work experience isn’t all that desirable in my opinion. The trades are seen as lesser because it involves or can involve actual physical effort. There is a bias in the education world against promoting the jobs that have good pay and don’t require 4 years of school. I’d rather live in a world based on merit any day over one based on promised competency.

Remember, those than can, do. Those that can’t, teach. That’s in jest but in real terms being a teacher is a poor return on money and time invested in a bachelors degree. Maybe different in the UK but certainly not here.

 

[Ivorbiggun]

I can 100% confirm that decent truck firms are paying over a £1000 a week for 4 nights out in a brand new truck with every option ticked, I know this as I have got one such job today with a very good firm in the construction sector that a few guys I know work there and recommended to me. yes its away, but guaranteed home every Saturday and Sunday WHATEVER THE WEATHER! In all honesty what do we all do of an evening? Eat, watch telly and sleep.
As a combine,forager, pa1+2 operator with over 20yrs experience I’ve had enough. I know others in the same boat and can see there is a big problem for ag in the next 5-10 yrs
Farming is not a career I would recommend to anyone anymore and I honestly never thought I would think like that.
Agriculture needs to wake up and realise it’s 2021

Spoke to our local haulier yesterday, he’s given his drivers a 10% pay rise as an incentive to stay in the job, putting his top earners on 50+ grand a year.

 

[Jackov Altraids]

That’s not the argument I’m making. Earning a degree is sold as an investment in your future earnings, which it can be if chosen wisely. For many they are not choosing wisely and end up with a significant debt burden and not the pay out of the gate they expected. 22 years old and shackled with the equivalent of a mortgage payment with no work experience isn’t all that desirable in my opinion. The trades are seen as lesser because it involves or can involve actual physical effort. There is a bias in the education world against promoting the jobs that have good pay and don’t require 4 years of school. I’d rather live in a world based on merit any day over one based on promised competency.

Remember, those than can, do. Those that can’t, teach. That’s in jest but in real terms being a teacher is a poor return on money and time invested in a bachelors degree. Maybe different in the UK but certainly not here.

Over here, the greedy universities have made tuition fees too high but at least when the fees were introduced, a lot of students actually started to consider the 'value' of the course they wanted to take. They certainly see greater value in apprenticeships these days. Even if you only start by earning a little, it takes some catching up having gone to uni and spent years borrowing.
And there are many ways of expanding your mind without going to universities that are actually becoming increasingly narrow minded. Education seems to be rather an incestuous industry that perpetuates a certain mindset.

 

[robs1]

Over here, the greedy universities have made tuition fees too high but at least when the fees were introduced, a lot of students actually started to consider the 'value' of the course they wanted to take. They certainly see greater value in apprenticeships these days. Even if you only start by earning a little, it takes some catching up having gone to uni and spent years borrowing.
And there are many ways of expanding your mind without going to universities that are actually becoming increasingly narrow minded. Education seems to be rather an incestuous industry that perpetuates a certain mindset.

Education, media and politics are all the same thesedays they have convinced themselves they are above the rest of the human race as you say it's very incestuous, should have added in environmentalism roo.

 

[d williams]

Nope.

HMRC tried to squeeze it out with IR35. But the shortage of drivers means many large blue chip firms are so desperate they're chancing it and employing ltd drivers again.

What’s a Ltd driver??

 

[ste]

Are you confused,
You said some dont know the basic drivers hours, then go on to say your struggling to get a 30 minute break in when loading,

Wondered when someone would pick up on that all legal and above board as a loading shovel loads my load (walking floor) so its the same as someone booking a break when on a bay at the RDC whilst they are being loaded/unloaded. Tacho on other work for the 1 min to open the sheet at the beginning and few minutes to tidy up the sides and sheet up after.

Oh and if you mean why a 30 minute and not 45, well it'll be a split break so had the 15 earlier in the day either loading somewhere else or waiting to load etc, also helps keep the working time directive breaks satisfied