chrisdalott:
perhaps someone can answer this question,why is it that Irish firms still do a lot of european work, but mainland british firms have mostly been forced out of it?
Partly 1. The extra sea crossing puts companies off and 2. The Irish have their market sewn up, a bit like the Greeks, most foregin trucks in Ireland have to ship back to UK empty to find a load, like we used to ship back to Italy from Greece to find any back loads.
Andrejs:
chrisdalott:
perhaps someone can answer this question,why is it that Irish firms still do a lot of european work, but mainland british firms have mostly been forced out of it?
Because most companies have to many job insideseekers Uk.They make profit.Local job more profitable,bevause truck can workbe more shift per week.
Nothing to do with the number of shifts, the price of European work has been driven down o a rate that is non viable to most uk hauliers. As Luke said the only ones left are doing niche jobs that the Ee’s haven’t got round to doing at their prices yet
switchlogic:
chrisdalott:
perhaps someone can answer this question,why is it that Irish firms still do a lot of european work, but mainland british firms have mostly been forced out of it?
Partly 1. The extra sea crossing puts companies off and 2. The Irish have their market sewn up, a bit like the Greeks, most foregin trucks in Ireland have to ship back to UK empty to find a load, like we used to ship back to Italy from Greece to find any back loads.
When I did a few trips to Greece the Shipping Agent we used said he could find us loads, but the rates were so low it wasn`t viable to do them. Greek hauliers would do them to get into Italy and beyond, and find some better paying work. The time wasted on doing a load from Greece to anywhere meant a day or two lost, for little cash.
The extra ferry crossing bit is probably a good point about work going into/out of Ireland itself. An Irish haulier putting dozens of trucks on the boat is going to get a better rate then a UK haulier only putting one or two trucks on.
Franglais:
switchlogic:
chrisdalott:
perhaps someone can answer this question,why is it that Irish firms still do a lot of european work, but mainland british firms have mostly been forced out of it?
Partly 1. The extra sea crossing puts companies off and 2. The Irish have their market sewn up, a bit like the Greeks, most foregin trucks in Ireland have to ship back to UK empty to find a load, like we used to ship back to Italy from Greece to find any back loads.
When I did a few trips to Greece the Shipping Agent we used said he could find us loads, but the rates were so low it wasn`t viable to do them. Greek hauliers would do them to get into Italy and beyond, and find some better paying work. The time wasted on doing a load from Greece to anywhere meant a day or two lost, for little cash.
The extra ferry crossing bit is probably a good point about work going into/out of Ireland itself. An Irish haulier putting dozens of trucks on the boat is going to get a better rate then a UK haulier only putting one or two trucks on.
That’s true too. During the busiest times unless you you’re one of the bigggest Irish companies or have a relationship with one it can be almost impossible to get a ferry when you need it. I’ve seen many a eastern European sat in Dublin a day or more waiting for a boat
KennyH:
All true I’m afraid mate.
OMG! You’re Lily Allen! 
muckles:
KennyH:
I find this amazing. The guy asked a question, and he’s being told to go back to Poland. Why do people keep blaming migrants for all the problems in the uk?
The problem of lack of money in the industry, is more to do with the fact that the unions were broken up in the early 80’s, therefore letting various agencies dictate pay scale, conditions. Etc.Lack of money in the UK domestic market might be due to lack of unions representation, but what destroyed the UK International haulage operations was the East European countries entering the EU, a decision that UK governments had great deal to do with, and I doubt it had very much to do with a philanthropic desire to improve the social conditions in those countries.
And Western European logistics companies weren’t slow to flag out their operations to take advantage of the massive difference in pay, which meant that it was no longer possible for Western European hauliers to operate for the rates being offered.
I asked on Polish forums why there are so many international operations in Poland and I’ve been told that it is because it is cheap for international companies to set their buisness in Poland because they have lower cost than doing it for example in UK.
And one thing: Do you know what? No body was crying about that to stop international companies from doing it. And nobody told me to go to Poland if I want to drive internationally.
So I invite you all to go to Poland, set your buisness there - have low costs of living and higher level of living. If you want of course - you’re welcome - FREE MARKET, and you can give as low pay rate as you want - somebody will be crying, then tell him to go away and find better job. That’s the word that people do not understand in Europe, this is possible only in the US. 
Filip22:
muckles:
KennyH:
I find this amazing. The guy asked a question, and he’s being told to go back to Poland. Why do people keep blaming migrants for all the problems in the uk?
The problem of lack of money in the industry, is more to do with the fact that the unions were broken up in the early 80’s, therefore letting various agencies dictate pay scale, conditions. Etc.Lack of money in the UK domestic market might be due to lack of unions representation, but what destroyed the UK International haulage operations was the East European countries entering the EU, a decision that UK governments had great deal to do with, and I doubt it had very much to do with a philanthropic desire to improve the social conditions in those countries.
And Western European logistics companies weren’t slow to flag out their operations to take advantage of the massive difference in pay, which meant that it was no longer possible for Western European hauliers to operate for the rates being offered.I asked on Polish forums why there are so many international operations in Poland and I’ve been told that it is because it is cheap for international companies to set their buisness in Poland because they have lower cost than doing it for example in UK.
And one thing: Do you know what? No body was crying about that to stop international companies from doing it. And nobody told me to go to Poland if I want to drive internationally.
So I invite you all to go to Poland, set your buisness there - have low costs of living and higher level of living. If you want of course - you’re welcome - FREE MARKET, and you can give as low pay rate as you want - somebody will be crying, then tell him to go away and find better job. That’s the word that people do not understand in Europe, this is possible only in the US.
You went on a UK job site and found there weren’t many European driving jobs, and state that differs from Poland where there are loads of European driving jobs.
You come on here and ask and we tell you if you want to do European haulage Poland is the place to be, its just where the jobs are, which you’ve already confirmed on your own research on the subject,
This isn’t a conspiracy by us to keep you in the dark about some UK based major European haulage company to protect our jobs, they just don’t exist. I’ve spent all today driving through Italy, I’ve only seen 1 UK registered truck.
muckles:
[…I’ve spent all today driving through Italy, I’ve only seen 1 UK registered truck…
And that was probably being driven by a Pole! 
bullitt:
muckles:
[…I’ve spent all today driving through Italy, I’ve only seen 1 UK registered truck…And that was probably being driven by a Pole!
Plenty English work at S@K,Mathews,Alkaline.
Andrejs:
bullitt:
muckles:
[…I’ve spent all today driving through Italy, I’ve only seen 1 UK registered truck…And that was probably being driven by a Pole!
Plenty English work at S@K,Mathews,Alkaline.
Alkaline 
90% of their drivers are Polish and the other 10% do UK work 
In fact 50% of the transport office are Polish
Sorry guys, but its no good blaming the drivers for the lack of rates, they dont set them. In the transport industry there has always been competition ( look at WBS, Hiltons, Hayes, Wincanton, Stobarts, all been around forn a long time, and because theyre the big boys, they dictate the rates…if you have 100 trucks, you only need to make for eg £100 profit per truck, if you have 5 trucks, you have to make 5 times the profit, so many jumped on the band wagon, and saw eastern bloc drivers as another way to cut costs, like servicing, pattern parts etc.
The other side of the coin are the drivers themselves, when things get tight, we look for other avenues to make money…so m,any went to holland, germany, scandinavia, where the overheads were higher, but wages weere higher too, and drivers lived in their trucks…the same way that EE drivers are doing today…the very ones that get blamed for the fall in rates. There are many businesses that take advantage of the lower wages, in the building trade we have heard of electricians, plumbers, carpenters, bricklayers, all being offered the work they used to do for £1000 a week, now for £350…of EE trades men looking for work and telling bosses, i will work for half the money you pay your workers, and i am just as skilled, can you blame the businesses for not taking advantage…the same in Transport ■■..Its all about profit, and they thought all their xmases had come at once once they arrived, they live cheaper than us, are prepared to live rough, 5/6 to a house, it also cuts costs, farmworkers too, living in cold damp caravans,m and being charged for the privelage, BUT, they are earning far more than they did at home, and are sending their money home, to buy homes they never owned but now do, businesses have also been bought…we never did that when we worked abroad, as our families lived here, just the same, and we sent money home, to pay our mortgages, look after our families, lived rough in the truck, can you see the similarities ■■..and that was way before the EE joined the EU.
I work for a Greek/Turk boss, we run on BG plates, he looks after the drivers better than any boss…he pays our BG drivers 1800 euros inn the bank every month, the same as the Romaniens. I am the only english, and i get £2000 in the bank every month…plus he buys the coffee and baguettes…but he looks after his drivers in other ways too. he gets them loads home, then gives them a week off…he allows me 1 month off, and no one uses my truck , all uk road taxes are paid in advance, we all run 100% legal…the bonus is i can knock the parking in the services with impunity, because they deserve it for their greed.
I hope i have managed to re-educate some of you as to why its not all down to Foreign drivers, they are only doing what many of us did years ago, to give US a better standard of living…IF drivers in the UK had a backbone, they would fight back the way we did…but theyre too far up theirmn own whotsits to even care, Im alright jack the ones who include their night out money in their wages, and say,I take home a good wage ■■?GGrrrrr
Form a union, join a union…and join the revolution, thats the only way to improve things, as a collective…you cant do it on your own…although for many years…i have tried…but at the end of the day, i dont take Jack sh** from no bosses or companies BUT i give a fair days work for a fair days pay.
chrisdalott:
perhaps someone can answer this question,why is it that Irish firms still do a lot of european work, but mainland british firms have mostly been forced out of it?
Theres certainly an increase in rhe level of ee firms coming over here, its only a matter of time, it certainly dosnt help when you have the likes of virginia and cafferys happy to give them work. Most of the irish lorries you see are driven by ee drivers even dixon is has went that way, imho i think if irish firms could get enough of them there wouldnt b an irish driver on the road.
On another note i will b finding out this week if i will b losing my job or not. A few months back the boss was looking a drive, there was countless good irish drives that phoned, but oooh no, greed meant he took on johnny forienger, well last week he made the holy grail of all balls ups, full load of fresh lambs frozen stiff!!! if we lose the contract then thats it all over. That old sayn ringing true, pay peanuts…
truckyboy:
.IF drivers in the UK had a backbone, they would fight back the way we did…but theyre too far up theirmn own whotsits to even care,Im alright jackthe ones who include their night out money in their wages, and say,I take home a good wage ■■?GGrrrrr
Form a union, join a union…and join the revolution, thats the only way to improve things, as a collective…you cant do it on your own…although for many years…i have tried…but at the end of the day, i dont take Jack sh** from no bosses or companies BUT i give a fair days work for a fair days pay.
I don’t disagree with a lot of your post, but I’m not sure asking Uk drivers to join a Union really solves the problem.
The Union will push to maintain wages and/or push for higher wages/better Ts& Cs, which is good in itself, but all that does is increase the margin between EE firms and UK firms. Increase costs to a haulier means that s/he puts a price in to a customer in competition with someone that is running EE drivers - the wider the gap, the more likely the customer will the Uk haulier, sorry, but we are giving the work to a Polish/Lithuanian/whatever company.
All my drivers are British and we run to Europe, but the only reason we can do that is because we are highly specialised. I gave up back loading some time ago, because it’s cheaper to bring the truck back empty.
truckyboy:
Sorry guys, but its no good blaming the drivers for the lack of rates, they dont set them. In the transport industry there has always been competition ( look at WBS, Hiltons, Hayes, Wincanton, Stobarts, all been around forn a long time, and because theyre the big boys, they dictate the rates…if you have 100 trucks, you only need to make for eg £100 profit per truck, if you have 5 trucks, you have to make 5 times the profit, so many jumped on the band wagon, and saw eastern bloc drivers as another way to cut costs, like servicing, pattern parts etc.
The other side of the coin are the drivers themselves, when things get tight, we look for other avenues to make money…so m,any went to holland, germany, scandinavia, where the overheads were higher, but wages weere higher too, and drivers lived in their trucks…the same way that EE drivers are doing today…the very ones that get blamed for the fall in rates. There are many businesses that take advantage of the lower wages, in the building trade we have heard of electricians, plumbers, carpenters, bricklayers, all being offered the work they used to do for £1000 a week, now for £350…of EE trades men looking for work and telling bosses, i will work for half the money you pay your workers, and i am just as skilled, can you blame the businesses for not taking advantage…the same in Transport ■■..Its all about profit, and they thought all their xmases had come at once once they arrived, they live cheaper than us, are prepared to live rough, 5/6 to a house, it also cuts costs, farmworkers too, living in cold damp caravans,m and being charged for the privelage, BUT, they are earning far more than they did at home, and are sending their money home, to buy homes they never owned but now do, businesses have also been bought…we never did that when we worked abroad, as our families lived here, just the same, and we sent money home, to pay our mortgages, look after our families, lived rough in the truck, can you see the similarities ■■..and that was way before the EE joined the EU.
I work for a Greek/Turk boss, we run on BG plates, he looks after the drivers better than any boss…he pays our BG drivers 1800 euros inn the bank every month, the same as the Romaniens. I am the only english, and i get £2000 in the bank every month…plus he buys the coffee and baguettes…but he looks after his drivers in other ways too. he gets them loads home, then gives them a week off…he allows me 1 month off, and no one uses my truck , all uk road taxes are paid in advance, we all run 100% legal…the bonus is i can knock the parking in the services with impunity, because they deserve it for their greed.
I hope i have managed to re-educate some of you as to why its not all down to Foreign drivers, they are only doing what many of us did years ago, to give US a better standard of living…IF drivers in the UK had a backbone, they would fight back the way we did…but theyre too far up theirmn own whotsits to even care,Im alright jackthe ones who include their night out money in their wages, and say,I take home a good wage ■■?GGrrrrr
Form a union, join a union…and join the revolution, thats the only way to improve things, as a collective…you cant do it on your own…although for many years…i have tried…but at the end of the day, i dont take Jack sh** from no bosses or companies BUT i give a fair days work for a fair days pay.
Fantastic post.
A more accurate observation and honest presentation I cannot recall seeing.
I assume you realised there was no point waiting for the purely gossiping classes (forum warriors) to wise up so you sorted yourself out.
This should also be copied to the UK forum and very best of luck to you Brother.
Hurryup&wait:
Fantastic post.A more accurate observation and honest presentation I cannot recall seeing. .
He has done a few miles here and there, been around a bit for few years!!
This has to be a troll ,user name flip…has mate flop will be sticking his oar in soon
No surprise that there are no big U.K. firms trucking in Europe when the Romanian guys that I’ve met are on €75 a day. A decent house in Romania goes for €50k as I understand it, so €75 doesn’t sound like peanuts to me. Let’s face it, if we could get £300 a day in Poland and Romania, then most of us would be over there filling our boots, so let’s not beat them up about it. Digressing a bit, I’m new to this game, and I’m lucky enough to be doing Euro work; the EE guys that I’ve met so far have been top blokes that will bend over backwards to help any “colleague” that needs it. I also know quite a few Romanian swear words now which they think is hilarious when they hear a Brit using them.
Autoporto:
No surprise that there are no big U.K. firms trucking in Europe when the Romanian guys that I’ve met are on €75 a day. A decent house in Romania goes for €50k as I understand it, so €75 doesn’t sound like peanuts to me. Let’s face it, if we could get £300 a day in Poland and Romania, then most of us would be over there filling our boots, so let’s not beat them up about it. Digressing a bit, I’m new to this game, and I’m lucky enough to be doing Euro work; the EE guys that I’ve met so far have been top blokes that will bend over backwards to help any “colleague” that needs it. I also know quite a few Romanian swear words now which they think is hilarious when they hear a Brit using them.
When you talk to foreigh drivers about wages that ask not just how many he get but as well it is before tax or after and for working day or calendar day.Most company in EE pay wages per calendar day.Now most company pay about 60-70 euro per day after all tax.Most drivers have about 1800-2000 euro per month .Some companies pay little bit more or less.Most Uk companies who still do EU job pay same or less money.Example one from bigest Uk companies who do a lot EU job -S@k haulge.Bigest if driver earn up to500- 600 per week.And all truckv in much worse condition that any Romanian truck.
The European union/ fall of the Berlin wall, is to blame for the crash in haulage across Europe, when the state run companies started to price work lower than established companies, then you also had the influx of cheaper labour when Germany reunifcated, then the former do it countries joining the EU.
Autoporto:
No surprise that there are no big U.K. firms trucking in Europe when the Romanian guys that I’ve met are on €75 a day. A decent house in Romania goes for €50k as I understand it, so €75 doesn’t sound like peanuts to me. Let’s face it, if we could get £300 a day in Poland and Romania, then most of us would be over there filling our boots, so let’s not beat them up about it. Digressing a bit, I’m new to this game, and I’m lucky enough to be doing Euro work; the EE guys that I’ve met so far have been top blokes that will bend over backwards to help any “colleague” that needs it. I also know quite a few Romanian swear words now which they think is hilarious when they hear a Brit using them.
+1
most accurate post sofar.
the flipflops are no better or worse than anyone else driving.(obviously there are exceptions).in the 50s and 60s all the paddys were in london building the M1…late 70s i was trying to do internal work in saudi as it was 3 or 4 times the wage here as well as running there chasing the dosh.in the 80s,all the brits were doing their auf weiderschen pet in germany chasing the money.now some cretin knocked down the berlin wall with the sea of flotsam that flooded in,then its the goverments fault for the state its in today.
if your a flipflop and every other country has better wages…why work in holland for 100 euro a day when you can work in uk for 100 quid?.all their doing is chasing the bucks the same as we did.
im quite happily and content in my non politically correct world of unashamed racism,but i dont really mind the flipflops over here working,at least there pink,and didnt fall off a trailer axle to go straight onto benefits or the back economy.