UKtramp:
I am not sure if this is a new trend or there really is a driver shortage. I was in the Ports today and had to go and get my paperwork for the load that I had just picked up. Well you all know the score here, lots of trucks parked up and drivers all doing the same. As I was stood in the que for the window to the office, I was amazed at the state of most of them and the gormless looks most had. It honestly resembled a scene from “one flew over the cuckoo nest”. I actually felt quite embarrassed stood among them. I got to thinking who the hell would employ some of these people. Are we really in a driver shortage as these people looked completely insane.
At present truck and do container job can any formless people.No need to many IQ.
Not containers, they empty containers too you know Andrejs.
Anyway for all this trunking job,rec,car,no need big common senses or IQNear any harmless people can keep steering wheels and foĺlow Sat nav…Much more clever drivers with IQ needed for do class 2 job,multi drop,delivering to farm,construction sites.
Before one can discuss the existence of a ‘driver shortage’, one must determine the parameters of the discussion. Who is considering the perceived shortage?
Employers? From an employer’s view point, any number of available drivers less than those required to drive his or her trucks, is a shortage. This view point will not take into account wether other employers are in a similar position, or not.
Drivers? From a driver’s point of view, a shortage will manifest itself in improving pay offers, improving conditions, or direct attempts by employers to offer jobs which they have been unable to get drivers for.
The government? Statistics can give a clear answer, by simply deviding the total number of available job by the total number of available licence holders. If there are more available licence holders than jobs, there is no driver shortage. If the are less available licence holders than jobs, then there is a driver shortage.
UKtramp:
I am not sure if this is a new trend or there really is a driver shortage. I was in the Ports today and had to go and get my paperwork for the load that I had just picked up. Well you all know the score here, lots of trucks parked up and drivers all doing the same. As I was stood in the que for the window to the office, I was amazed at the state of most of them and the gormless looks most had. It honestly resembled a scene from “one flew over the cuckoo nest”. I actually felt quite embarrassed stood among them. I got to thinking who the hell would employ some of these people. Are we really in a driver shortage as these people looked completely insane.
We’ll see if it’s the same in January.
When there’s a queue of drivers at a window doing nothing, rather than having shunters performing valet service, and clerical porters putting paperwork in the driver’s cab before the driver is even there so it’s ready to go, and companies hiring allcomers directly on permanent contracts, then I can’t help thinking that the shortage can’t be that severe.
Also, I hear there’s a shortage of agency drivers willing to do one-off graveyard shifts for peanuts, but that “shortage” exists in most occupations where managers don’t even begin to think they can operate in such a fashion.
Honestscott76:
“Gormless” drivers are very much preferred, it’s what the employer has become to want. Even the roads are tailored for ‘gormless’ drivers, for example the ‘smart motorway’, all moving at the same speed and ‘in sync’. It’s all part of the transformation for Truck drivers to soon be replaced by autonomous vehicles. It’ll be happening right before the gormless bastrds eyes and they won’t realise it.
Maybe and it’s a big maybe, trucks on UK motorways could be semi automated, running in convoys, it will not be for a few years yet though. The advantage is that there won’t be so many tragic accidents.
The trucks will still need to be manned and driven normally from the motorway junction to the final destination.
The shortage will continue to get worse because the larger hauliers are not bothering with apprentice type schemes. The best and safest drivers are the ones who come up through the ranks…moped, car, van, 7.5, 18 and artic.
A driver shortage will be good news for us existing ones and bad news for the hauliers who have not been looking beyond the current financial year.
The original post complains about how truckers look which has no relevance whatsoever.
ben.blakemore:
Did it occur you you mate that these poor buggers may look a bit gormless because they are sat/stood in a queue waiting for paperwork whilst their brains slowly melt from their ears out of pure boredom
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I was in the very same que, and to be honest I spend most days hanging around waiting to be loaded or waiting for paperwork, I don’t understand your point? Do you think waiting for paperwork turns you into this.
My point is just because someone’s teeth have fell out or they enjoy one too many kebabs does not give you the right to call them insane. At 57 years of age I would have thought you would know this as your behaving like a child. Also if you are embarrassed to be associated with the above why are you in this profession?
the nodding donkey:
Before one can discuss the existence of a ‘driver shortage’, one must determine the parameters of the discussion. Who is considering the perceived shortage?
Employers? From an employer’s view point, any number of available drivers less than those required to drive his or her trucks, is a shortage. This view point will not take into account wether other employers are in a similar position, or not.
Drivers? From a driver’s point of view, a shortage will manifest itself in improving pay offers, improving conditions, or direct attempts by employers to offer jobs which they have been unable to get drivers for.
The government? Statistics can give a clear answer, by simply deviding the total number of available job by the total number of available licence holders. If there are more available licence holders than jobs, there is no driver shortage. If the are less available licence holders than jobs, then there is a driver shortage.
Number ofLicence holder and drivers shortage or vacance different thing.Some people pass licence long time ago and after he change main or found another job or for any reason he will never back for driving for any wages.This situation not not just in driving.Plenty people have plumber sertificate or Flt driver or… but he was never do this job and may be will never do .
If we want see New young driver that Union must make pressure to company and make change work plan.Must make ban to start time until 5 am.Now plenty company offer start time 2-4 am.But wake up need about 2 hours before.What New driver or him wide will happy if need go to work at 1am for any big or small money.
Andrejs:
If we want see New young driver that Union must make pressure to company and make change work plan.Must make ban to start time until 5 am.Now plenty company offer start time 2-4 am.But wake up need about 2 hours before.What New driver or him wide will happy if need go to work at 1am for any big or small money.
DFDS ferries sail at all sorts of odd times - 01.00, 04.00…I’m seeing a problem.
Thinking a bit more about this, lorry driving is one of the few jobs left where a person can still be an individual.
They’re trying their best to turn us all into little robots attending the steering wheel abiding by govt and company rules to the letter, they’ve removed the skilled driving part of lorry driving as much as they can…for the time being…by the way employers how’s that working out for you, just wondered like judging by the evidence we see daily with our own eyes.
We should applaud those lads who fail to be corporate androids, either by not being that perfect male model clone employee who may well look the part and that’s where the aptitude ends, or by still doing the job the way they did for half a lifetime because, well, it works.
Maybe a return to skills would be an idea (in a job that amazingly does really require skills ) and, as a good manager should and the good ones do, making the best use of the individual strengths of your employees to get the job done, instead of dumbing the job down to the dire ability of worse fool you could find prepared to work for minimum wage, and trying to clone everyone else down to that level, which only serves to demoralise all
Juddian:
Thinking a bit more about this, lorry driving is one of the few jobs left where a person can still be an individual.
They’re trying their best to turn us all into little robots attending the steering wheel abiding by govt and company rules to the letter, they’ve removed the skilled driving part of lorry driving as much as they can…for the time being…by the way employers how’s that working out for you, just wondered like judging by the evidence we see daily with our own eyes.
We should applaud those lads who fail to be corporate androids, either by not being that perfect male model clone employee who may well look the part and that’s where the aptitude ends, or by still doing the job the way they did for half a lifetime because, well, it works.
Maybe a return to skills would be an idea (in a job that amazingly does really require skills ) and, as a good manager should and the good ones do, making the best use of the individual strengths of your employees to get the job done, instead of dumbing the job down to the dire ability of worse fool you could find prepared to work for minimum wage, and trying to clone everyone else down to that level, which only serves to demoralise all
Here here ! Our staff turnover is running at over 80 %. The so called managers have yet to work out that a little bit of time and effort spent on staff development and care could save them a fortune in the long run.
The drivers over 50 just want a quiet life and don’t care either way but the younger guys are all looking for a move to a better career.
Juddian:
Thinking a bit more about this, lorry driving is one of the few jobs left where a person can still be an individual.
They’re trying their best to turn us all into little robots attending the steering wheel abiding by govt and company rules to the letter, they’ve removed the skilled driving part of lorry driving as much as they can…for the time being…by the way employers how’s that working out for you, just wondered like judging by the evidence we see daily with our own eyes.
We should applaud those lads who fail to be corporate androids, either by not being that perfect male model clone employee who may well look the part and that’s where the aptitude ends, or by still doing the job the way they did for half a lifetime because, well, it works.
Maybe a return to skills would be an idea (in a job that amazingly does really require skills ) and, as a good manager should and the good ones do, making the best use of the individual strengths of your employees to get the job done, instead of dumbing the job down to the dire ability of worse fool you could find prepared to work for minimum wage, and trying to clone everyone else down to that level, which only serves to demoralise all
You are quite right Juddian.
Any survey of employee job satisfaction will find autonomy somewhere near the top of things that make the job good.
I find if you let people know what you want and then leave them to it, they manage just fine on the whole. Every job has parameters, a time the goods need to be there for, sometimes a route ( we have to lodge a plan for some of our moves a few days/weeks in advance), but allowing people to learn the job, and then just do it without hassling them all the time and letting them make their own decisions makes them feel valued and respected. My conversations usually follow the format of x needs to be at Scunthorpe/Milan for x time, when are you kicking off. I don’t want to be micro-managing all the time, far better I delegate the work to the guy that actually does the delivery.
heisenberg, our retention rate is 80%. Up in Salford, we had two drivers retire after 19 and 21 years with us, two new drivers were taken on and ‘new’ boy at that time was made up; after 12 years he was no longer the new boy
Andrejs:
If we want see New young driver that Union must make pressure to company and make change work plan.Must make ban to start time until 5 am.Now plenty company offer start time 2-4 am.But wake up need about 2 hours before.What New driver or him wide will happy if need go to work at 1am for any big or small money.
DFDS ferries sail at all sorts of odd times - 01.00, 04.00…I’m seeing a problem.
My view was about shift drivers.For trailer more easy and the can do all in social job.As well to many driver never will go to tramping.
Albion, that’s one of the things that makes my job good (of course there are always minor gripes, lorry drivers innit ), we’re assumed to be competent until we prove otherwise.
I find out what my job is for the following day, i’m given the official start time, this mainly for the benefit of night loading staff, but they confirm the delivery time (we always try to be punctual, some jobs we really do have to arrive on time stated) and i start at the time which suits me, which means early enough to clean the vehicle if needed or to fix any bulbs or other jobs and to allow me some leeway on the road for problems.
We’re tracked but no one tells you which route to use and the thought of some oik in the office calling and asking why one has stopped is just preposterous, i’ve used some right weird routes when the various usual ones have been rammed…we have live traffic on the satnavs so can scan the whole country before we leave and constantly during the journey…and never once has anyone questioned my route choice or asked why a job took so long, anything like that.
So long as the customer is happy (customer is King here), the load delivered correctly and safely, and we bring back the lorry in one piece we’re left to do the job as best we can.
Being treated courteously with respect and as a responsible adult goes a hell of a long way, anyone with any sense wants a number like that to last forever so it’s natural to do your best and to go that extra mile to ensure it does last.
Juddian:
Being treated courteously with respect and as a responsible adult goes a hell of a long way,
And being courteous, respectful and a responsible adult goes a hell of a long way too, it’s not difficult to understand why so many on here are dissatisfied with their ‘lot’.
Too many drivers seem to think they are owed everything without actually having to give anything.
As I’ve fluffed me way through life to this point all I’ve found is that the scruffiest book often holds the most wisdom.
As a stereotype truckers are looked upon as a little rough and ready and some do their best to cement this image, but I’ve found these are the salt of the earth fellas always happy to give advice and take the ■■■■ in equal measure.
I would sooner have one of these fellas (or ladies/ or 50/50’s) by my side than a suspiciously smart looking ‘all fur coat and no knickers’ kind of guy. (No offence Chloe).
Cause there’s a balance and I’m sure the OP is one of those middle of the road chaps who can pull off smart/casual like me, someone who can hold their own in virtually any social environment.
But horses for courses, we are all different and all have our own song to sing.
the nodding donkey:
Before one can discuss the existence of a ‘driver shortage’, one must determine the parameters of the discussion. Who is considering the perceived shortage?
Employers? From an employer’s view point, any number of available drivers less than those required to drive his or her trucks, is a shortage. This view point will not take into account wether other employers are in a similar position, or not.
Drivers? From a driver’s point of view, a shortage will manifest itself in improving pay offers, improving conditions, or direct attempts by employers to offer jobs which they have been unable to get drivers for.
The government? Statistics can give a clear answer, by simply deviding the total number of available job by the total number of available licence holders. If there are more available licence holders than jobs, there is no driver shortage. If the are less available licence holders than jobs, then there is a driver shortage.
Number ofLicence holder and drivers shortage or vacance different thing.Some people pass licence long time ago and after he change main or found another job or for any reason he will never back for driving for any wages.This situation not not just in driving.Plenty people have plumber sertificate or Flt driver or… but he was never do this job and may be will never do .
If the ability to speak and write a decent standard of English was made a compulsory requirement, we would see this perceived shortage substantially increase. Never mind looking shabby, I’m sick and tired of having to communicate with drivers (working for British firms, not those from foreign countries who are just here with the one load…) who speak hardly a word of English.
If you want to live here, and work here, learn to speak the ■■■■■■■ language.
Juddian:
Being treated courteously with respect and as a responsible adult goes a hell of a long way,
And being courteous, respectful and a responsible adult goes a hell of a long way too, it’s not difficult to understand why so many on here are dissatisfied with their ‘lot’.
Too many drivers seem to think they are owed everything without actually having to give anything.
Absolutely, that goes without saying, it’s always a two way street.
edit.
attn Heisenberrg.
80% turnover you might as well be 100% bloody agency, someone upstairs needs to earn their mega salary, they really should be asking questions as to what the hell is going on there.
the nodding donkey:
Before one can discuss the existence of a ‘driver shortage’, one must determine the parameters of the discussion. Who is considering the perceived shortage?
Employers? From an employer’s view point, any number of available drivers less than those required to drive his or her trucks, is a shortage. This view point will not take into account wether other employers are in a similar position, or not.
Drivers? From a driver’s point of view, a shortage will manifest itself in improving pay offers, improving conditions, or direct attempts by employers to offer jobs which they have been unable to get drivers for.
The government? Statistics can give a clear answer, by simply deviding the total number of available job by the total number of available licence holders. If there are more available licence holders than jobs, there is no driver shortage. If the are less available licence holders than jobs, then there is a driver shortage.
Number ofLicence holder and drivers shortage or vacance different thing.Some people pass licence long time ago and after he change main or found another job or for any reason he will never back for driving for any wages.This situation not not just in driving.Plenty people have plumber sertificate or Flt driver or… but he was never do this job and may be will never do .
If the ability to speak and write a decent standard of English was made a compulsory requirement, we would see this perceived shortage substantially increase. Never mind looking shabby, I’m sick and tired of having to communicate with drivers (working for British firms, not those from foreign countries who are just here with the one load…) who speak hardly a word of English.
If you want to live here, and work here, learn to speak the [zb] language.
This is you country,company management,union fault.They not check people for language knowledge before give him job.If company sacked 1 person because he not understand language that another 10 will try learn and learn.In Germany if people not speak good that not easy found job .
the nodding donkey:
Before one can discuss the existence of a ‘driver shortage’, one must determine the parameters of the discussion. Who is considering the perceived shortage?
Employers? From an employer’s view point, any number of available drivers less than those required to drive his or her trucks, is a shortage. This view point will not take into account wether other employers are in a similar position, or not.
Drivers? From a driver’s point of view, a shortage will manifest itself in improving pay offers, improving conditions, or direct attempts by employers to offer jobs which they have been unable to get drivers for.
The government? Statistics can give a clear answer, by simply deviding the total number of available job by the total number of available licence holders. If there are more available licence holders than jobs, there is no driver shortage. If the are less available licence holders than jobs, then there is a driver shortage.
Number ofLicence holder and drivers shortage or vacance different thing.Some people pass licence long time ago and after he change main or found another job or for any reason he will never back for driving for any wages.This situation not not just in driving.Plenty people have plumber sertificate or Flt driver or… but he was never do this job and may be will never do .
If the ability to speak and write a decent standard of English was made a compulsory requirement, we would see this perceived shortage substantially increase. Never mind looking shabby, I’m sick and tired of having to communicate with drivers (working for British firms, not those from foreign countries who are just here with the one load…) who speak hardly a word of English.
If you want to live here, and work here, learn to speak the [zb] language.
This is you coutrcountry,company management,union fault.They not check people for language knowledge before give him job.If company sacked 1 person because he not understand language that another 10 will try learn and learn.In Germany if people not speak good that not easy found job .
), we’re assumed to be competent until we prove otherwise.
you might as well be 100% bloody agency, someone upstairs needs to earn their mega salary, they really should be asking questions as to what the hell is going on there.