Darkside:
The fact for many it is a vocation for many, (like nursing or farming), is why wages are lower than what they could be.
You know what mate? I reckon you are bang on.
I personally always wanted to be a tramper as my Dad was, and a lot of my mates were.
I even jacked a good trade after my apprenticeship to start driving, I also did quite well at school and could have set my sights much higher with the qualifications that I achieved.
Unfortunately now I’m at the stage where I more or less know nothing else other than tramping,.and would find it hard to change, so as you say stuck with the relatively crap wages.
The point is Mr Keedwell runs trucks to make money, he pays just enough to recruit and retain drivers, he probably doesn’t run the blokes ragged and from what I have seen the kit is late and well maintained.
When you understand the economics of transport then you understand why you will never earn a fortune, you get paid what the market will stand in you’re respective area.
For example anywhere away from the major transport hubs and £8-9 per hour is the norm plenty of hours and a bit of night out money sees £450 in the bank, all well and good, stress free no drama most drivers would be happy enough, get near the major confluences of motorways and big cities then the money rises considerably, and rightly so.
For profit transport is what it is, you know what you are letting yourself in for.
Even in NI your gonna struggle and drivers will laugh at you if the money is £450 in bank for tramping!!!
Easy enough now for dayshift only to pay £450 home if you shop around!!!
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MorganMcLernon are paying £500home now for 5shifts (av 10/12hrs “on duty”) on local work about NI and into Republic.
Don’t know a single firm in NI that would be paying money as PISH as £450 tramping,
£500 is considered low now for 5shifts!!!
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This thread just shows how over complicated and unnecessary the wage structures being used are. But of course if you don’t work for this type of company then there are plenty who will. It’s too late now the damage has and will continue to be done because nobody can be arsed to fight it!
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Since the passing of Ray Keedwell last month, it is going to be interesting to see the direction which Stuart Keedwell takes over the coming few years. I predict changes are in the air; but then I’m often wrong.
seasideblues:
Supatramp:
Heard a rumour today that Keadwell drivers have an upcoming wage increase to look forward to!
Gone up to £9.75 ph
I’m working on Sunday for £16.50 an hour and Monday for £12.50 an hour, guaranteed minimum 8 hours, PAYE. We agency drivers, eh? 
Harry Monk:
seasideblues:
Supatramp:
Heard a rumour today that Keadwell drivers have an upcoming wage increase to look forward to!
Gone up to £9.75 ph
I’m working on Sunday for £16.50 an hour and Monday for £12.50 an hour, guaranteed minimum 8 hours, PAYE. We agency drivers, eh?
I was offered £14 during the week by one of my former agencies but I’m done with the scumbags, proper job from now on!
seasideblues:
Supatramp:
Heard a rumour today that Keadwell drivers have an upcoming wage increase to look forward to!
Gone up to £9.75 ph
New OT rate not frigging £10.08!!!
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The wage rates in my area are generally poor and many local firms have long drawn out wage formulas to achieve basically the same rate. We have recently had a wage rise which took around 4 months to negotiate, but the company still employs sub contractors and agency drivers. The company appears happy to have people in tracksuits and trainers driving their best trucks on the shortest runs and the most money while complaining they cannot recruit drivers? The employed drivers are rattling around in 1 million +km’s wrecks not recommending them as an employer to anyone who’ll listen. It doesn’t add up to me as good business sense but all the firms are as bad as each other around here it seems. 
poleman:
The wage rates in my area are generally poor and many local firms have long drawn out wage formulas to achieve basically the same rate. We have recently had a wage rise which took around 4 months to negotiate, but the company still employs sub contractors and agency drivers. The company appears happy to have people in tracksuits and trainers driving their best trucks on the shortest runs and the most money while complaining they cannot recruit drivers? The employed drivers are rattling around in 1 million +km’s wrecks not recommending them as an employer to anyone who’ll listen. It doesn’t add up to me as good business sense but all the firms are as bad as each other around here it seems.
Are you referring to Keedwell, or generalising?
No, Generalising about attitudes to wages by employers.
