THE PDU-UK "Q&A"

eagerbeaver · 6 April 2016 10:08

So what HAVE YOU ACHIEVED for drivers in the last few years of meetings?

I can park across a dual carriageway and make one phone call to the local news and achieve more than you have in one day.

You charge a fiver don’t you? Tell you what. I will charge anyone on here who is interested £4. If I can get 50 drivers on here to pledge the £4, it will cover the fine that I will receive for causing f**king mayhem at any selected location decided by the drivers who pledge.

Any further costs I will pay myself. When the local journo’s come sniffing round I will then tell them why I have just caused mayhem.

When I get moved on, hopefully the truck behind me will be one of the drivers involved in the pledge.

AND THEN IT STARTS AGAIN.

war1974 · 6 April 2016 10:13

I would pay £4 for that eager! done in a safe way thinking about the children mind!

and luke fair point I am doing the same thinking whilst typing and maybe not getting it right!

barrie_tozer · 6 April 2016 10:20

eagerbeaver:
I will charge anyone on here who is interested £4. If I can get 50 drivers on here to pledge the £4, it will cover the fine that I will receive for causing f**king mayhem at any selected location decided by the drivers who pledge.

Any further costs I will pay myself. When the local journo’s come sniffing round I will then tell them why I have just caused mayhem.

Good Luck, let us know how it goes please

robert1952 · 6 April 2016 10:20

‘A lobby = a committee’.

No it does not. A lobby and a committee are two quite different things.

A lobby is a movement: a group of people seeking to influence legislators on a particular issue - an organised attempt by members of the public to influence legislators.

A committee is a group of people appointed for a specific function by a larger group; and it is bound by very clear rules of meeting.

A lobby, having identified the issue(s) it wants to fight for, should appoint a committee which should then meet regularly and adhere properly to the rules of committee meetings (eg have an appointed chairman, secretary etc and only meet when it has a full quorum or more).

A committee is inherently democratic; a lobby, arguably, is not necessarily so.

Robert

eagerbeaver · 6 April 2016 10:21

Nice one War. 1 down, 49 to go.

I will set up a bank account and post the evidence on here when it has £200.

As I work for an agency, when the day in question comes I will probably not be welcome back at that clients premises.

(TRUCK PARKED ACROSS DUAL CARRIAGEWAY, KEYS THROWN AWAY) Will need recovery-long delay.

fatboy_slimslow · 6 April 2016 10:40

war1974:

robroy:

war1974:
I get the point but you have to start somewhere whether it affects you directly or not - you need a starting point and drivers facilities are sub standard in the UK (this will affect far more than just trampers in my opinion but maybe I am wrong), whether its parking/food/facilities/being made to feel 2nd class .

You mention the 2nd class citizen thing. If we could get rid of that being the public concensus, everything else like provided facilities, decent parking places etc, would sort it’s self out as a result.
However though, as long as we have truckers driving like knobs through towns and villages, bullying tactics on the road in general, and the arse holes leaving crap lying around as evidence of their overnight parking it will never happen.

I agree Rob personally I wont allow myself to be treat like that but having driven over the water the facilities are unrecognisable compared to the UK. but my point mainly about 2nd class citizen would be aimed more at places we deliver - RDC’s with crappy plastic seats, a ■■■■ poor vending machine. places where toilets are not allowed for drivers, canteen facilities not allowed for drivers delivering etc.

as with anything and I have banged on about this before the dcpc was a way to improve the image of drivers, it was missed because we had so many banging the drum about how pointless it was.

the chocolate FIREGUARDS AKA THE ! RHA and FTA done next to nothing about it - drivers ■■■■■■ and moaned but again nothing happened.

as eager says someone needs to make the start.

ftfy

war1974 · 6 April 2016 10:42

I think you need some from of super hero outfit too, TruckerMan would be good.

the-snowman · 6 April 2016 10:48

war1974:
I think you need some from of super hero outfit too, TruckerMan would be good.

Maybe you could tie your Lidl carrier bag round like a cape EB? You’d look good for your newspaper shots standing next to a truck with your flashing ear piece and the bag/cape blowing in the wind. I can practically hear the trumpet fanfare already!
BTW, put me down for £4. Im in

war1974 · 6 April 2016 10:51

haha - he could lead any authorities on a benny hill style chase limping in a large circle due to an ongoing stone in shoe injury.

robroy · 6 April 2016 11:04

eagerbeaver:
Nice one War. 1 down, 49 to go.

I will set up a bank account and post the evidence on here when it has £200.

As I work for an agency, when the day in question comes I will probably not be welcome back at that clients premises.

(TRUCK PARKED ACROSS DUAL CARRIAGEWAY, KEYS THROWN AWAY) Will need recovery-long delay.

I’ll organise ‘‘The ■■■■■■■’’… and see if Truckbling will tag on seeing as he loves me.

big_truck · 6 April 2016 11:18

Dipper_Dave:
That said there where moments that made me cringe a bit and feel sorry for Barrie but all things considered it could have gone worse.

Aye your right Dipper D,
nobody threatened Barry to take him outside and
“Do his knees”!!![emoji56]

barrie_tozer · 6 April 2016 11:26

Big Truck:

Dipper_Dave:
That said there where moments that made me cringe a bit and feel sorry for Barrie but all things considered it could have gone worse.

Aye your right Dipper D,
nobody threatened Barry to take him outside and
“Do his knees”!!![emoji56]

Rikki would rightly not allow it
but
I can assure you some posting on here have placed threats on their FB pages

mrginge · 6 April 2016 11:35

Big Truck: Irish types always enjoy a knee capping event.

barrie_tozer · 6 April 2016 11:35

forget the PDU

A letter below I have sent to Dept for Health is the sort of thing that might help a lot of Drivers and if some of you get something similar sent to your own MPs it might help the argument and the sort of thing needs working on together.

Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP

I am contacting you in reference to the HGV Driver Medicals as a requirement for all Drivers over 45 and then every five years following.

These Medicals were rightly introduced for all drivers by legislation on the grounds of Road Safety and anything that keeps our roads safe are of major importance.

It has come to my attention that some Doctors surgeries around the UK are continually increasing the price for Drivers to undergo these Medicals, my own Medical in 2015 cost £90 for 15 minutes and some are charging as much as £120

There are private online facilities now forming using Doctors on a side line and charging just £48.00 (link taken out for TN) so this cost is reasonable but not available to many Drivers in parts of the Country where they do not offer their services.

If these private services are able to offer Driver Medicals at just £48. Why do Doctors in NHS Doctor Surgeries need to charge extortionate prices for something that Drivers require to keep their licence and as part of keeping our roads safe?

Is it really justified that Drivers need to use a day’s earnings just so he can continue doing his job?

Could I request that you might consider and look into legislation to implement a fixed price Drivers Medical throughout all NHS Doctor Surgeries?

The public know exactly what they have to pay for a prescription, while when a Driver needs to obtain his Medical by law to keep his job, he has to start ringing different surgeries to get quotes of prices or try to obtain online services and these could well then be undertaken by a Doctor that knows nothing about him or his background other than what is on his records.

It is only right and justified that all Drivers that need a medical are treated fairly, when one is able to pay just £48 because he can obtain it online, while another in a rural location has to pay £120 is not fair and justified.

Drivers in the UK provide a valuable service to the UK and as such should be treated fairly and with due respect not used as profit for NHS Doctor Surgeries.

All Government Dept.’s should know about a looming Drivers shortage and these extra cost to drivers are not helping to alleviate it.

If a private facility is able to offer a Driver Medical at £48.00 with the extra overhead cost.

Might I ask you consider that all NHS Doctor Surgeries set Driver Medicals at a fair price of £40.00 for all Drivers, so they know exactly what they will need to pay out in the future.

I will post this letter sent to you on my various media outlets and website forums informing them of this enquiry and as such will inform them of any reply received to keep them informed as to whether you will look into this.

As each day goes by more Drivers are paying out for Medicals so I request this matter be considered in the short term.
Yours sincerely

big_truck · 6 April 2016 11:35

Barrie Tozer:

Big Truck:

Dipper_Dave:
That said there where moments that made me cringe a bit and feel sorry for Barrie but all things considered it could have gone worse.

Aye your right Dipper D,
nobody threatened Barry to take him outside and
“Do his knees”!!![emoji56]

Rikki would rightly not allow it
but
I can assure you some posting on here have placed threats on their FB pages

My post was on the “tongue in cheek” side of the thread Barrie mucker. [emoji6]

mike-c · 6 April 2016 11:37

Barrie Tozer:
Rikki would rightly not allow it
but
I can assure you some posting on here have placed threats on their FB pages

I’m not so certain i’m assured by much you say, but if thats the case report it to Facebook and the Police. They have proper procedures in place for stuff like that.

big_truck · 6 April 2016 11:52

mrginge:
Big Truck: Irish types always enjoy a knee capping event.

I sorta know that as I’ve lived here for 50yrs!!![emoji54]

Thankfully in all seriousness its becoming a rarity now.[emoji106]

barrie_tozer · 6 April 2016 11:55

Mike-C:

Barrie Tozer:
Rikki would rightly not allow it
but
I can assure you some posting on here have placed threats on their FB pages

I’m not so certain i’m assured by much you say, but if thats the case report it to Facebook and the Police. They have proper procedures in place for stuff like that.

FB do something never worth reporting as most use an alias

xichrisxi · 6 April 2016 12:07

Barrie Tozer:
forget the PDU

A letter below I have sent to Dept for Health is the sort of thing that might help a lot of Drivers and if some of you get something similar sent to your own MPs it might help the argument and the sort of thing needs working on together.

Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP

I am contacting you in reference to the HGV Driver Medicals as a requirement for all Drivers over 45 and then every five years following.

These Medicals were rightly introduced for all drivers by legislation on the grounds of Road Safety and anything that keeps our roads safe are of major importance.

It has come to my attention that some Doctors surgeries around the UK are continually increasing the price for Drivers to undergo these Medicals, my own Medical in 2015 cost £90 for 15 minutes and some are charging as much as £120

There are private online facilities now forming using Doctors on a side line and charging just £48.00 (link taken out for TN) so this cost is reasonable but not available to many Drivers in parts of the Country where they do not offer their services.

If these private services are able to offer Driver Medicals at just £48. Why do Doctors in NHS Doctor Surgeries need to charge extortionate prices for something that Drivers require to keep their licence and as part of keeping our roads safe?

Is it really justified that Drivers need to use a day’s earnings just so he can continue doing his job?

Could I request that you might consider and look into legislation to implement a fixed price Drivers Medical throughout all NHS Doctor Surgeries?

The public know exactly what they have to pay for a prescription, while when a Driver needs to obtain his Medical by law to keep his job, he has to start ringing different surgeries to get quotes of prices or try to obtain online services and these could well then be undertaken by a Doctor that knows nothing about him or his background other than what is on his records.

It is only right and justified that all Drivers that need a medical are treated fairly, when one is able to pay just £48 because he can obtain it online, while another in a rural location has to pay £120 is not fair and justified.

Drivers in the UK provide a valuable service to the UK and as such should be treated fairly and with due respect not used as profit for NHS Doctor Surgeries.

All Government Dept.’s should know about a looming Drivers shortage and these extra cost to drivers are not helping to alleviate it.

If a private facility is able to offer a Driver Medical at £48.00 with the extra overhead cost.

Might I ask you consider that all NHS Doctor Surgeries set Driver Medicals at a fair price of £40.00 for all Drivers, so they know exactly what they will need to pay out in the future.

I will post this letter sent to you on my various media outlets and website forums informing them of this enquiry and as such will inform them of any reply received to keep them informed as to whether you will look into this.

As each day goes by more Drivers are paying out for Medicals so I request this matter be considered in the short term.
Yours sincerely

It’s like anything in life,shop around and you’ll get it cheaper…if someone can’t be arsed to do that and goes with the first one they find that’s their lookout.
My doc wanted £90, a quick bit of research online and I got it for £35,does it really require government intervention?!
Same goes for most things in life.

tommy_t · 6 April 2016 12:10

Barrie Tozer:
forget the PDU

A letter below I have sent to Dept for Health is the sort of thing that might help a lot of Drivers and if some of you get something similar sent to your own MPs it might help the argument and the sort of thing needs working on together.

Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP

I am contacting you in reference to the HGV Driver Medicals as a requirement for all Drivers over 45 and then every five years following.

These Medicals were rightly introduced for all drivers by legislation on the grounds of Road Safety and anything that keeps our roads safe are of major importance.

It has come to my attention that some Doctors surgeries around the UK are continually increasing the price for Drivers to undergo these Medicals, my own Medical in 2015 cost £90 for 15 minutes and some are charging as much as £120

There are private online facilities now forming using Doctors on a side line and charging just £48.00 (link taken out for TN) so this cost is reasonable but not available to many Drivers in parts of the Country where they do not offer their services.

If these private services are able to offer Driver Medicals at just £48. Why do Doctors in NHS Doctor Surgeries need to charge extortionate prices for something that Drivers require to keep their licence and as part of keeping our roads safe?

Is it really justified that Drivers need to use a day’s earnings just so he can continue doing his job?

Could I request that you might consider and look into legislation to implement a fixed price Drivers Medical throughout all NHS Doctor Surgeries?

The public know exactly what they have to pay for a prescription, while when a Driver needs to obtain his Medical by law to keep his job, he has to start ringing different surgeries to get quotes of prices or try to obtain online services and these could well then be undertaken by a Doctor that knows nothing about him or his background other than what is on his records.

It is only right and justified that all Drivers that need a medical are treated fairly, when one is able to pay just £48 because he can obtain it online, while another in a rural location has to pay £120 is not fair and justified.

Drivers in the UK provide a valuable service to the UK and as such should be treated fairly and with due respect not used as profit for NHS Doctor Surgeries.

All Government Dept.’s should know about a looming Drivers shortage and these extra cost to drivers are not helping to alleviate it.

If a private facility is able to offer a Driver Medical at £48.00 with the extra overhead cost.

Might I ask you consider that all NHS Doctor Surgeries set Driver Medicals at a fair price of £40.00 for all Drivers, so they know exactly what they will need to pay out in the future.

I will post this letter sent to you on my various media outlets and website forums informing them of this enquiry and as such will inform them of any reply received to keep them informed as to whether you will look into this.

As each day goes by more Drivers are paying out for Medicals so I request this matter be considered in the short term.
Yours sincerely

I would argue that having the FREE NHS 5 yearly health check and a sight test at the optician could replace the need for a separate medical, And the FREE NHS check is likely to identify more issues than a 10mins drivers medical will

There’s no way i would be paying over £50 for a private medical