HGV Class 1 Driver Wages ?

[egor110]

Tyre Smoke said:

egor110 said:

WonkeyDonkey said:

egor110 said:

I though hauliers were classified as essential services and allowed to work thru covid ?

They were but if the customer is closed then their is nothing to deliver then there will be no work.

If you drive for supermarkets then you'll still be working, if you drive for a hospiltality supplier then their will be next to zero work.

Wouldn't you just sub for the parcel companies ? They had massive amounts to move around last year .

Do you think it's that simple? Honestly? Ring up Amazon or DPD and just rock up with a van/truck?

Did you even try or just covid hit lock the door and take the furlough money?

As your the business owner I'd guess when Amazon etc were in the st driver wise then the opportunity was there for you to approach them or a agency and say I've got x amount of lorries/drivers available and see what you could get .

[red_slr]

PH4555 said:

Carlososos said:

Just a bit harsh. No need to talk like that. Why not just suggest that the lorry’s could be doing more work. Point made then without being a dick.

It's not harsh at all. It's the exact kind of response needed to people like the clown above who call people who know what they're talking about "simpletons" when there's a good chance they couldn't even tell one end of a truck from the other themselves. And before you go defending red_slr you might want to go back a year or so in his post history and note his disparaging remarks to people in other business threads.

Pleads poverty that he can't pay his drivers more than a handful of peanuts, but plenty of money to buy and run Ferrari's, buy houses, buy Audis and EVs, go on holidays to Palma and Las Vegas , but Oh Noes! Business is really bad and I can't afford it!

Wait a minute, I thought I was bad a business? Now you are saying I am rich and jetting around the world?

PH4555 said:

you haven't got a clue how to run a business.

PH4555 said:

Enjoy being in business while it lasts.

Thats the bit you clearly don't understand. Business has to last.. and we have had good years. The last 2 years, not so good.. plus many other issues.
So what if I own a nice car, I bought it a long time ago after a lot of hard work. So what if I share knowledge on those cars, this is a car forum guy. OMG the guy went to the canaries for a week... are you for real?

I own a house.. eh? What do you live in?

How very dare me try and live a normal life, I should clearly be walking to work in shoes made from cardboard and string..

Also, before you make yourself look even more stupid I had another career before going into business which was fairly successful. And believe it or not some people on here dont need to start trawling through my post history like you because they actually know me.

FFS.

Anyway, good luck in whatever you do. I must retire now as my housekeeper has just signalled brunch will be served by the pool shortly....

[Tyre Smoke]

egor110 said:

Tyre Smoke said:

egor110 said:

WonkeyDonkey said:

egor110 said:

I though hauliers were classified as essential services and allowed to work thru covid ?

They were but if the customer is closed then their is nothing to deliver then there will be no work.

If you drive for supermarkets then you'll still be working, if you drive for a hospiltality supplier then their will be next to zero work.

Wouldn't you just sub for the parcel companies ? They had massive amounts to move around last year .

Do you think it's that simple? Honestly? Ring up Amazon or DPD and just rock up with a van/truck?

Did you even try or just covid hit lock the door and take the furlough money?

As your the business owner I'd guess when Amazon etc were in the st driver wise then the opportunity was there for you to approach them or a agency and say I've got x amount of lorries/drivers available and see what you could get .

We worked right through. I don't run trucks. But I take your point.

[PH4555]

red_slr said:

Thats the bit you clearly don't understand. Business has to last.. and we have had good years. The last 2 years, not so good.. plus many other issues.
So what if I own a nice car, I bought it a long time ago after a lot of hard work. So what if I share knowledge on those cars, this is a car forum guy. OMG the guy went to the canaries for a week... are you for real?

I own a house.. eh? What do you live in?

How very dare me try and live a normal life, I should clearly be walking to work in shoes made from cardboard and string..

Also, before you make yourself look even more stupid I had another career before going into business which was fairly successful. And believe it or not some people on here dont need to start trawling through my post history like you because they actually know me.

FFS.

Anyway, good luck in whatever you do. I must retire now as my housekeeper has just signalled brunch will be served by the pool shortly....

See Carlos' and Jim's replies on the previous page. With that attitude I hope you go bankrupt. Treating your drivers like slaves, paying them an absolute pittance whilst you plead poverty as you jet off round the world and mince about in your F1.

[Glenn63]

There’s only so much loyalty a driver will have when the wage gap keeps getting bigger and bigger. At Waitrose our base was £12:25 3 months ago lots of drivers and agency going elsewhere so now a huge uplift in subbies used which costs even more.
No new people applying so they raised the wage to £14:25 last month, still no new starters so it’s going up again in September to £15. And that’s a decent company with easy clean work, no nights out, good pension, paid cpc, overtime and night premiums and still can’t get the drivers.

[PH4555]

Glenn63 said:

There’s only so much loyalty a driver will have when the wage gap keeps getting bigger and bigger. At Waitrose our base was £12:25 3 months ago lots of drivers and agency going elsewhere so now a huge uplift in subbies used which costs even more.
No new people applying so they raised the wage to £14:25 last month, still no new starters so it’s going up again in September to £15. And that’s a decent company with easy clean work, no nights out, good pension, paid cpc, overtime and night premiums and still can’t get the drivers.

£15/hr is not attractive money now if that's store deliveries. Also don't Waitrose have driver facing cameras and other invasive crap to deal with or is that just Ocado ? Morrisons RDC near me are paying £19/hr and you don't even touch the load, just back it on the dock and then go fill your face in the staff canteen while they unload you and reload your empty cages, pallets and waste.

[Tyre Smoke]

I owe you an apology PH4555.

I was defending Red until you pointed out a few home truths.

I pay my drivers as much as the business will stand. We pay more than G4S, Stagecoach and First Group locally for driving a taxi on contract work. Much more regular and hassle free than the lottery of the rank. I have loyal drivers that understand that.

Anyone who pays what they think they can get away with is and always has been, the wrong sort of boss. Especially if you also drive a Ferrari or your staff know you have a Ferrari. It's incredibly divisive.

[PH4555]

Tyre Smoke said:

I owe you an apology PH4555.

No apology needed TS! We're all entitled to our opinions .

[Glenn63]

PH4555 said:

Glenn63 said:

There’s only so much loyalty a driver will have when the wage gap keeps getting bigger and bigger. At Waitrose our base was £12:25 3 months ago lots of drivers and agency going elsewhere so now a huge uplift in subbies used which costs even more.
No new people applying so they raised the wage to £14:25 last month, still no new starters so it’s going up again in September to £15. And that’s a decent company with easy clean work, no nights out, good pension, paid cpc, overtime and night premiums and still can’t get the drivers.

£15/hr is not attractive money now if that's store deliveries. Also don't Waitrose have driver facing cameras and other invasive crap to deal with or is that just Ocado ? Morrisons RDC near me are paying £19/hr and you don't even touch the load, just back it on the dock and then go fill your face in the staff canteen while they unload you and reload your empty cages, pallets and waste.

Well that’s what we are hoping that the wages will creep up further with other supermarkets paying more. If no ones coming then they don’t really have a choice! Only thing in their favour is there are no other depos near by so nearest Morrison’s Tesco etc are 45mins / hour away with just general haulage around is paying less.
We have cameras facing forward to the road like a dashcam and down the sides but nothing on the driver.

[The spinner of plates]

Saw this yesterday, might be interesting for those looking to get an HGV1

[Carlososos]

It’s good drivers are getting paid more but is there a risk of drivers flooding the space because of the good money? Could the money drop again once there are enough or too many drivers?

[DaveE87]

Carlososos said:

It’s good drivers are getting paid more but is there a risk of drivers flooding the space because of the good money? Could the money drop again once there are enough or too many drivers?

I'm sceptical of the companies offering joining bonuses. For many it might work out about a quid extra per hour or even less, with some who won't even get them if they leave within a certain timeframe. The good companies are increasing wages permanently. As someone who is considering becoming a professional driver (when the DVLA eventually process my provisional application), I'll be aiming for £15 per hour for class 2. If hiab etc or class 1 then obviously I'll be aiming for more. If you pay less than that and can still attract or keep drivers, that may only happen for so long before they wake up and smell the coffee.

The low wages are just one of the downsides for drivers. The poor conditions at truckstops for instance need to change.

[Smint]

There's an awful lot more to choosing where you work, and staying there long term than just a headline £ per hour figure.

Type of work, how you are treated, general conditions found there, pestered all day long by rude planners or left alone to get on with your work, driver facing cameras, condition of vehicles, allocated a vehicle or expected to drive the first one that becomes available, type of customers you have to deal with, expenses such as DCPC (time plus course) licences medicals and digi card ex's all paid.

Last but not least is there some pleasure in actually working there, mutual respect, mutual enjoyable gentle piss taking, respected for your individual competence or treated as a useless buffoon because the management employed such people (cheaply) and instead of realising their mistake revert to the too often normal standard of assuming everyone is of the level of the most incompetent berk they could find, when nothing demoralises a good workforce quicker than such one size fits all treatment.

No, you arn't going to work cheaply if you have any sense, but seeking out a job purely on a supposed headline pay figure...there is massive misrepresentation (lying) about potential earnings in this industry, they tell you what you want to hear to get you on board...is not the way to judge a job and whether you should jump ship, there's a lot to consider, not just the hourly rate.

[DaveE87]

Smint said:

...stuff...

I think most of that stuff goes without saying, as with any job really. If somewhere is great to work but only pays £10.50 an hour for driving a HGV it's not that great. Work doesn't have to be fun but if it is then you're on to a winner. As the saying goes work to live, don't live to work.

[liner33]

Carlososos said:

It’s good drivers are getting paid more but is there a risk of drivers flooding the space because of the good money? Could the money drop again once there are enough or too many drivers?

Yes thats supply and demand though, fewer drivers will push wages higher if wages drop drivers will again leave the industry like thousands have already done.

I have a mate who is doing an "drivers apprenticeship" at a major supermarket, he sent off his licence in June to get the provisional entitlement added and add his medical cert and he got it back this week. I've heard that there are millions of people in this position so you cant even start to learn until you get this sorted so there is no quick fix and even those that would like to return to the industry will take months to get all their licences and qualifications in place

[Venisonpie]

liner33 said:

Yes thats supply and demand though, fewer drivers will push wages higher if wages drop drivers will again leave the industry like thousands have already done.

I have a mate who is doing an "drivers apprenticeship" at a major supermarket, he sent off his licence in June to get the provisional entitlement added and add his medical cert and he got it back this week. I've heard that there are millions of people in this position so you cant even start to learn until you get this sorted so there is no quick fix and even those that would like to return to the industry will take months to get all their licences and qualifications in place

Yup, I sent off my renewal following the 5 year medical requirement at the beginning of July and don't expect to see it for another month yet. This will be happening at scale with lots of drivers with HGV1 entitlement but expired licences. Higher wages are here for a while yet to the point they will end up being contractual.

Tesco getting a lot of positive press attention regarding £1k sign on bonus but this doesn't really address the low rate - they're hoping it will come down clearly. Not so sure myself.

[liner33]

Venisonpie said:

liner33 said:

Yes thats supply and demand though, fewer drivers will push wages higher if wages drop drivers will again leave the industry like thousands have already done.

I have a mate who is doing an "drivers apprenticeship" at a major supermarket, he sent off his licence in June to get the provisional entitlement added and add his medical cert and he got it back this week. I've heard that there are millions of people in this position so you cant even start to learn until you get this sorted so there is no quick fix and even those that would like to return to the industry will take months to get all their licences and qualifications in place

Yup, I sent off my renewal following the 5 year medical requirement at the beginning of July and don't expect to see it for another month yet. This will be happening at scale with lots of drivers with HGV1 entitlement but expired licences. Higher wages are here for a while yet to the point they will end up being contractual.

Tesco getting a lot of positive press attention regarding £1k sign on bonus but this doesn't really address the low rate - they're hoping it will come down clearly. Not so sure myself.

I will add that my mate ended up getting his MP involved for his licence as time was running out for him

I heard Tesco are offering £16.40ph for class 1 but their current drivers are not being offered the £1000 payment but other companies are offering it so I suspect that will change or drivers will simply move to the companies offering the best incentives , thats how it should be

[Tyre Smoke]

Sent off my renewal about ten days ago. Expect I might see it before Christmas.

Perhaps.

[rambo19]

Trouble is, most of the £20 ph jobs will be zero hour contracts.

[PH4555]

rambo19 said:

Trouble is, most of the £20 ph jobs will be zero hour contracts.

So what? Why would you care? There's that much choice out there you can be working at a different place every day if you wanted to. I couldn't give a singular crap about contracts. Fill my mitts with as many 20s as you can stuff in them and I'll drive your trucks.