HGV Class 1 Driver Wages ?
Discussion
PH4555 said:
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.
Which is all very well until it this current surge comes to a crashing halt and all of a sudden you aint required, wages £0.DaveE87 said:
Smint said:
Which is all very well until it this current surge comes to a crashing halt and all of a sudden you aint required, wages £0.
Do you say the same thing to contractors in other industries too?Some drivers are moving from permanent, 'safe' jobs to chase the high money in less secure operations. This is a fine strategy if you treat it as a contractor job and are comfortable with the fact that the bubble could burst.
However, some have mortgages to pay, they're the main breadwinner, no backup savings. If the job ends because the bubble has burst and they can't get something else, they're screwed.
It's up to the individual to assess how likely that is. It's a possibility that the Government could issue a temporary or permanent visa exemption for truck drivers, like they did for farm workers.
Muzzer79 said:
Which is fine, if you treat it as a contractor gig.
Some drivers are moving from permanent, 'safe' jobs to chase the high money in less secure operations. This is a fine strategy if you treat it as a contractor job and are comfortable with the fact that the bubble could burst.
However, some have mortgages to pay, they're the main breadwinner, no backup savings. If the job ends because the bubble has burst and they can't get something else, they're screwed.
It's up to the individual to assess how likely that is. It's a possibility that the Government could issue a temporary or permanent visa exemption for truck drivers, like they did for farm workers.
It's a risk however the govt have resisted thus far. Should they capitulate there would be a lag until bums arrive on seats allowing time for uk drivers to find a spot before the music stops. Don't think there's an imminent risk as retail peak is fast approaching where demand will strengthen. Some drivers are moving from permanent, 'safe' jobs to chase the high money in less secure operations. This is a fine strategy if you treat it as a contractor job and are comfortable with the fact that the bubble could burst.
However, some have mortgages to pay, they're the main breadwinner, no backup savings. If the job ends because the bubble has burst and they can't get something else, they're screwed.
It's up to the individual to assess how likely that is. It's a possibility that the Government could issue a temporary or permanent visa exemption for truck drivers, like they did for farm workers.
DaveE87 said:
Do you say the same thing to contractors in other industries too?
Contractors are exactly what it says on the tin, but the chances are they're doubling or more the money they would normally be paid in salaried positions.As said by Muzzer, we have drivers leaving secure positions to grab maybe only 25% more (promises) with agencies and some direct employers offering sign on bonuses.
Those full timers would be better organising themselves, maybe even (don't look children) joining a union and negotiating a decent permanent basic plus proper overtime and weekend and shift rates whilst they have a strong bargaining position.
I suggest this because as a long term union member myself and fortunate enough to have been at the better end of our industry for most of my working life, i've seen these blips come over the years and seen them vanish round the U bend again just as quickly, the full timers with rock solid contracts who wisely got as much as they could on the basic or salary have a decent minimum they can't drop below.
If by going contracting a lorry driver could turn a £800 wage for 45/50 hours into a £2500 lump by contracting then by all means fill yer boots lads, but it aint like that, the driver going contracting might top £1000 or even £1200 on a good week (he could do the same on the books if he went on car transporters) but he'll get no holiday or sick pay to speak of, have to fund his own licences medicals protective clothing and dcpc costs, these things proper employers re-imburse and/or provide, it all needs thinking carefully about.
Smint said:
...stuff...
That's the risks with contracting. I'll probably take your approach and try get a good permanent role, but I understand why so many are quick to take the contract work while they can get it. That £200 difference could be making a massive difference to someone that needs it.DaveE87 said:
That's the risks with contracting. I'll probably take your approach and try get a good permanent role, but I understand why so many are quick to take the contract work while they can get it. That £200 difference could be making a massive difference to someone that needs it.
Yeah, i don't blame them, i'm fortunate in that worked in two specialised sectors for many years, both unionised, so have been at the better end.Had i been stuck in general transport and not seen a pay rise for 10 or more years and then all of a sudden the company who couldn't afford 3% for years on end can suddenly bung 20% at you.
Last week '' there's the gate if you don't like it there's hundreds of foreigners willing to work for less'', this week, ''you're a valuable employee blah blah here's the pay increase you should have had incrementally over the last 10 years'', if that was my lot i too would be thinking well stuff you mate and the range rover you drove in and bugger off to where the biggest bung is.
I've had well over 40 years in this game, without a doubt those jobs with decent unions have been the best jobs going, you're right to try for a good permanent gig mate.
Smint said:
I've had well over 40 years in this game, without a doubt those jobs with decent unions have been the best jobs going, you're right to try for a good permanent gig mate.
Thanks mate. I only applied for my provisional last month and it took over three weeks just to get a text from DVLA acknowledging that it had been received. If their website is correct they've only processed applications "received" up until the 6th of July so it's a long wait ahead. I already have a job offer but these things don't last forever. The only thing I can do at this stage is to study for the theoretical parts. There's bound to be thousands in the same position though.Smint said:
Those full timers would be better organising themselves, maybe even (don't look children) joining a union and negotiating a decent permanent basic plus proper overtime and weekend and shift rates whilst they have a strong bargaining position.
Unions belong in the 70s. They are dead. The haulauge sector has always been too fragmented for unions to work, and that's before you even add in drivers are mostly two-faced back-stabbers who deep down only care about themselves and want someone else to go out and do the hard work to get better pay for them while they sit on the arses and reap the rewards.At one end of the scale you've got the supermarket drivers petitoning for a max 35 hr week for £50k to put an end to the stupid hours expected at most places, and then at the other end of the scale all the trampers are stabbing them in the back wanting the exact opposite because without their guaranteed 80 hrs a week they would lose their house, wife and car within 3 months. You'll never get any unity and it's been that way in the haulage sector since the dawn of time.
Before I left driving full time I did nearly 20 years on agency and never once had any worries paying my mortgage or bills. 90% of the agency pool are dross. All you need to do is turn up for the assignment (a significant percentage don't), talk to staff in a respectful manner without gobbing off about refusing to take the truck out because the radio doesn't work, deliver and collect the stuff on time, and bring the truck back with all its panels still in the same shape and without any missing. If you do that, every agency will think the sun shines out of your arse and you'll quickly find yourself at the top of the pecking order when work comes in. Their client will love you and ask for you by name anyway.
The problem the permies have is they would rather b
h about the agency lads earning 50% more than them for doing the same job because they don't have the bks to do it themselves, because "there's no jiob security" which is a complete illusion in today's world anyway. They'd rather stay in a crappy job with "job security" at £11/hr than risk doing any of the thousands of jobs currently being advertised at over £20/hr because "well, they might all end tomorrow" 
. Not the sharpest pencils in the box.Edited by PH4555 on Friday 20th August 04:24
PH4555 said:
Unions belong in the 70s. They are dead. The haulauge sector has always been too fragmented for unions to work, and that's before you even add in drivers are mostly two-faced back-stabbers who deep down only care about themselves and want someone else to go out and do the hard work to get better pay for them while they sit on the arses and reap the rewards.
At one end of the scale you've got the supermarket drivers petitoning for a max 35 hr week for £50k to put an end to the stupid hours expected at most places, and then at the other end of the scale all the trampers are stabbing them in the back wanting the exact opposite because without their guamteed 80 hrs a week they would lose their house, wife and car within 3 months. You'll never get any unity and it's been that way in the haulage sector since the dawn of time.
Before I left driving full time I did nearly 20 years on agency and never once had any worries paying my mortgage or bills. 90% of the agency pool are dross. All you need to do is turn up for the assignment (a significant percentage don't), talk to staff in a respectful manner without gobbing off about refusing to take the truck out because the radio doesn't work, deliver and collect the stuff on time, and bring the truck back with all its panels still in the same shape and without any missing. If you do that, every agency will think the sun shines out of your arse and you'll quickly find yourself at the top of the pecking order when work comes in. Their client will love you and ask for you by name anyway.
The problem the permies have is they would rather bh about the agency lads earning 50% more than them for doing the same job because they don't have the bks to do it themselves, because "there's no jiob security" which is a compete illusion in today's world anyway. They'd rather stay in a crappy job with "job security" at £11/hr than risk doing any of the thousands of jobs currently being advertised at over £20/hr because "well, they might all end tomorrow" . Not the sharpest pencils in the box.
There does seem to be a fear amongst many drivers that they're expendable which really hasn't been the case for years and now they really are in the driving seat - pun intended!At one end of the scale you've got the supermarket drivers petitoning for a max 35 hr week for £50k to put an end to the stupid hours expected at most places, and then at the other end of the scale all the trampers are stabbing them in the back wanting the exact opposite because without their guamteed 80 hrs a week they would lose their house, wife and car within 3 months. You'll never get any unity and it's been that way in the haulage sector since the dawn of time.
Before I left driving full time I did nearly 20 years on agency and never once had any worries paying my mortgage or bills. 90% of the agency pool are dross. All you need to do is turn up for the assignment (a significant percentage don't), talk to staff in a respectful manner without gobbing off about refusing to take the truck out because the radio doesn't work, deliver and collect the stuff on time, and bring the truck back with all its panels still in the same shape and without any missing. If you do that, every agency will think the sun shines out of your arse and you'll quickly find yourself at the top of the pecking order when work comes in. Their client will love you and ask for you by name anyway.
The problem the permies have is they would rather b
h about the agency lads earning 50% more than them for doing the same job because they don't have the bks to do it themselves, because "there's no jiob security" which is a compete illusion in today's world anyway. They'd rather stay in a crappy job with "job security" at £11/hr than risk doing any of the thousands of jobs currently being advertised at over £20/hr because "well, they might all end tomorrow" . Not the sharpest pencils in the box.Edited by PH4555 on Thursday 19th August 21:36
I haven't driven for a living for a long time but do wonder what I could charge as an SOS driver on call to a handful of operators who needed a quick solution. I think being flexible, customer friendly and prepared to do what was required you could charge £300 a day plus expenses for an 8 hour shift. You might not work every day but might not need to.
Venisonpie said:
There does seem to be a fear amongst many drivers that they're expendable which really hasn't been the case for years and now they really are in the driving seat - pun intended!
I haven't driven for a living for a long time but do wonder what I could charge as an SOS driver on call to a handful of operators who needed a quick solution. I think being flexible, customer friendly and prepared to do what was required you could charge £300 a day plus expenses for an 8 hour shift. You might not work every day but might not need to.
I've tried it but with little success. They have to be REALLY desperate and nearly all of the big places will only deal with agencies for temp cover, and those are the ones with the deepest pockets to be able to afford it. I've had some success when the agency has begged me to get their client out of sI haven't driven for a living for a long time but do wonder what I could charge as an SOS driver on call to a handful of operators who needed a quick solution. I think being flexible, customer friendly and prepared to do what was required you could charge £300 a day plus expenses for an 8 hour shift. You might not work every day but might not need to.
t (read: another of their agency drivers has blobbed) and been able to name my price, but it's rare.At the smaller places where you deal with the boss they don't usually have the profit margins in the jobs for it.
If it ever reaches the point where they are REALLY short of bums for seats to get their stuff moved (like £20-30/hr+ on offer becomes the norm on the ads) then it will be worth looking at again, but we're not there yet. Still plenty of ads expecting 70 hrs a week tramping for £32k.
I think people either love or hate the agency life. The agency lads at my place only get 50p more an hour but with zero benefits, no uniform, paid cpc as in we get paid a normal shift to sit a cpc course, pensions, £6 a day for food etc. And they come in having been to a different company everyday that week. Some may like it but it’s not for me, I’d do it if I had to but I’d personally just rather go the same place each day with people I know and get on with and a rota that I know what I’m working 6 months from now.
As a side note, anyone here work for Royal Mail? For them not on agency?
As a side note, anyone here work for Royal Mail? For them not on agency?
Glenn63 said:
I think people either love or hate the agency life. The agency lads at my place only get 50p more an hour but with zero benefits, no uniform, paid cpc as in we get paid a normal shift to sit a cpc course, pensions, £6 a day for food etc. And they come in having been to a different company everyday that week. Some may like it but it’s not for me, I’d do it if I had to but I’d personally just rather go the same place each day with people I know and get on with and a rota that I know what I’m working 6 months from now.
As a side note, anyone here work for Royal Mail? For them not on agency?
I don't think there taking on hgv drivers , all the hgv that come to us are driven by agency (pertemps?) drivers.As a side note, anyone here work for Royal Mail? For them not on agency?
Venisonpie said:
I haven't driven for a living for a long time but do wonder what I could charge as an SOS driver on call to a handful of operators who needed a quick solution. I think being flexible, customer friendly and prepared to do what was required you could charge £300 a day plus expenses for an 8 hour shift. You might not work every day but might not need to.
I did this for a bit in the early 2000's, I have HGV and PCV and would get more work on the latter if companies got caught short on schools contracts etcNot sure about £300 per day but I would do ok out of it.
I am starting to realise that I shouldn't have spent a year driving for Ocado delivering groceries after my business went under due to covid. I would have been far better getting through my HGV2 licence and got stuck in. I live just outside of Stevenage, any training companies recommended around here.
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