HGV Class 1 Driver Wages ?
Discussion
LetsTryAgain said:
I'm currently looking for some weekend driving in the NW and can't find a thing.
Have contacted double figures of haulage companies and probably 2 have bothered even getting back to me.
I have Class 1, tacho card and CPC - nothing.
And (allegedly) there's an industry shortage.
Such a shortage that we still pay a tenner an hour and don't bother responding to folk.
Were abouts in the north west? If you don’t mind agency get onto the ones who supply supermarkets as their busiest time is weekends should find work easy. Have contacted double figures of haulage companies and probably 2 have bothered even getting back to me.
I have Class 1, tacho card and CPC - nothing.
And (allegedly) there's an industry shortage.
Such a shortage that we still pay a tenner an hour and don't bother responding to folk.
red_slr said:
For those talking about low wages have you seen the cost of running a fleet in 2020?
The amount of red tape and H&S is incredible.
When I started in this game we were paying about £5-6k a year insurance. Its £20k now.
PPE and lifting gear etc can be £3-4k a year for 8-10 guys being reasonable, I could double that overnight. 20 years ago it was pretty much zero.
Down time for site inductions, training courses, DCPC, Hiab etc etc. ££££ + days of lost time.
Fuel is twice the price.
AdBlue... don't even get me started on that.
Dealers charging £60+/hr and trucks basically need dealer laptop for a lot of work.
Congestion means we are getting about 65-70% the work done in the same number of hours compared to 2005.
That's just the tip of the iceberg. You have other factors like work place pension, 28 days paid holiday, paternity leave etc etc etc.
ALL this still is not free and the majority of it simply did not exist pre 2000.
And you suggestion is that the drivers should be paid far less now than then, as a result of your increased overhead? A stupid conclusion.The amount of red tape and H&S is incredible.
When I started in this game we were paying about £5-6k a year insurance. Its £20k now.
PPE and lifting gear etc can be £3-4k a year for 8-10 guys being reasonable, I could double that overnight. 20 years ago it was pretty much zero.
Down time for site inductions, training courses, DCPC, Hiab etc etc. ££££ + days of lost time.
Fuel is twice the price.
AdBlue... don't even get me started on that.
Dealers charging £60+/hr and trucks basically need dealer laptop for a lot of work.
Congestion means we are getting about 65-70% the work done in the same number of hours compared to 2005.
That's just the tip of the iceberg. You have other factors like work place pension, 28 days paid holiday, paternity leave etc etc etc.
ALL this still is not free and the majority of it simply did not exist pre 2000.
GC8 said:
And you suggestion is that the drivers should be paid far less now than then, as a result of your increased overhead? A stupid conclusion.
I think that's exactly what he is suggesting 
red_slr said:
For those talking about low wages have you seen the cost of running a fleet in 2020?
The amount of red tape and H&S is incredible.
That's why I said 'fook it in 2005' I could see it coming The amount of red tape and H&S is incredible.
It doesn't matter how many licences DfT 'think' are in circulation, I have all the licenses (except the red tape DCPC despite having a CPC Freight National) and medicals etc but have no intention of driving and haven't done for over 10 years.
Just out of interest as a 'fleet operator' why do you generally object to paying for overnight parking as a legitimate business expense? Yet insist on charging customers for the 'service' you provide.
I am not saying they *should* be paid less. I am saying that wages are probably fairly stagnent when you consider inflation yes and I gave the reasons why. There are a lot of costs that simply did not exisit 20 years ago.
Honeslty, this is a big part of the issue in the industry in that there are a lot of hidden costs and its not just drivers but employees in general often cant understand the full picutre.
If you look at the package most larger firms offer now then wages are probably a bit better than they were, but not by much. Working conditions certainly are way better, even if you are tramping. Most drivers I know who work for the bigger outfits are taking home well over £30k a year and working 10-11 hour days. Yes its a lot of hours to work but its actually a good wage for whats invovled with the job. Look at the salary for paramedics or police officers.
We pay less, but we pay a heck of a lot more than we did in 2000, for example. In 2000 most drivers were on maybe £6.50 max. Now they are on £10.50.
But thats all drivers see is their base line weekly wage. They forget the extra paid holiday they get, the £50k welfare facilities we had to have built, the uniform and PPE, pension, considerable extra training we pay for bla bla bla.
And as an owner operator who works full time in the business there is not one single person who works longer hours in the business as I am there to hand out the keys in the moring and I am there to close the gates at night. Everyone is off today as they have all ran into their 45 but I am off to the office...
Honeslty, this is a big part of the issue in the industry in that there are a lot of hidden costs and its not just drivers but employees in general often cant understand the full picutre.
If you look at the package most larger firms offer now then wages are probably a bit better than they were, but not by much. Working conditions certainly are way better, even if you are tramping. Most drivers I know who work for the bigger outfits are taking home well over £30k a year and working 10-11 hour days. Yes its a lot of hours to work but its actually a good wage for whats invovled with the job. Look at the salary for paramedics or police officers.
We pay less, but we pay a heck of a lot more than we did in 2000, for example. In 2000 most drivers were on maybe £6.50 max. Now they are on £10.50.
But thats all drivers see is their base line weekly wage. They forget the extra paid holiday they get, the £50k welfare facilities we had to have built, the uniform and PPE, pension, considerable extra training we pay for bla bla bla.
And as an owner operator who works full time in the business there is not one single person who works longer hours in the business as I am there to hand out the keys in the moring and I am there to close the gates at night. Everyone is off today as they have all ran into their 45 but I am off to the office...
red_slr said:
I am not saying they *should* be paid less. I am saying that wages are probably fairly stagnent when you consider inflation yes and I gave the reasons why. There are a lot of costs that simply did not exisit 20 years ago.
Honeslty, this is a big part of the issue in the industry in that there are a lot of hidden costs and its not just drivers but employees in general often cant understand the full picutre.
If you look at the package most larger firms offer now then wages are probably a bit better than they were, but not by much. Working conditions certainly are way better, even if you are tramping. Most drivers I know who work for the bigger outfits are taking home well over £30k a year and working 10-11 hour days. Yes its a lot of hours to work but its actually a good wage for whats invovled with the job. Look at the salary for paramedics or police officers.
We pay less, but we pay a heck of a lot more than we did in 2000, for example. In 2000 most drivers were on maybe £6.50 max. Now they are on £10.50.
But thats all drivers see is their base line weekly wage. They forget the extra paid holiday they get, the £50k welfare facilities we had to have built, the uniform and PPE, pension, considerable extra training we pay for bla bla bla.
And as an owner operator who works full time in the business there is not one single person who works longer hours in the business as I am there to hand out the keys in the moring and I am there to close the gates at night. Everyone is off today as they have all ran into their 45 but I am off to the office...
Haulage is tough in some markets and it is incredibly competitive but it is an industry like all others where the fittest survive. Honeslty, this is a big part of the issue in the industry in that there are a lot of hidden costs and its not just drivers but employees in general often cant understand the full picutre.
If you look at the package most larger firms offer now then wages are probably a bit better than they were, but not by much. Working conditions certainly are way better, even if you are tramping. Most drivers I know who work for the bigger outfits are taking home well over £30k a year and working 10-11 hour days. Yes its a lot of hours to work but its actually a good wage for whats invovled with the job. Look at the salary for paramedics or police officers.
We pay less, but we pay a heck of a lot more than we did in 2000, for example. In 2000 most drivers were on maybe £6.50 max. Now they are on £10.50.
But thats all drivers see is their base line weekly wage. They forget the extra paid holiday they get, the £50k welfare facilities we had to have built, the uniform and PPE, pension, considerable extra training we pay for bla bla bla.
And as an owner operator who works full time in the business there is not one single person who works longer hours in the business as I am there to hand out the keys in the moring and I am there to close the gates at night. Everyone is off today as they have all ran into their 45 but I am off to the office...
The one comment I find a bit disappointing is the 50k spend on welfare facilities "you had to have built".
For me this is the biggest area the industry should be ashamed of, driver facilities. How many other workforces would be expected to live in a metal box all week without access to proper facilities when needed.
Companies that look after their employees get loyalty and an ability to provide reliable and consistent service.
Building welfare facilities should be something to be proud of not done begrudgingly.
And let's remember that 'they wont pay any more' started long before Eastern European drivers came here prepared to work for peanuts. Where else were 'they' going to go?
Weak management and piss poor business acumen are the real problem, just as much as the rising cost of fuel. Lots of hopeless ten bob millionaires without a clue, all cutting each others throats. I have little sympathy.
Weak management and piss poor business acumen are the real problem, just as much as the rising cost of fuel. Lots of hopeless ten bob millionaires without a clue, all cutting each others throats. I have little sympathy.
Venisonpie said:
The one comment I find a bit disappointing is the 50k spend on welfare facilities "you had to have built".
For me this is the biggest area the industry should be ashamed of, driver facilities. How many other workforces would be expected to live in a metal box all week without access to proper facilities when needed.
Companies that look after their employees get loyalty and an ability to provide reliable and consistent service.
Building welfare facilities should be something to be proud of not done begrudgingly.
Bang on but 'the industry' wants everyone else to provide them, oh and for free. For me this is the biggest area the industry should be ashamed of, driver facilities. How many other workforces would be expected to live in a metal box all week without access to proper facilities when needed.
Companies that look after their employees get loyalty and an ability to provide reliable and consistent service.
Building welfare facilities should be something to be proud of not done begrudgingly.
You only have to look in many a layby eg by Red Lion truckstop in Northampton (or many others including service areas) and trucks are parked up for the night then walking into facilities to avoid paying parking. Then they complain when the facilities shut down or don't invest
If it's such a great gig why haven't you got the RHA and FTA opening facilities instead of sitting in offices mouthing off expecting everyone else to provide facilities whilst taking a big wedge home?
That's probably because most of the ten bob millionaire operators wont pay to park their own vehicle at night. They expect it to come out of a night out allowance which hasnt increased in over two decades and which the drivers rely upon to make their salary tolerable: and which certainly isnt for parking someone elses vehicle. Ironically paying to park (if yow wanna park then yow pay) frequently costs more than the tramps pay trampers. Not every operator is guilty of this, but the majority are.
As well as working for 60hrs a week, they expect a driver to be an unpaid security guard for their vehicle too. I struggle to give a f
k about the plight of the haulage operator.
As well as working for 60hrs a week, they expect a driver to be an unpaid security guard for their vehicle too. I struggle to give a f
k about the plight of the haulage operator. Glenn63 said:
There are still some decent companies out there, my last payed £40 a night out plus payed for parking with meal voucher, so £40 and £9 towards food usually makes a considerable difference to money in your pocket at the end of the week.
That's more like it. Imagine if there were a minimum overnight allowance akin to a minimum wage of £40 - it would mean a B&B is in range should the driver choose. I whole new support industry could thrive on it.I also agree with another poster about hauliers being their own worst enemy and doing nothing to improve conditions whilst blaming everyone else. Every other industry invests in itself and employees yet the haulage industry doesn't think it applies to them.
http://surefreight.co.uk/careers/3130293
This is the firm I work for and they are looking drivers in the north west, based in Heysham and most loads are pick up along m6 and drop at Heysham docks, decent facilities in their depot and bar about a dozen scania highlines the rest of the 200 odd fleet is under 3years old and nicely specced.
This is the firm I work for and they are looking drivers in the north west, based in Heysham and most loads are pick up along m6 and drop at Heysham docks, decent facilities in their depot and bar about a dozen scania highlines the rest of the 200 odd fleet is under 3years old and nicely specced.
Venisonpie said:
red_slr said:
I am not saying they *should* be paid less. I am saying that wages are probably fairly stagnent when you consider inflation yes and I gave the reasons why. There are a lot of costs that simply did not exisit 20 years ago.
Honeslty, this is a big part of the issue in the industry in that there are a lot of hidden costs and its not just drivers but employees in general often cant understand the full picutre.
If you look at the package most larger firms offer now then wages are probably a bit better than they were, but not by much. Working conditions certainly are way better, even if you are tramping. Most drivers I know who work for the bigger outfits are taking home well over £30k a year and working 10-11 hour days. Yes its a lot of hours to work but its actually a good wage for whats invovled with the job. Look at the salary for paramedics or police officers.
We pay less, but we pay a heck of a lot more than we did in 2000, for example. In 2000 most drivers were on maybe £6.50 max. Now they are on £10.50.
But thats all drivers see is their base line weekly wage. They forget the extra paid holiday they get, the £50k welfare facilities we had to have built, the uniform and PPE, pension, considerable extra training we pay for bla bla bla.
And as an owner operator who works full time in the business there is not one single person who works longer hours in the business as I am there to hand out the keys in the moring and I am there to close the gates at night. Everyone is off today as they have all ran into their 45 but I am off to the office...
Haulage is tough in some markets and it is incredibly competitive but it is an industry like all others where the fittest survive. Honeslty, this is a big part of the issue in the industry in that there are a lot of hidden costs and its not just drivers but employees in general often cant understand the full picutre.
If you look at the package most larger firms offer now then wages are probably a bit better than they were, but not by much. Working conditions certainly are way better, even if you are tramping. Most drivers I know who work for the bigger outfits are taking home well over £30k a year and working 10-11 hour days. Yes its a lot of hours to work but its actually a good wage for whats invovled with the job. Look at the salary for paramedics or police officers.
We pay less, but we pay a heck of a lot more than we did in 2000, for example. In 2000 most drivers were on maybe £6.50 max. Now they are on £10.50.
But thats all drivers see is their base line weekly wage. They forget the extra paid holiday they get, the £50k welfare facilities we had to have built, the uniform and PPE, pension, considerable extra training we pay for bla bla bla.
And as an owner operator who works full time in the business there is not one single person who works longer hours in the business as I am there to hand out the keys in the moring and I am there to close the gates at night. Everyone is off today as they have all ran into their 45 but I am off to the office...
The one comment I find a bit disappointing is the 50k spend on welfare facilities "you had to have built".
For me this is the biggest area the industry should be ashamed of, driver facilities. How many other workforces would be expected to live in a metal box all week without access to proper facilities when needed.
Companies that look after their employees get loyalty and an ability to provide reliable and consistent service.
Building welfare facilities should be something to be proud of not done begrudgingly.
I mention it because, if we had not spent that money it could have gone on wage rises and new stuff for all. That one guy basically shot everyone else in the foot for 2 years. And guess what about a month after it was all completed he left, and suddnely everyone was happy again.
Not all operators are evil fat cats sometimes the money is just not there so being thoughtful in what you spend it on actually has a benefit to everyone.
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