Tanker Drivers

Norfolk_Jim

pararct wrote: »

The other side of the coin is you don't have to work continual weekends maybe 7 out of 8 with time off in the week nor start a shift at 3.00am in the morning. Nor be pulling heavy tackle around in freezing rain or shovelling snow off valve covers.

Horses for courses my friend.

If you are a teacher you may well get a very good holiday entitlement so as I say swings and roundabouts.

I used to work for Hoyers delivering fuel from a site close to Heathrow airport for around 17 years. I gave the job up as to be honest I didn't need the hassle which came with the job. At the time I was financially secure mortgage was paid off and it was affecting my health (I was in my mid 40's at the time). Today I something completely unrelated to driving and am very happy doing so.

I was delivering petroleum spirit to a garage in South London when I spotted a chap stood filling his car with a fag hanging out of his mouth, this used to occur quite often and the stress levels were grinding. On other occasions people would be stood filling their cars with their mobile phones stuck to their ears and look dumbfounded when you asked them to switch them off.

After these incidents I chose to close each and every fuel outlet I delivered to (whilst the delivery was taking place). This is in within the power of the driver. This of course didn't go down to well with the firm or retail outlets.

It is easy to sit back and criticise when you have never done or do not understand the job. Yes the job is very well paid but the effort in working hours and unsocial hours (and the detriment this will have on individuals health) has to be put in to achieve these levels.

It's like so many other jobs, you think you know what the person does but until you do it you really don't. Don't imagine for a minute that working in education does not involve working weekends and evenings, early starts or surprisingly low levels of pay. Actually a large part of my work is work based assessing which can mean getting up in the early hours to drive to the far side of the country or being away from home. I'm not lacking in sympathy for the tanker drivers, simply don't understand the issues till I read the above, and if they are only quoting inflated and untypical pay, simply say so and give a more typical figure so people can know whats reality and what is spin.
Living life over again maybe I'd like to do your job and perhaps I'd hate it. The salary figure quoted though is imo out of the ordinary. Most people including me are on way below that for all kinds of jobs - what does the typical driver get? I'd like to know. There are staff working in education on 13.5k, others get treble that. Not all staff in education get long holidays either, theres a hell of a lot of people who work in education who are not teachers or on teachers pay, terms and conditions - but thats another story.

My comment wasn't intended as a swipe against tanker drivers, just 45,000 as being nothing out of the ordinary - I think it out of the ordinary for most.

Itismehonest

ILW wrote: »

Wasn't it McClusky who caused all the grief a few years ago with BA staff? Seem to remember nobody got anything out of that one either.

Yes. The same McCluskey........
Strikes at BAA
Strikes for bus drivers during Olympics
Strikes during Olympics in general
Strikes on final public pensions
Strikes on day of Royal Wedding

Oh & if people hear haven't heard the GMB baggage handlers at Stansted are wanting to strike over Easter

paddyrg

Itismehonest wrote: »

Yes. The same McCluskey........
Strikes at BAA
Strikes for bus drivers during Olympics
Strikes during Olympics in general
Strikes on final public pensions
Strikes on day of Royal Wedding

Oh & if people hear haven't heard the GMB baggage handlers at Stansted are wanting to strike over Easter

What does he get paid? What are his pension benefits paid by union members for being seen to make a fuss in public?

thorsoak

BUT AT THE MOMENT, THERE IS NO STRIKE!

The people panicking at the moment would appear to be the government who are running round like headless chickens, at one time advising us to hoard fuel, then to fill the tank up once you reach the half-way level, then when it is at two third, fill it up ....consequently it is now getting to the stage when there is petrol rage at Asda!

Who wins from all this? The government. They rake in more VAT + duty from the additional fuel sold ....and of course we are approaching the end of the first quarter of the year .....boosting the figures?????

Of course - blame the unions - or the poor panicking public who are having to shell out over £50 to fill a tank which normally putters along with 10 litres unless its going on a long journey ......'twas ever thus

It's the same the whole world over
Ain't it just a bloomin' shame
Its the rich wot gets the pleasures
Its the poor wot gets the blame

ILW

thorsoak wrote: »

BUT AT THE MOMENT, THERE IS NO STRIKE!

There has been a strike ballot.

Itismehonest

paddyrg wrote: »

What does he get paid? What are his pension benefits paid by union members for being seen to make a fuss in public?

Not sure but the guy before him, Simpson, came top of the 2009/10 Trade Union Rich List with £186,626,

lostinrates

thorsoak wrote: »

BUT AT THE MOMENT, THERE IS NO STRIKE!

The people panicking at the moment would appear to be the government who are running round like headless chickens, at one time advising us to hoard fuel, then to fill the tank up once you reach the half-way level, then when it is at two third, fill it up ....consequently it is now getting to the stage when there is petrol rage at Asda!

Who wins from all this? The government. They rake in more VAT + duty from the additional fuel sold ....and of course we are approaching the end of the first quarter of the year .....boosting the figures?????

Of course - blame the unions - or the poor panicking public who are having to shell out over £50 to fill a tank which normally putters along with 10 litres unless its going on a long journey ......'twas ever thus

It's the same the whole world over
Ain't it just a bloomin' shame
Its the rich wot gets the pleasures
Its the poor wot gets the blame

Why do they get MORE fuel duty and vat, surely its just brought forward a wee bit?

Jennifer_Jane

pararct wrote: »

I was delivering petroleum spirit to a garage in South London when I spotted a chap stood filling his car with a fag hanging out of his mouth, this used to occur quite often and the stress levels were grinding. On other occasions people would be stood filling their cars with their mobile phones stuck to their ears and look dumbfounded when you asked them to switch them off.

You would have been interested then in the coach driver that I was with last week (I travelled overnight coach to and from Lake Como), who apparently filled up the coach whilst smoking. Have to admit, I didn't actually see it myself, but that's what one of the other passengers told me. Had I seen it, I would have reported him to his bosses.

ILW

lostinrates wrote: »

Why do they get MORE fuel duty and vat, surely its just brought forward a wee bit?

Bit like a government borrowing loads of money to increase GDP and then acting all surprised when it hits the buffers a few years down the line.

Jennifer_Jane

lostinrates wrote: »

Why do they get MORE fuel duty and vat, surely its just brought forward a wee bit?

In fact, less fuel will probably be sold. I am now filled up and will conserve fuel until at least after Easter/any fuel strike. So won't be using more petrol, will be using less, because of the potential strike.