Tanker Drivers

StevieJ

howee wrote: »

I hate this nonsense about "race to the bottom" no one is suggesting lower pay but when do they realise they are on a good crack? And why cant they see they are being used by unite SCUM

Seems to be something of an Oxymoron feel to that little lot, as contradictory a couple of sentences that I have seen for a while.

lostinrates

Jennifer_Jane wrote: »

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.

I am just carrying on as usual, i feel a bit left out. Of course, my usuial will probably be hampered by others.

Like many, squeezing budgets has meant being prudent with fuel has been increasingly an area to cur down on, maximising worth of necessary outings, and minimising unnecessary ones.

collywollys

typical over reaction, the tesco garage near me was closed at 12 o'clock today, when i went passed about 1pm it was open again but hammered......people are using more fuel driving around looking, barmy !!!!!!!

Jennifer_Jane

I haven't used my car for going to the Leisure Centre this week, mostly because I'm ill, but also to conserve petrol for the Easter weekend, when my OH is staying here and I must have sufficient petrol for that. If it wasn't for that, I would be conserving fuel because of the cost - 143.9p!

Going4TheDream

ILW wrote: »

Seems to say they want paying extra for unsociable hours and early starts -surely tanker driving has always had them. Depends on their contracts, . Some may have Tupe'd 2 or 3 times and may have better T&c's or worse than drivers that are employed by the new company taking over the contract.

They only want certified drivers on tankers - isn't that already the case. Its not the certicication that is the problem it is the direct experience. Most people may pass the test but it is the training standards on the job that are questioned. Someone may know for example how to handle dangerous goods/flammable liquids but may not have epxerience of filling up petrol stations, which is perhaps not hard but has certain safety processes etc.

They do not want to feel rushed - there are already regulations regarding working hours etc. All lorry drivers are rushed these days and are under pressure to be somewhere. Their routes may be planned according to working laws but often fail to take into account traffic conditions, and hold ups or problems at customer sites. With a lot of customers working to JIT deliveries often penalites are incurred for arriving late or deliveries refused.

They keep changing employer which makes pensions complicated - why not arrange private pensions. They dont change employer through choice , they are often Tupe'd accross when new companies take over the contracts, often the pensions are not portable. They build up 2 or 3 years and then it is frozen and they start again with the new company. over a few years they could end up with a dozen pensions worth very little. As their contributions are paid before tax is deducted why should they be disadvantaged by paying tax on their whole salary then making seperate contributions to a private pension?


Ther you go, already sorted.

If it was a simplistic as you suggest I am sure they wouldnt be to fussed about striking? I work for one of the companies named in this dispute (Alhough I dont work on any fuel contract) I see daily the issues over some of the things these guys are facing and some of them dont just affect the drivers but all staff, from drivers, warehouse, admin, managers ....everyone. And when contracts are up and companies lose them it is not guaranteed that you will be needed in the new organisation, so the threat every couple of years of redundancy looms as well as the other things . Ok many people are uncertain of their jobs in this climate, but this happens in the good times under these contracts

thorsoak

Jennifer_Jane wrote: »

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.

"Since yesterday, it’s estimated that petrol sales have rocketed by 80 percent and diesel by 45 percent, following advice from the UK government that people should fill up as and when they can. And prices of fuel have also surged, leading to accusations of profiteering by some forecourts.
The BBC reported that vehicles were following petrol tankers into petrol stations and then waiting patiently for the pumps to start working again. Increased sales on fuel are expected to bring in 32 million on fuel duty."

Source: Channelbiz.co.uk

I rest my case!

robmatic

Going4TheDream wrote: »

They dont change employer through choice , they are often Tupe'd accross when new companies take over the contracts, often the pensions are not portable. They build up 2 or 3 years and then it is frozen and they start again with the new company. over a few years they could end up with a dozen pensions worth very little. As their contributions are paid before tax is deducted why should they be disadvantaged by paying tax on their whole salary then making seperate contributions to a private pension?

What nonsense is this? You get tax relief on all contributions to pensions.

And to be honest in recent years people are probably better off with 'frozen' pensions. Frozen DB pensions increase in line with inflation which is better than the pay increases most people have been getting.

tartanterra

howee wrote: »

Bet the odds are better than going to Afghanistan though and do we pay them £45k? !!

aliasojo wrote: »

Course not. Nor do we supply them with top of the range fully functioning kit or look after them well when they return to civvy street. We use them up and look the other way when they return home traumatised or with strange unexplained symptoms which some attribute to the multi jabs they have to endure.

None of it is relevant to the drivers issues though.

When I was in the Forces, many of us were additionally qualified to drive, maintain and operate fuel tankers. It wasn't our main trade, just an add on. It wasn't a particularly hard task, and certainly easier than my core trade.

Clearly, this was essential to allow us to remain self sufficient in any theatre we operated in.

As for the Health and Safety aspect, we didn't just replenish fuel points, satellite tanks etc, but pressure refuelled burning and turning aircraft. I can't recall a single accident or incident during my time. (Mind you, we did draw lots for which poor sod was going to drive the tanker into Iraq on the first day of the invasion!).

I'm sure that if these drivers are unhappy about getting paid £45K, then there are plenty of ex forces personnel who will be quite happy to replace them.
Additionally, ex forces are also used to working unsociable hours. (Actually, just like taxi drivers, shop workers, police, security guards, recovery mechanics, doctors, cleaners, ambulance drivers, maintenance call out engineers, flight attendants, customs officers, bar staff, pilots, trawlermen, takeaway workers, sex industry workers, life boat crews, nurses, air traffic staff etc,etc,etc.;))

Graham_Devon

alleycat` wrote: »

This morning, all had no more than 3 vehicles on the forecourt.
Media is just stirring as far as i am concerned.

It appears to be a city thing.

Had no problems filling up at BP earlier. Drove straight to a pump and filled up. Only me and another car there.

lostinrates

thorsoak wrote: »

"Since yesterday, it’s estimated that petrol sales have rocketed by 80 percent and diesel by 45 percent, following advice from the UK government that people should fill up as and when they can. And prices of fuel have also surged, leading to accusations of profiteering by some forecourts.
The BBC reported that vehicles were following petrol tankers into petrol stations and then waiting patiently for the pumps to start working again. Increased sales on fuel are expected to bring in 32 million on fuel duty."

Source: Channelbiz.co.uk

I rest my case!

But what will happen to all this stashed fuel? People will use it sometime when they would have bought more, presumably.