discussion Petrol

[adt70hk]

Hi all

The idea of 100,000 person driver shortage was actually looked at by BBC Radio 4s More or Less program. The program specialises in looking at statements made by government and organisations to see if they actually hold up.

The figure of 100,000 is apparently derived from three different sources. The Office of National Statistics is responsible for the first two; one is the number of drivers who would have taken a HGV test but couldn't because of Covid so hopefully that's a a figure you can get a reasonable estimate for based on years of historic data. The second is an estimate of the number of EU HGV drivers that returned home to Europe in the run-up to brexit. Again whilst it's probably not an exact science my assumption is that the ONS would have a way of arriving at a reasonably accurate calculation and I would hope would state there was a margin for error.

The third figure and apparently about half of this 100,000 (IIRC), was a figure that the Road Haulage Association was bandying around before Covid hit.......

When More or Less contacted the Road Haulage Association to ask them how they arrived at that figure ........ and.......surprise, surprise they were unable to tell them....... Discuss!!!

ATB.

Andrew

 

[outrunner]

As an ex HGV and PSV driver I am of the firm opinion that the Road Haulage Association is a toothless dog which does little or nothing to improve drivers conditions.

Andy.

 

[Tim Marlow]

Quite a few of them have also retired Andrew, and there are a substantial number of HGV license holders that are no longer in the industry due to the appalling working conditions. In addition, the average age of HGV drivers in the UK is actually 55…if they're short staffed now, wait a few years! Half of the drivers will retire or fail medicals. Never mind, self driving trucks are just over the horizon….the companies will be able to double driving hours without worrying about pesky drivers…..

 

[Tim Marlow]

As an ex HGV and PSV driver I am of the firm opinion that the Road Haulage Association is a toothless dog which does little or nothing to improve drivers conditions.

Andy.

The road haulage association looks after the interests of the companies, not the employees….

 

[outrunner]

The road haulage association looks after the interests of the companies, not the employees….

Yes I know, but without the employees you have no companies.

Andy.

 

[Tim Marlow]

I know that, and you know that :tongue-out3:
It’s a bit strange that the companies are only just realising it though…..how did they think the goods were getting moved around…fairies?

 

[BattleshipBob]

Having worked and then trained apprentice HGV and PSV technicians, the whole country can see how vital trucks are so perhaps people will stop moaning when they have to pass one

 

[Tim Marlow]

Having worked and then trained apprentice HGV and PSV technicians, the whole country can see how vital trucks are so perhaps people will stop moaning when they have to pass one

Come on Bob, we both know the numpty that queued up for thirty minutes, while moaning all the time that they should get preference, to put ten quids worth of unleaded in his or her Stug sized SUVs petrol tank, will still moan like hell when a fuel truck holds them up for a couple of minutes……

 

[adt70hk]

Quite a few of them have also retired Andrew, and there are a substantial number of HGV license holders that are no longer in the industry due to the appalling working conditions. In addition, the average age of HGV drivers in the UK is actually 55…if they're short staffed now, wait a few years! Half of the drivers will retire or fail medicals. Never mind, self driving trucks are just over the horizon….the companies will be able to double driving hours without worrying about pesky drivers…..

They was it!!!!....I knew there was something else about the numbers reducing....

 

[Gern]

Thought my nearest garage was bad. The BBC found a garage selling unleaded at £2.08! Oh well. If people have any sense they'll go somewhere else after the problem's sorted and serve the greedy b****r right! Betcha a lot of them won't move though as habits are sometimes hard to break.

 

[Guest]

Thought my nearest garage was bad. The BBC found a garage selling unleaded at £2.08! Oh well. If people have any sense they'll go somewhere else after the problem's sorted and serve the greedy b****r right! Betcha a lot of them won't move though as habits are sometimes hard to break.

Fill up in Jersey Dave. No queues, no panic prices no change.

Damn I sold the car. Tank full.

But to a Grandson my taxi.

Laurie

 

[Guest]

Thought my nearest garage was bad. The BBC found a garage selling unleaded at £2.08! Oh well. If people have any sense they'll go somewhere else after the problem's sorted and serve the greedy b****r right! Betcha a lot of them won't move though as habits are sometimes hard to break.

Tis the human race Dave. Also commercial practice.

Shortage of carrots to sell. Sell those you have at a higher price. Turkey are going to go up in price for Christmas same conspiracy.

Need a Wellington Bomber model or as I found a Dart Herald you will now pay two or three times the original going rate.

Sell your stuff on Ebay & you charge what others will pay. Supply & demand.

After all many have not much petrol to sell but still retain staff. Many have convenience shops yet nobody in them but still pay the staff.

Laurie

 

[Ian M]

Last time we had a fuel shortage, it was due to a tanker drivers strike. The government passed an order that only cars with even last digit could be driven one day and those with odd last digit in the registration the next.
My cars reg. ended with a 9, my wife's with a 4. We worked at the same place so didn't bother us a bit. It did work to an extent.
Still have two cars and need them both. Living in the countryside, as Al wrote, a car is not an optional luxury.

 

[Tim Marlow]

Never mind, here come the cavalry

 

[rtfoe]

Thought my nearest garage was bad. The BBC found a garage selling unleaded at £2.08! Oh well. If people have any sense they'll go somewhere else after the problem's sorted and serve the greedy b****r right! Betcha a lot of them won't move though as habits are sometimes hard to break.

It's dollar for dollar here which is one sixth of that pump stations price I think after conversion.

Cheers,
Richard