Turks save on wages
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by Rob Willock • British haulage firms are using cheap foreign labour for international work to save on wages and transit costs. Unhappy UK ownerdrivers are reporting hundreds of British-registered lorries being driven around Eastern Europe by Turkish drivers and say they're losing out.
Essex-based Nigel Harness says: "I've got a list of 150 British registration plates on vehicles being driven by Turks."
Another driver, John Cooper of Warrington, says: "On the main Turkish transit route I have begun to notice British trucks in abundance, but with Turkish drivers. Do Turks like right-handdrive Daf 95s so much they all want one, or is it because they are employed to save a fortune in transit charges?"
Cooper says that at some borders he is now asked whether he is an "original British", or a "Turk with a British truck", before having to stump up for various "taxes", visas and insurance.
He suspects Turkish drivers in British-registered trucks are avoiding these charges. They are also turning down "waiting money" at their destina lions in favour of going home.
Because their costs are lower, these drivers are able to undercut British hauliers' rates, complains Harness. "These Turks are getting the best of both worlds," he claims.
I . Davies Turner is one company legally using Turkish drivers, but its joint managing director, Philip Stevenson, agrees it is a situation which needs careful monitoring. "Our policy is unchanged," he says. "Where possible we employ British drivers— the British are the best. But the strong pound is not helping.
"We have a lot of business in Turkey and for some of that we use Turkish drivers," he adds. "But we don't go out of our way to employ them."