Truck drivers are way down the list
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by Nicky Clarke • Lorry driving is a "semiroutine" occupation and lorry drivers are losing their class, according to a Governmentconimissioned report.
The Ectwomic and Social Research Council Review of Gorernment Social Classifications recommends new classification schemes for use by the Office of National Statistics to replace schemes adopted in the 1920s and 1950s.
The report makes no distinction between types of lorry drivers or their qualifications, and downgrades them to Class 6. This is termed a "semi-routine" occupation, formerly called semi-skilled, along with traffic wardens and assembly-line workers. It puts drivers below driving instructors, builders and plumbers who are placed in Classes 4 and 5.
Until now, market researchers using the A-E social grades scheme have placed lorry drivers in the C2 category if they have an EIGV licence and in the D category if they haven't. Under the new ratings
only labourers, wailers, cleaners and the unemployed come behind lorry drivers, in Classes 7 and 8.
The decision to place lorry drivers in Class 6 is based on their employment relations. which were found to be similar to those in other semi-skilled classes, says the report's coauthor, Professor David Rose of Essex University.
The report used statistics from the Government Labour Force survey which interviewed 100,000 people, of %vhom 1,000 were lorry drivers. They were asked about their contracts of employment, whether they were salaried or paid hourly, their career prospects and required notice periods.
United Road Transport Union general-secretary David Higginbottom says the classification is wholly expected when the terms and conditions in the industry are considered.
"If you looked at what drivers do and their technical skills, then on that basis the classification would be different," he says.