1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144 
TruckNet's Rikki Chequer reports on an upturn in work, and a new roadtranpsort.com landing page
Page 9
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
A couple weeks ago I reported that users of the forums were starting to see signs of improvement when it came to looking for work. While January and February are traditionally quiet, this year was exceptional. Hardly surprising really, given the state the world's finances are in.
I am pleased to say, however, that despite news of more lay-offs across the industry, forum users are continuing to report that there is a definite rise in available work. It is not only employed and agency drivers who are benefiting owner-drivers are reporting that they are getting offers of loads.
However, drivers and owner-drivers alike report remuneration has dropped through the floor. Drivers are being offered full-time jobs at rates marginally over the national minimum wage, and loads are being offered at rates that are similar to those being paid two years ago.
Some members seem to be doing OK throughout it all. One owner-driver has posted before-and-after photos of the latest addition to his small fleet a rather ordinary looking Magnum, transformed by a respray and strikinc decals to a stunning flagship. It caught the eye of Commercial Motor and Truck & Driver editorin-chief Brian Weatherley and is featured on hi,5 excellent Big Lorry Blog.
Finally, here at RBI we have always covered all aspects of the industry, both in print (Commercial Motor, Truck & Driver and Motor Transport) and online (roadtransport.com and TruckNet UK), which is why I am pleased to report that we now have a sparkling new landing page on www.roadtransport.com, aimed specifically at drivers. It has been fully integrated with the forums, which are easily accessed from there, and the news stories relevant to drivers are available. Driving jobs are also advertised, and anyone looking for work can be easily found by employers.
By providing both editorial content and industry member input/debate that is easily accessible on the web and in print, we can USE the strengths of both 'old' and 'new' media to provide an unrivalled insight into our industry.