Change of sides
Page 22
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
The Sound Off article written by Fred Gathercole (CM 3-9 August) was interesting as almost 10 years ago the undersigned was starting out as an ownerdriver. Luckily he was able to avoid the unscrupulous middlemen but is acutely aware of the pressure exerted by them to force the ownerdriver to break the law by running over hours. overweight, and so on. Today, as a fleet operator, he is more concerned by the damage owner-drivers are inflicting on the marketplace.
At present not a day goes by without news from a longstanding customer that more competitive rates have been received. On investigation it is never from companies with good quality, new vehicles, driven by PAYE.] drivers; it is from freight forwarders and middlemen who have never known the perils of operating a tractor unit. They just reclaim the reduction from the owner-driver via enforced rate reductions, increased payment terms, increased administration charges, loan "sharking", spurious invoices or even non-payment. The number of executive cars in the car park does not reduce and they do not get any older.
The undersigned therefore, urges current (and prospective) owner-drivers such as Mr Gathercole to stop being exploited by, if necessary, closing their businesses and return to being employed within a company like ours which is committed to investing in people. Those unscrupulous middlemen, deprived of people to exploit, will then disappear, bringing a positive effect on rates, which will in turn allow the responsible operator to improve pay and conditions for his workforce.
We are sure, therefore, that in a short time the ex-ownerdriver will be receiving remuneration far in excess of that he received while owning a vehicle, without the stress and aggravation.
A Ingleston, Dochspeed Ltd