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'These large companies are forcing the honest haulier into the ground'

2nd September 1993
Page 46
Page 46, 2nd September 1993 — 'These large companies are forcing the honest haulier into the ground'
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

4. warning to prospective owner

drivers. Yes, I was one of those unfortunate people who let their heads rule their hearts and became an owner driver.

Tempted by all the adverts calling for owner-drivers and the promises from the transport managers that they have continuous work and that you can earn more than £1,000 a week—"no problem".

The truth is different.

No more than £600-700 a week is ever earnt and there are long hours sitting at customers' premises waiting to be loaded or unloaded. You never see the company's own vehicles there.

Of course this is why they use subbies—to do all the rubbish work and to lay off when there is no work.

You can earn money—but only if you run illegally. They ask you to do work that they know, and you know, will mean that you run over hours. But you have debts to pay and a family to support. I wonder how the British Standards people would react if they knew the reality.

While working for "respectable" container firms the following incidents occurred: • I tip a load on the east coast at 19:00hrs and am asked to take a load down to the West Country by 08:00hrs the next day. I say I cannot legally do it and am asked to come back tomorrow. The next guy who walks in takes the job and says he will do it by "hook or by crook"—and he has just arrived from London. I lose a day's work because I would not run illegally.

• I have had a bad week only earning £400 when on Friday I am offered a weekend run up North, which gives me a chance to boost that week's earnings. They know I am plated at 32.5 tonnes and the release note says 18 tonnes. At the dock the straddle lift has a problem lfting my box—the whole rig groans with the strain once loaded. The load is actually 28 tonnes. No way am I taking this box up the road. It takes me three hours to get the box off again and inserted back on to the computer. The guy who eventually took the box got £250 round trip on his 38-tonner.

• I do a morning job out of Tilbury to Dartford for £60 then pick up a box for Erith. I arrive at 15:00hrs and they refuse to tip me, having told me to get there as soon as possible. They tell me to come back at 09:00hrs the next day—I am not tipped till 15:00hrs. The rate for this job was £65 and I am still chasing demurrage.

These large companies are forcing the honest haulier into the ground. Maintenance cannot be kept up, the cheapest tyres are used, you park on the road to avoid costs. When paying such low rates perhaps these companies should also be held accountable when the subbie is pulled in by the VI and hauled over the coals about the state of the lorry.

Oh for the day when we could have an allout stoppage—even if just for one day—so that owner-drivers could wake up these large companies. After all, when chasing new work these firms emphasise how they stick to the rules and regulations applying to road haulage. But the work could not be done economically without using subbies that run bent.

Am I bitter? Just a little. Fortunately I still have my house and my family, unlike numerous other people before me. Be careful out there.

E] If you want to sound off about a road transport issue write to features editor Patric annane.

Tags

People: Patric
Locations: London

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