Drivers' poll reveals salaries differ by E16,500
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• Top earning truck drivers are on nearly three times the wages of some of their lowlier-paid colleagues, according to a straw poll conducted by Commercial Motor this week,
Of the 15 drivers CM interviewed at BP's truckstop in South Mimms, salaries ranged from £8,500 to £25,000. And about two thirds earnt £15,000 or less.
Most-13—felt they were underpaid and needed a wage increase of at least 20% to give them a decent living. Some felt their skills were regarded as being inferior to factory workers and at the same level as cleaners and labourers.
But despite their disillusionment, only two out of the 15 said they would be prepared to take strike action—although two-thirds of them are trade union members.
Their reluctance to take industrial action could be attributed to only two believing unions are effective in negotiating pay.
Most drivers also said they planned to make a career in driving—saying the freedom of the road was the main attraction. However, they said they felt increasingly stressed because of worsening traffic.
The better paid drivers tended to work for specialist transport companies which concentrated on industry sectors such as printing. A third of the drivers received performance-related pay and a half worked at weekends.