Haulier hits out at owner drivers
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k SCOTTISH road haulier hit out at owner-drivers' criticisms of his handling of work in Saudi Arabia this week.
Bill Wright, managing iirector of Dunbartonsh ire)ased William Wright Trans)ort Services Ltd, told CM that :omplaints to the trade press viginated with a small group )f drivers who were "more nterested in sun-bathing than vorking."
Mr Wright arranged last )ctober for 24 men and their rehicles to work from Jeddah n conjunction with Arab ,ponsor Mamoun Bayoumi.
The shipment of vehicles vas delayed for three and a ialf weeks because two Ford -ranscontinentals — embarped by Arab countries beause Ford supplies Israel — .7ere included. Eventually their documentation was altered to permit entry.
Mr Wright rejected drivers' claims that there was no work for them to do, and pointed out that another driver earned, £2,200 gross (approximately £2,000 after costs) in one week.
He added that the driver in question had worked since the day he arrived in Jeddah and was on duty for 12 hours each day.
Other men, according to Mr Wright, were more interested in leisure activities than work. "One man took sunstroke and lay in bed in a terrible state. We flew him home, but he must have been ashamed of himself because he told everyone he had dysentery."
Mr Wright says complaints about his company's eightroom hostel for Jeddah-based owner drivers all originated with the same drivers."
Mr Wright told CM that the drivers still owe him 05,000 for shipping and air fares and for the cost of bringing the vehicles into line with Saudi legal requirements.
He intends, in conjunction with his Arab sponsor to make the men work until they repay this debt.
"I wish I checked the owner drivers' backgrounds more thoroughy before we went to Jeddah, "he says "after all, we had over 100 applicants and none of them was forced to go."