Anyone else had a letter?

[handpaper]

From the Department of Transport?

I have been cordially invited to do the Right Thing for my country and go drive a lorry for a while.

I guess I'll have to drag myself into work on Monday instead of bunking off to play conkers and scrump apples.

Just as long as people aren't clapping at me from Motorway bridges again - that was cringeworthy.

[Super Sonic]

Have you actually been offered a job or is it just a suggestion? Do you already work as a lorry driver are are you retired or doing other work? Is this the government doing something useful, or just being seen to?

[magpie215]

HMG: we tried to recruit or re recruit all the people we had on file who have or have held a HGV licence unfortunately the takeup was poor.

Therefore we have been left with no choice but to seek drivers from the EU to fill the void.

[Getragdogleg]

Had a letter, crock of st

Too little, too late and the country deserves the st that's hitting the fan because hgv drivers have been treated like lepers by the government their "for profit" agents vosa/dvsa and the public at large who love the stuff lorry's bring but not the lorries.

London is one the worst places to deliver second only to rdc's.

It's become a horrible job in the 26 years I've been doing it.

[CoreyDog]

Recieved a letter the other morning.... Even though I've not driven a HGV for over 15 years!

[Trevor555]

No one mentions the CPC testing that was bought in.

That put quite a few drivers off in my age range, 50's..

[sixor8]

Me too. I've been driving since 1984 and had driven 7 1/2 ton lorries for over 20 years before CPC became compulsory. As a part time semi-retired bloke, I couldn't be arsed.....

I'd have to get a digital tacho card too even if I could find an agency wanting drivers OTHER than multi drop cannon fodder.

[Getragdogleg]

When my mother had a knee operation and the surgeon basically did it wrong and left her disabled there were no options open to discipline or get him to admit it or fix it.

When a politician gets found out cheating, taking money for influence or claiming excessive expenses there is almost zero come back.

If I speed or infringe my hours I can be fined years later. I'm more responsible that pretty much any other profession but held in very low esteem.

I'd rather say I was a cleaner than a lorry driver most of the time if I'm asked.

[944 Man]

[handpaper]

Super Sonic said:

Have you actually been offered a job or is it just a suggestion? Do you already work as a lorry driver are are you retired or doing other work? Is this the government doing something useful, or just being seen to?

It's a suggestion, from the DoT, that I "consider returning" to the sector if I'm not currently employed within it.

I do work as a driver and have for the last twelve years; I suspect that liason with VOSA would show recent tachograph records, failing that, my current CPC might be a clue.

I live in Wales. So the reverse of the letter had the same text, but in Welsh. For all those HGV drivers who can't speak or read English.

[Venisonpie]

Yup. The irony being the govt have my licence renewal application which I'm awaiting.

A commitment to supporting better on road facilities and legislating for improved working conditions are what's really needed but that isn't popular with operators and politicians.

[leggly]

As long as my ringpiece points south I’ll not be going back to driving trucks full time. Snow Ploughs will do from now on, fk that working for living bks.

[Super Sonic]

Have just read that the govt have sent out a million letters to hgv license holders. Wonder how many of these are already driving hgv.

[anonymous-user]

Two of my driver's got letters as did I. I imagine they cross reference it against tacho data or lack of, as both drivers started after a significant stint at doing something else. Had however held their licence for that same time.

It's a pointless letter,

[rallye101]

Had a call from a guy the other day ( I own an agency) and he's agreed to come drive again after a letter....at £18\hr basic it's not too bad

[anonymous-user]

rallye101 said:

Had a call from a guy the other day ( I own an agency) and he's agreed to come drive again after a letter....at £18\hr basic it's not too bad

I always smile at the hourly rate folk. My drivers are constantly approached by folk offering a higher hourly rate than theirs. However not one driver out of 100 has left in this "driver crisis" As they all know, being home every day by tea time is far better than boasting in the local truck stop or services to other loaner truck drivers away all week how much their hourly rate is.

Funnily enough, come P60 lots of those guys are quiet too.

[HelterSkelter]

Trevor555 said:

No one mentions the CPC testing that was bought in.

That put quite a few drivers off in my age range, 50's..

The CPC card isn't a test for a start, it's based on attendance of the course and nothing more. It's also now easier than ever to complete as you don't even need to leave your house as it's all done on Zoom.

[exelero]

Yes

[exelero]

Super Sonic said:

Have you actually been offered a job or is it just a suggestion? Do you already work as a lorry driver are are you retired or doing other work? Is this the government doing something useful, or just being seen to?

They just send out a letter for you to help out. I’m working as a driver but still got it. Basically money down the drain, because everyone had it regardless of their employment status

[Desiderata]

Venisonpie said:

Yup. The irony being the govt have my licence renewal application which I'm awaiting.

Yes, my daughter passed her class2 (or whatever the current name for it is) in July and is still waiting for her new licence. She has a job lined up but can't start till her licence comes through.