Wednesday 18th July 2001

Younger Drivers Scheme

Young lads in lorries

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[Jasper Gilder]

This is much needed - what no-one probably realises is that there is a national shortage of HGV drivers. New licensing also means that you cannot qualify to drive a Class 1 (articulated) vehicle without first getting a licence for a rigid vehicle ( the type that hardly anyone uses any more). Now wait for the double whammy - the European Working Time Directive does not currently apply to HGV drivers in the UK. Eventually - read 2003- a version of the WTD will apply to drivers, and some major companies have estimated that - based on curent proposals - they may need up to 21% more drivers. If anyone knows where they will come from please let me know, because I work in the industry and I don''t. I''m thinking of getting some seeds and seeing if I can grow some in the back garden........

[mags]

Jasper, Not exactly the same as you say, but my employer has handed out WTD waiver forms for employee's to sign. If you dont sign, then work an 8 hour day, not problem. If you do sign, your career has a much greater chance of blossoming within the company. Very nasty I agree, but its all legal.

[nmilton]

Actually it's not legal for a company to discriminate against people who don't sign the waiver. Admittedly it would be hard to prove, but if you felt that people were being advanced in preference to yourself as a result of them working longer hours then the employer would have a case to answer. On the other hand, if those same people don't have a life outside of work and spend all the hours god sends arse licking then you have to ask yourself whether you want to work for a company like that. I know I did (and decided I didn't !!).

[mrtony]

<sarcasm on> But we won't need HGV drivers in 2003 because our fabulous new rail network will take the burden of haulage. </sarcasm off>