wrote:

On 7 May, 14:25, "steve robinson"
wrote:
wrote:
As I say, I do not know anything about the industry, but it seems
to me that if it is ecconomical for the foreign owned trucks to
come here with full tanks to deliver between 2 sites within the
UK, why is it not ecconomical for UK trucks to go to the
continent, fill up and then return to do the same job?

Because they are still paying uk rates to the drivers who are also
covered by the maximium driving hours legislation , and you add
another ferry journey into the equation , the eu drivers rarely go
over to the continient empty .

I say again, if you cannot compete on wages then do something about
it. Do not expect everyone else to support an unecconomic industry.
The europe wide competion for labour has made everyone have to think
about their competativness.

The industry is not uneconomc if a level playing field exists , however
lets play by your rules , the uk haulage system crashes , government
loses billions in taxes , unemployement rizes costing the government
billions in benifits are you prepared to take a tax hike of 10 % and a
wage cut of 50% will you ****


And if the EU drivers can find loads to take over the channel, then
why can uk drivers not?

Basic economics , of 100 pound plus a day wage cost differential , very
low or no business tax in many eastern european countries
No employment taxes (nat insurance currently 12% ) very little
employment law

The maxium fuel carrying capacity of uk wagons is often different to
the eastern european wagons , quite common for them to run with
large belly tanks under thier trailers

That is a very good issue. I thought regulations concerning HGV's had
been standardised accross europe, for things like this and also
driving hours (and speed limits, hence the 56 mph limit). If this
standardisation has not taken place, then should that not be the
subject of the protests?

Not across all of europe , many countries do not enforce the
regulations

I have a friend that used to have wagons doing continental runs it
was standard proceedure for them to come back to the uk full of
fuel then the nigh****chman used to empty the wagons tanks
overnight into his uk fleet , leaving his trucks just enough to get
to calais again to fill up , he reckoned it saved him over £250000
a year

There, a change to business practice that alows uk companies to
compete. If people are willing to be flexable I cannot see why the UK
cannot compete perferctly well.

Not all haulers can get international trips , he was just fortunate ,
if he didnt do that is uk fleet would be running at a substantial loss .

And you would be happy if your employer decided to be flexible and cut
your wages by 50% and send you off to latvia or the likes and enforced
a 16 hour day on you , take it or eave it



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