Here We Go Again

[teacake44]

It looks like Boris is getting the Christmas hampers ready for Joe public. He needs to earn some brownie points. So what are the goodies so far, he's going to arrange so you all have petrol to visit your loved ones for the big day. He is doing his best to bribe overseas drivers to deliver our sprouts. He may even allow the extra £20 a week benefit to continue as another carrot to hang on to his borrowed votes. In other words the same old, we are going to do this for Christmas, that for Christmas, so people are directed away from the serious issues. :0)

[douglas9401]

Off at a tangent but, his honour seems to have a Hobnob fixation.

[New Judge]

I could always make it Bourbons. Or Custard Creams, even. :-)

[Hymie]

A number of plump Brexit chickens are beginning to come home to roost.

What with the fuel shortage due to EU HGV drivers returning to their home country; we are yet to see the full effects of the low paid EU nationals (who have left), who’s jobs UK citizens are unwilling to fill – preferring to sit at home eating Hobnobs.

[Mozz71]

I'd be happy for them to keep their sprouts. Blurgh!

[New Judge]

//...due to EU HGV drivers returning to their home country;//

I'm almost on the point of giving up (but not just yet). The shortage of HGV drivers is NOT due to Brexit. See the "Best Answer" to this question:

https://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/News/Question1767750-1.html

Just because enough people keep repeating the same thing, it does not eventually become true. If you believe the HGV driver shortage is due to Brexit then produce some evidence to counter mine.

[1ozzy]

Maybe lorry drivers wages aren't worth working for in the UK.
Some will argue they are, no doubt some will argue otherwise

[davebro]

1ozzy - That's very perceptive!

[New Judge]

//Maybe lorry drivers wages aren't worth working for in the UK.//

No they are not. Average is about £32k and many of them have to kip in their cab four or five nights a week. That's the root of the problem, not Brexit.

[davebro]

Long term we should be putting more long distance freight onto the railways with road transport being used for carriage to final destinations.
Drivers who need to take multi-day trips should have access to secure staging areas with catering facilities & serviced sleeping accommodation - and as with other jobs, paid for by the employers.
A friend who drove for 10 years has been asked to return but has refused. He says the stresses with traffic, unrealistic expectations by transport managers, being away from home & the pay just aren't worth it.

[1ozzy]

Pay your workers what they are worth.
Might cost a bit more at the checkout but everyone will benefit in the long run

[vulcan42]

davebro, I agree with you regarding rail and local delivery. It's the long haul driving and certification that puts off many people, local delivery requires smaller vehicles (electric?), less complicated licensing and the ability to go home each night.

[Peter Pedant]

// Help me out here. When did the Prime Minister begin running haulage companies? I must have missed it.//

oh according to some good souls on AB - Boris can do ANYTHING!
no that I am being sarcastic or er anything

[Peter Pedant]

// Pay your workers what they are worth//
quozza lozza ! ( not often used - = quite! (*)

market economics which we all espouse - obvious to me. Pay em more and they will turn up ( there are theoretical considerations about that)(*)

end of
(*)
[Money is a default motivator as it is measurable, tangible and fungible.] and yet more sociological blah de blah - if you dont understand this, blame the pointy headed intellectuals

[mushroom25]

// Long term we should be putting more long distance freight onto the railways with road transport being used for carriage to final destinations. //

that will only work with a substantial investment in national infrastructure. increase in road congestion since the time when the current distribution network was set up, means some places cannot be reached within a days drive of a depot. (even before the current situation, this could be seen in any supermarket on a thursday evening, empty shelves because the delivery truck was stuck in the traffic). so more hub depots are needed but where to build them? best place is in big sheds near the motorways, but these are places the railways generally don't reach.

[davebro]

I did say long term & I would suggest that our N/S rail lines run pretty close to the M1 & M6.