Hi guys,
I agree with so many of your comments, and as an ex HGV driver of many years standing I have to say this. When I started in the industry there were many transport cafes with toilets, showers, accommodation, parking etc.
But then came sleeper cabs, and drivers could then park and sleep in company yards, customers yards ie superstores.
So transport cafes etc declined rapidly, also companies refused to compensate drivers to park overnight. As the costs escalated to £20/25 (services) pounds a night you can begin to appreciate why, from the employer and employee point of view.
Ok I've never used lay buys from a safety point of view, also as a car transporter driver with extremely high value load the company would not allow this.
You also have to factor in the high numbers of European drivers who have far better facilities for free in europe, and eastern block drivers who are paid a pittance in comparison, and who get zero expenses for parking, and minimal for everything else.
The answer, to be honest I'm not sure there is one. Because the NHS, Social services, etc need support desperately, as do the individuals who rely on them.
But there is a different attitude to transport in europe, in that it's treated as a profession, and supported as such. It doesn't matter what you want to buy, it was delivered by a truck, maybe many times over.
I think we are not of the same mindset in the UK, and don't appreciate what goes on behind the scenes to put the basics into our homes.
Lastly I think anyone who has to pee in a bottle, and then cannot empty it in a drain and dispose of it responsibly should be ashamed to consider themselves as a professional anything. That said French aires at this time of year smell like a urinal.
Hopefully this may enlighten some of you, and I don't mean to be offensive to anyone, as I said at the beginning I agree with so many of you. I wish I could come up with a solution for truck drivers, and those of us that cannot understand why we cannot park in out of the way places legally.
I agree with so many of your comments, and as an ex HGV driver of many years standing I have to say this. When I started in the industry there were many transport cafes with toilets, showers, accommodation, parking etc.
But then came sleeper cabs, and drivers could then park and sleep in company yards, customers yards ie superstores.
So transport cafes etc declined rapidly, also companies refused to compensate drivers to park overnight. As the costs escalated to £20/25 (services) pounds a night you can begin to appreciate why, from the employer and employee point of view.
Ok I've never used lay buys from a safety point of view, also as a car transporter driver with extremely high value load the company would not allow this.
You also have to factor in the high numbers of European drivers who have far better facilities for free in europe, and eastern block drivers who are paid a pittance in comparison, and who get zero expenses for parking, and minimal for everything else.
The answer, to be honest I'm not sure there is one. Because the NHS, Social services, etc need support desperately, as do the individuals who rely on them.
But there is a different attitude to transport in europe, in that it's treated as a profession, and supported as such. It doesn't matter what you want to buy, it was delivered by a truck, maybe many times over.
I think we are not of the same mindset in the UK, and don't appreciate what goes on behind the scenes to put the basics into our homes.
Lastly I think anyone who has to pee in a bottle, and then cannot empty it in a drain and dispose of it responsibly should be ashamed to consider themselves as a professional anything. That said French aires at this time of year smell like a urinal.
Hopefully this may enlighten some of you, and I don't mean to be offensive to anyone, as I said at the beginning I agree with so many of you. I wish I could come up with a solution for truck drivers, and those of us that cannot understand why we cannot park in out of the way places legally.
