BP petrol stations closed as lorry driver shortage hits UK

[PeteEU]

Pete, you really don't care if the UK has shortages.

You're only reason for posting this is because you are bitter about Brexit.

Why not stress about much larger problems closer to your home :

"Shortages Cause 'Bottleneck Recession' for German Industry"​

https://www.usnews.com/news/business/articles/2021-09-24/parts-shortages-dampen-mood-among-german-businesses

Yes yes, we know.. attack the messenger instead of dealing with facts... classic sign of someone who knows they ****ed up and are on the wrong side.

I am not bitter about Brexit... I find it idiotic and silly self harm by a people who use to be some what intelligent. Brexit has no impact on my daily life... for many Brits it does. Why do you deny this and instead spend time attacking people who warned about the consequences?

And the attempted counter with that link... you do realize this is a world wide problem right? Chip shortage has caused car manufactures from Japan, China to the US and Europe to stop production. Have you even seen the prices of GPUs?

 

[Chagos]

Did you see that the temporary visas suddenly included poultry workers? That had been kept quite or hadn't hit the news before.

Hauliers and poultry workers to get temporary visas

Some 10,500 foreign lorry drivers and poultry workers will be able to work in the UK until Christmas Eve.

www.bbc.co.uk

I guess some of the big poultry farms will have on-site living quarters otherwise I just don't see anyone flying across Europe to work in a chicken factory for peanuts and having to find their own residence. As for Truckies - I know some trucks have sleeping compartments but there will need to be some other form of temptation to get someone to leave home / own country for 3 months and rough it.
There are driver shortages across Europe so what (throw in border checks / empty loads on the way back) will tempt drivers across?

Yeah, I saw the poultry worker thing but didn't want to cause our local spammer's head to explode (6 posts, last I counted, within half an hour, trying to prove that the lorry driver shortage is currently not primarily a UK thing but a European one, ferchrissake).

Of course all countries are facing this development but gimme a break here (Jesus wept).

To return to the poultry workers (or others that may well follow), of course they're going to have to be afforded lodging.

As to truckies, they could get across the Channel in a jiffy before Brexit, aaaaand loaded both ways. It was a shitty job even then but nowadays, quite apart from all the hassle and time loss incurred by the inevitable bureaucracy, in many cases it isn't even worth the efforts for the forwarding companies that employ them. Alone carting EU goods INTO the UK while often having to return empty puts a helluva strain on cost of transport and thus, eventually, on the goods.

 

[Chagos]

And yet these countries can compensate with drivers from Eastern and Southern Europe... the UK can not. There are no food shortages, or gas shortages in Europe.. there are in the UK.

Naw, it's all just down to the panic spread caused by the socialist press

I sometimes still partake of threads like these, just for the merriment they cause me, but in the long run they have the entertainment value of Ground Hog Day.

 

[Chagos]

According to that article Germany's bottleneck comes from problems in production, not transport. It seems a transport problem is peculiarly British, since supply issues in other countries has other causes.

France's worker shortage is in production, not transports though.

Now, now.

Pointing out that others, in supposed support of their idiotic premises, don't even properly read the articles they link to, is a manifestation of a certain cruelty.

 

[RetiredUSN]

Correct me if I'm wrong but there has been a trucking shortage across Europe for a few years now. The industry simply isn't attracting younger folks that like their personal time. I further understand that a lot of drivers went to Amazon and the like because they could work locally and be home more often. Also, it seems that new driver training was curtailed quite a bit during COVID and those that left for local gigs simply aren't coming back.

Brexit makes a convenient excuse but I would hazard a guess that other factors are having a MUCH larger impact. I say that because the problem is not strictly a UK problem.

Not to mention a national average driver turnover rate of 90% in the US. The UK is fairly close to these numbers.

As I stated in another post, Covid has only exacerbated a problem that has always been there.

 

[Chagos]

Yes yes, we know.. attack the messenger instead of dealing with facts... classic sign of someone who knows they ****ed up and are on the wrong side.

I am not bitter about Brexit... I find it idiotic and silly self harm by a people who use to be some what intelligent. Brexit has no impact on my daily life... for many Brits it does. Why do you deny this and instead spend time attacking people who warned about the consequences?

And the attempted counter with that link... you do realize this is a world wide problem right? Chip shortage has caused car manufactures from Japan, China to the US and Europe to stop production. Have you even seen the prices of GPUs?

Clearly it's that abominable shortage of Chinese truck drivers not earning enough to want to drive all the way from China to Europe.

 

[Infinite Chaos]

And now competition law has been suspended to allow fuel shortages to be dealt with.

Fuel supply: UK suspends competition law to get petrol to forecourts

It comes as the Petrol Retailers Association warns that up to two-thirds of its members are out of fuel.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Lutherf]

It just occurred to me that Great Britain, being one of few nations that drive on the left, would have a more difficult time bringing in foreign drivers that didn't need extra time to get used to the change. You've got what, India that you can pull from easily? You might be able to wrangle some Australians but the way COVID restrictions are down there they might never see their families again if the choose to come over and help out.

 

[Logophile]

Did you see that the temporary visas suddenly included poultry workers? That had been kept quite or hadn't hit the news before.

Hauliers and poultry workers to get temporary visas

Some 10,500 foreign lorry drivers and poultry workers will be able to work in the UK until Christmas Eve.

www.bbc.co.uk

I guess some of the big poultry farms will have on-site living quarters otherwise I just don't see anyone flying across Europe to work in a chicken factory for peanuts and having to find their own residence. As for Truckies - I know some trucks have sleeping compartments but there will need to be some other form of temptation to get someone to leave home / own country for 3 months and rough it.
There are driver shortages across Europe so what (throw in border checks / empty loads on the way back) will tempt drivers across?

Britain's truck driver shortage will ease as more and more British drivers finish their training. Those big rigs require special licensing here, so it's probably the same in Britain. In the mean time, I think Boris is allowing 5000 in on quick visas to help out, and if they can make good money, they'll be there. Thanks!!

 

[Ginza]

And yet these countries can compensate with drivers from Eastern and Southern Europe... the UK can not. There are no food shortages, or gas shortages in Europe.. there are in the UK.

There are none so blind as those who choose what they see.

There are massive shortages all over Europe :

"widespread shortages are denting Germany’s growth"​

"The Bundesbank, Germany’s central bank, said this week economic growth this year may be somewhat lower than the 3.7% it had forecast in June. But Fuest said a lot depends on how long supply shortages will last."

Widespread shortages are denting Germany's growth​

It's semiconductors—and also metal, paper, and plastics
fortune.com

Brexit to blame?

 

[Ginza]

Britain's truck driver shortage will ease as more and more British drivers finish their training. Those big rigs require special licensing here, so it's probably the same in Britain. In the mean time, I think Boris is allowing 5000 in on quick visas to help out, and if they can make good money, they'll be there. Thanks!!

Hmmm!

I don't think that is what bitter EU supporters want to hear.

 

[Ginza]

'The Bundesbank, Germany’s central bank, said this week economic growth this year may be somewhat lower than the 3.7% it had forecast in June. But Fuest said a lot depends on how long supply shortages will last."

Widespread shortages are denting Germany's growth

It's semiconductors—and also metal, paper, and plastics

fortune.com

BREXIT?

 

[Ginza]

Yes yes, we know.. attack the messenger instead of dealing with facts

Are you really denying, after posting hundreds of posts moaning about Brexit, that you are not unhappy about Brexit?

Thanks for the smile.

You ignore the shortages which are so acute in Germany that their business confidence level has gone from positive to negative, whilst concentrating on the fact that some garages in the UK are short of petrol due mainly to Covid.

You ignore the shortages all over Europe due to Covid.

Why not use the thread on Brexit where those who are unhappy with it can cry on each others soldiers?

Have the other posters fled?

 

[Ginza]

trying to prove that the lorry driver shortage is currently not primarily a UK thing but a European one

Lol!

The shortage has existed for years....long before Brexit.

This link from 2018 :

"European road transport firms are racing towards a driver shortage crisis of 150,000 unfilled jobs, according to new research from Transport Intelligence."​

In a report released this week, European Road Freight Transport 2018, the supply chain analyst shows that in just six countries – the UK, Germany, France, Denmark Sweden and Norway – the shortage of drivers adds up to 127,500.

The report says: “In Germany, the DSLV transport union reports that in the next 15 years, two-thirds of drivers will retire. Germany is facing a shortage of 45,000 truck drivers, with around 30,000 leaving the profession every year. This compares with only 2,000 people receiving truck-driving qualifications each year.”

Truck driver shortage crisis now spreading across the whole of Europe

European road transport firms are racing towards a driver shortage crisis of 150,000 unfilled jobs, according to new research from Transport Intelligence.

www.bifa.org

 

[joluoto]

There are none so blind as those who choose what they see.

There are massive shortages all over Europe :

"widespread shortages are denting Germany’s growth"​

"The Bundesbank, Germany’s central bank, said this week economic growth this year may be somewhat lower than the 3.7% it had forecast in June. But Fuest said a lot depends on how long supply shortages will last."

Widespread shortages are denting Germany's growth​

It's semiconductors—and also metal, paper, and plastics
fortune.com

Brexit to blame?

Again your articles site issues with production not transport.

 

[Ginza]

Again your articles site issues with production not transport.

Not true :

"Shortages of raw materials and supply chain problems are hitting the German economy across the board,"

The supply chain includes transport and general distribution.

Bloomberg - Are you a robot?

www.bloomberg.com

 

[Ginza]

"GLOBAL SHORTAGE OF TRUCK DRIVERS SINCE MID-2000S"​

Global shortage of truck drivers since mid-2000s - ERTICO Newsroom

Analysts say a global shortage of truck drivers has persisted since the middle of the 2000s. In the UK, supermarket shelves are missing goods, McDonald’s restaurants ran out of milkshakes this week and builders cannot access supplies, while iron ore struggles to reach Australian ports for...

erticonetwork.com

I agree that the UK is itself to blame, to some extent, in that they have depended for years on relatively poorly paid drivers from the EU.

Now, employers will have to pay more to local drivers or bring in some from around the world.

 

[PeteEU]

Are you really denying, after posting hundreds of posts moaning about Brexit, that you are not unhappy about Brexit?

Thanks for the smile.

You ignore the shortages which are so acute in Germany that their business confidence level has gone from positive to negative, whilst concentrating on the fact that some garages in the UK are short of petrol due mainly to Covid.

You ignore the shortages all over Europe due to Covid.

Why not use the thread on Brexit where those who are unhappy with it can cry on each others soldiers?

Have the other posters fled?

For the love of....stop trying to justify Brexit with your lame distraction attempts.

The shortages in Germany are due to a WORLD WIDE semiconductor shortage and has nothing to do with lorry drivers. Business confidence is down all over the place due to this as the world wide chip shortage wont be over with for at least another 6 to 9 months at best. American business owners have voiced the same concerns as GM and Ford both have had to stop production of cars due to the semi-conductor shortage. And shortages in paper and the other things listed are due to higher natural gas prices, that is hitting everyone. Do keep up okay?

And there are no food or petrol shortages due to Covid in Europe.. in fact there was very little shortages even when we were fully locked down. You keep claiming there are shortages like in the UK, but have yet to provide a shred of evidence that supermarket shelves in Spain, France or Germany are barren as in the UK and gas stations being closed due to lack of fuel deliveries.

 

[joluoto]

The chip shortage is because of production issues in Asia where the chips are made due to Covid. Almost all chips in the world are made in various Asian countries.

 

[Ginza]

For the love of....stop trying to justify Brexit with your lame distraction attempts.

Er, I have merely quoted on DT the avalanche of positive information coming out of the UK :

"Rallying retail stocks lift FTSE 250 to fresh record high"​

"British industry’s output now at record growth levels"​

"UK economic growth rate at an all time high."

"UK unemployment rate 50% BELOW the EU average rate."

"Wage increases for working class people coming in at 100's of percent above the inflation rate as less Eastern European unskilled workers enter the UK from the EU."

"UK Property prices at record highs."

"UK business confidence at record levels."

If the above doesn't justify Brexit, then what does?

Sure, there is a shortage of lorry drivers in the UK due mainly to the UK being dependent in the past on low paid workers from the EU......but I am sorry to burst your bubble, but the UK will work through this.

As I have shown here, there has been a shortage of lorry drivers not only throughout Europe, but also the world, including the USA and Australia.

 

[Ginza]

And yet these countries can compensate with drivers from Eastern and Southern Europe... the UK can not.

Read up.

The UK is employing thousands of overseas drivers on work visas.

And the EU has had a shortage of drivers for years.

"TRUCK DRIVER SHORTAGE CRISIS NOW SPREADING ACROSS THE WHOLE OF EUROPE"​

Truck driver shortage crisis now spreading across the whole of Europe

European road transport firms are racing towards a driver shortage crisis of 150,000 unfilled jobs, according to new research from Transport Intelligence.

www.bifa.org

 

[PeteEU]

Er, I have merely quoted on DT the avalanche of positive information coming out of the UK :

"Rallying retail stocks lift FTSE 250 to fresh record high"​

"British industry’s output now at record growth levels"​

"UK economic growth rate at an all time high."

"UK unemployment rate 50% BELOW the EU average rate."

"Wage increases for working class people coming in at 100's of percent above the inflation rate as less Eastern European unskilled workers enter the UK from the EU."

"UK Property prices at record highs."

"UK business confidence at record levels."

If the above doesn't justify Brexit, then what does?

Sure, there is a shortage of lorry drivers in the UK due mainly to the UK being dependent in the past on low paid workers from the EU......but I am sorry to burst your bubble, but the UK will work through this.

As I have shown here, there has been a shortage of lorry drivers not only throughout Europe, but also the world, including the USA and Australia.

Because as I have pointed out, you take it out of context.

Take "UK economic growth rate at an all time high".. that is technically true, but that is after the record crash it had in the previous year. So the record high is in fact a rebound from a record negative event. And all countries have had something similar.

Or British industry output now at record growth levels... again context matters. It is at record growth levels, because... shocker, the country was locked down for ages.

Every single "good news" lacks context.

And then you have the conflicting good news stories of high wage increases and high property price.. both of which are more bad than good. Context lacks again.

 

[PeteEU]

Read up.

The UK is employing thousands of overseas drivers on work visas.

And the EU has had a shortage of drivers for years.

"TRUCK DRIVER SHORTAGE CRISIS NOW SPREADING ACROSS THE WHOLE OF EUROPE"​

Truck driver shortage crisis now spreading across the whole of Europe

European road transport firms are racing towards a driver shortage crisis of 150,000 unfilled jobs, according to new research from Transport Intelligence.

www.bifa.org

Again.. context.

The UK is opening up for 5000 non UK resident drivers can get a visa until the 24th of December. This does not mean the "UK" or anyone in the UK are employing more drivers.

And yes driver shortage has been a problem across Europe including the UK for years... the Brexit people were warned back in 2016 that this would be a problem, and the Boris government own reports pointed out that driver shortage could be worse in Brexit.. guess what, they were right!

 

[Ginza]

And then you have the conflicting good news stories of high wage increases and high property price.. both of which are more bad than good. Context lacks again.

So you feel it is good for wages to remain low?

It's a good thing that you're not a politician.

High property prices are almost always a sign that an economy is doing well.

 

[PeteEU]

So you feel it is good for wages to remain low?

1) Are they low?
2) An massive increase in a short period is bad for the economy.

I would rather have a mandatory inflation based wage increase every year.

It's a good thing that you're not a politician.

High property prices are almost always a sign that an economy is doing well.

High property prices shows that there is a lack of homes, and has nothing to do with a good economy.

High property prices also means that it is much harder, if not impossible for new home owners get on the property ladder.

Just look at Spain. Here property prices have gone up faster than anywhere in Europe over the last 30 years. Wages have not, and that has meant that people live home at their parents well into their 30s and early 40s before they can afford their own place. And in many cases their own place is them inheriting their parents homes.

So no, high property prices is not a good thing for your "working class". It is however good for current home owners and the rich, as they can take higher and higher mortgages out on their houses to spend more.