Earning £50,000 at the age of 23
Will Shiers
Editor at Commercial Motor and UK jury member for International Truck of the Year
I’ve just been chatting to a haulier, who has regrettably just lost a 23-year-old driver to another firm. He was on £40,000 a year doing general haulage, but wanted to drive tankers instead, bagging an additional £10,000 in the process. That’s 50 grand at the age of 23. Wow!
I wonder how many of his friends recently graduated from college, and are now saddled with debt. Some of them will have probably started minimum wage jobs in call centres. Admittedly their offices will have clean toilets, but that’s one of the few advantages I can think of! While I know which profession I’d choose, sadly the public will no doubt perceive the office job as the better of the two.
We need to get this message out to youngsters, and make them aware that they could be making decent money behind the wheel of a truck. Attracting young people into the industry is the ONLY way we’ll tackle the driver shortage in the long term.
Truck Driver
3ySadly noing what I know now if I could go back in time I’d tell my younger self to avoid transport like the plague
Highways
3yRead this gents story tells you how life on the road is and it aint worth 50 grand or a 100 grand its worth nothing if the job kills you is it 🤔
managing director at alpha tanker services ltd
3yTo many stupid rules now, drivers cards etc. Unfair to put young inexperienced new drivers in at the deep end. How about a government funded six months accompanying one of your fleets established drivers to learn the job inside and out. He will feel more confident in what the job entails and surely it’s safer for other motorists on the road? You can’t buy experience. Stay safe everyone 👍
Managing Consultant at Transformotion IRL Ltd
3yThe public see a slow truck trying to overtake another slow truck on an A road, causing delays. They see long, boring journeys up and down the M1 with nothing else to do than stare through glass, press some pedals and just dump the stuff at the other end. They don't see the driver because of the position of the cab, so there's a human disconnect; all they see is Optimus Prime without the glamour. So, the perception of the job has to change right? But we've been saying that for years haven't we? Who should take the lead? Government? No. Trade Associations? Nope, too focused on themselves. Industry? Again, no. Too busy trying to keep the country going. Sector councils? Not effective enough. So, who then? Until we sort that, nothing will change. And boy, does it need to.
The Operators Friend | e-learning Expert | Advisor to Owners and Transport Managers | Professional Development for Drivers | Worshipful Company of Carmen
3yChange has gotta come Will