Why are British truck drivers unhappy? 

I think a lot of workers that effectively keep the country running aren’t respected enough, not just truck drivers.

No one is happy when they are worked like a dog and treated like a slave

Jimmy is a nice guy, I like his attitude and unfortunately he is right.

People seem to care more about rich ''artists'' and footballers over the people actually keeping this country running

My cpc expired during the pandemic, I refuse to pay for it. The government wrote me a letter begging me to come back because we are so much needed, but don’t offer to fund cpc. They can’t be that desperate!

Too many “managers” in the industry, sitting at their desks playing candy crush & phoning drivers up to see where they are when the tracker screen on their computer says exactly where they are ! Too many haulage firms pressuring their drivers to drive overloaded vehicles & receiving centres with tiny booking in windows that don’t account for traffic or delays. The whole industry needs to wake up & accept it has to change.

What’s the difference between a prison cell and a lorry…? The prison cell has its own toilet.

As a concierge in Amsterdam I always show the drivers the washroom first and ask how they want their coffee. Sadly most of the time they are only a deadline but take that coffee with them in the truck. Some politely ask to put some in a thermos. I used to be a carpenter and respectfully accepted service from my costumers. And made an effort to (cleaning after the job was done) It’s nice to be treated as a guest and give it back.

The difference in the quantity, quality, and cost of facilities for lorry drivers between the UK and anywhere in Europe is absolutely staggering.

In the UK , being a lorry driver means low pay & long hour's & hard to find toilet & more like playing ' Tom & Jerry game with the police & parking fines.

Truckers have been treated like this for years in the UK. Transport minister needs to be held accountable for this. No point bleating now. Shocking.

I left my HGV1 career behind 2 years ago now and I will never go back. I drove containers out of Southampton as a day driver so never had the overnight problems but even so it wasn't the job it was back in 1990 when I first started. The industry needs a major overhaul and a big change of attitude, it's full of bullies who are out of touch with modern working practices and conditions!

Every word this guy said is bang on the truth

I've driven through Europe many, many times as an owner driver in my own little haulage business (much smaller truck mind) and he is bang on.. Driving in Europe is way, way nicer in pretty much every respect..

At least I'm respected in Euro Truck Simulator 2.

Poor salaries and working conditions. They got away with it for years, using foreign drivers, but actually having to pay British drivers British wages is something they are really unhappy about.

15 hours days, no park ups, treated like 💩low pay, no showers, no family life, called trampers, expected to pay the cpc ourselves along with doctors Medical etc expensive to gain a HGV licence, DVSA constantly fining drivers the list goes on and on.

Its the shear lack of facilities and truck stops! Where has it gone so wrong in the UK? Every 50 miles there should be some sort to truck stop with decent clean facilities..

I have every sympathy for the truckers, very experienced guys doing a totally undervalued job, they sacrifice so much for so little in return, Its the same in the building industry, I'm a Carpenter to trade and I was earning more 20 odd years ago than I could today.

I stopped at a truck stop recently. It was like going back in time. What a depressing dump. Feel for these guys having to drive all day and then pulling up in a dive for a hot meal.

I am a bus driver, and our pay is lousy compared to other driving jobs! And we get abuse every single day, work shifts that can start at 4:00am and late working that can finish at 1:00am, we work any 5 out of 7 days and have a huge responsibility to get passengers to their destinations safely! I stand with these truck drivers, and I hope they get the pay they deserve!

I am surprised Jimmy has been trucking for 40 years as he is still alive!

I’m in the frozen import export business. Hers right. The people that run the show here are horrendous to deal with and disrespectful

Respect is a strong word, shame they don’t received it all the time

Been the same for years .. Britain doesn’t give a toss 🤷🏽‍♂️

I had my own truck and a contract with DHL taking a full trailer to Nuremberg, Germany, and bring one back to the UK. I can't say that I was ever offered a free coffee but the service I received in Germany was excellent. Never stopped on motorway service stations but on an Autohof. Autohof is basically a truck stop where truckers can get everything they need at reasonable prices. Even now that I'm retired I stop with my car at an Autohof like recently when I went on holiday in Germany.

People need to realise drivers keep the country moving well in guys

Damn, right. No European lorry driver in his right mind will put his life on hold for 3 odd months to come to the rescue of a self inflicted mess. Get real, UK!

Even if they offered 80k a year I wouldn't go back to HGV driving. The work conditions are problem.

To many companies in the UK have used EU labour and seen it as a ticket to drive down wages where even EU workers in the UK can't afford to live here.

Employers: more market, less government. Same employers when the market mechanism requires them to pay and treat drivers better to attract new drivers: we need government intervention!

The coffee bit in the Netherlands is accurate. During uni I had a job where i needed to help offload cargo. Whilst were all pushed to do it quickly, the common courtesy of some coffee for the driver is something we make make time for.

This has been coming for 20+ years . Brick layers,tyre fitters,hgv drivers,the list is endless of shortages of manual labour jobs .

Im a truck driver for 34yrs now. And im leaving, i can work on a production line for more money and far less stress. Its a no brainer.

When I worked in fast food we would offer the drivers a drink or some food. We both knew what it was like to be treated poorly.

Maybe we are coming to understand we are all important in society and all are worthy of respect not just those few who have decided for themselves what their position is ..

UK, Cobham M25, 7pm. Trucks unable to park, no driving time or WTD, overflowing almost on to the motorway. A34 every layby filled, no facillities. Summertime, holiday making Caravans parking in the HGV parks taking up spaces needed by a driver overnight.

Personally, I have always had a great respect for Lorry drivers as i understand what they do

millions in profit but they still want cheap labour

Same issues across the pond in North America - lack of decent pay and lack of respect from shippers, receivers, government officials, and just about everyone else......☹☹

Traders and hard working people are treated like crap in the uk I came here from abroad and thinking of leaving

I'm completely ashamed with this sham of government we somehow have

Driving on the wrong side of the road 24\7 would have quite the toll on your mind

The reliance on cheap labour and the driving down of wages has driven young people away from jobs such as truck driving, farm labour, the meat industry etc. and the promise of the graduate premium has drawn those young people into an over saturated pool of higher education with ever fewer opportunities.

To be honest, in Germany it ain't better for lorry drivers. Long hours, bad pay mostly. Some are better most are average or worst. Logistics sector itself has a problem not only for drivers but other staff as well.

I used to deliver to service stations earlier this year and I was offered free drinks, sandwiches and coffees as if it was nothing. Sometimes, my bag had more food in it after work than it did before work.

Trouble is in England there is too many employment agencies for HGV, not many companies want to take on full time drivers.

Who got the lovely letter from the government if your a hgv driver? 😂

Successive UK governments have applied so many rules and regulations in the UK truck industry over the years but have strangely allowed that same industry to affectively do as it pleased around drivers pay and conditions. The UK government should also move with the times and get rid of the ridiculous and outdated ''Other Work'' rule which allows drivers to be on duty for up to 15 hours a day, including being able to legally drive in both the first and last hour of that 15 hour day. The 9 or 10 hours of legal driving time can be conducted at any time throughout that extremely long shift and is nothing short of outdated and dangerous. Work is work regardless of what activity is being conducted and in this day and age, there should be no difference between driving time and other work with a maximum daily duty time of possibly no more than 12 hours. If the government has the power to legislate on drivers hours specifically for HGV drivers, it also has the power to legislate on industry specific pay for the HGV sector, something which countries such as Australia has already been doing for many years.

I'm suprised that no one said about IR35, I was driving through my company which make me save some of money as expenses, due to IR35 I stopped driving, now I can make more money working as subcontractor in construction or even decorating.

I was a Transport manager 25yrs ago and the RHA then were warning that there would be an acute shortage of lorry drivers in the future , unless the wages , conditions, facilities , etc, were improved .That was under a Labour government,who are now moaning that it's the conservatives fault . The only ones who needed CPC's were the managers /owner drivers. Not a lot has changed in that time . Glad I took a different career path .

My wife works in a hospital where people are being offered minimum wage jobs that require degrees and qualifications. They cant seem to figure out why the young folks dont even bother sending in an application

UK is getting worse and worse in every way.

Why are truckdriver s unhappy. Could it be because Truck drivers have to work twice as long as others for less money ??

I’m a teacher . I left the Uk 15 years ago to work around the world . I never intend to go back, even to retire.

Good to get the perspective from an articulate speaking UK driver. More of the same required and not words from people unconnected to the industry throwing out soundbites.

That’s the biggest issue I think is service stations, I’m not a trucker but I drive across the country everyday and service stations are terrible! And I have the luxury of staying in hotels. Service station toilets and showers are shocking

In the last year or so, I keep hearing people say that I'm young for a lorry driver. As I write this, I'm 27, 30 years younger than the average age of a UK lorry driver. It's been rare to meet a colleague who is either my age or close to my age and it a real shame.

I would have loved to have gone for a HGV licence when I was younger, but the cost pay and conditions even back then were terrible.

People forget & take for granted what is truly necessary in life. These guys are actual treasures, truck drivers, farmers, carpenters etc. There will come a time where humanity will be reminded of this hard truth. & then the real suffering starts.

Alternative title: Why are British truck drivers unhappy when British fish are not?

The working class as a whole are treated with a lack of respect. Wages are low and the work load is forever increasing.

Hats off to this guy and the truck drivers around the world who keeps the world running 👏🏾🙏🏾

I was driving 15 years and same as others said it was not good. Best thing I done was stop driving, Anyone planning to drive lorries save yourself the nightmare and do something else.

Should start a Union, the government seems to think truck drivers are expandable.

I really don't understand this class society problems in UK. When a truck driver comes to my work with the things I've ordered, we always ask the driver if he wants a coffee, croissant or anything else. I work in the kitchen and it's very important to get the stuff we ordered in time. Some courtesy and politeness is the least we can offer.

I stopped bus driving because of the level of anti sociable behaviour from the public and other road users. It's maddening when your providing a service for those people.

Conditions of work in the UK: - Poor Wages, - no clean petrol stations toilets with available showers, - very poor quality highways infrastructure,... . A non existing Union. (Compare to Europe Tuc and other Unions are freaking jokes)

Ive had 3 pay rises in the last few months took home £1162 last week

Unpleasant hours, poor pay as hauliers have been using cheap imported drivers. This has been coming for years.

Part of the job is dealing with complete numpties on the road. Got to have serious patience being a professional driver

I am a truck driver and a few days ago I picked up a hooker while on the road she told me she only gets a handful of customers a day now its not just the truckers who are suffering

WHY DONT THESE MP’s SPEND A WEEK INSIDE A TRUCK, then we’ll see what they think

Well done Jimmy,thanks for all your hard work,it's much appreciated.

Scrap the CPC courses and ill go drive again!

Truck stops on Ireland are free.. Where as in the UK I could pay up to 35 sterling for a parking spot for one night..

No mention of IR35.... dubiously absecent.

We're all unhappy. The whole of the world.

I use to work there years ago! Nice to see the place again, it hasn't change much, thats nice too 👍

Instead of importing foreign drivers how about making conditions better for our own workers. The reliance on cheap imported labour has to stop.

It's not just the lorry drivers ,carers minimum wage ,care homes can get carers, no wonder .

So true about respect, the British people have no respect for their own drivers

Give me a pay rise and I will get back in a class 1

This video needs to be shared, the only report worth spreading.

In march I sent my HGV1 ADR in to DVLA for a change in details, still waiting and can't work without it, DVLA won't even open dialogue with me, they're not fit for purpose!

They don't get paid enough.

Should also add the general public on the road have zero respect for the truck drivers in the UK .

Same problem in the U.S I heard there is no shortage of drivers there’s a shortage of respect and fair pay

An excellent Briish Driver working for a European haulier says it all..

Hi everybody , I'm Polish , I'm a class 1 driver something like 8 years in Scotland , I drive locally so I'm at home every day but there have been shifts of 15 hours , During these 8 years, I have never damaged a vehicle or been fired , when I recently had an interview for a job in a large company (tesco), everything went well, I passed the test and everything, and then they blew me away, no one even called me back, so I guess it's not that bad since I still have to go through the agencies.

Show the guys some respect and give them free parking in motorway service stations and somewhere clean to have a wash up. Just basic welfare really.

My dad was a lorry driver for 40 years he gave up his license due to Ill health and his words to me were " Stay away from it !! truck driving used to be a pleasure now it's just a rat race" He became ill after having a stroke due to stress ironically from his job... Early starts late finishes racing around all day, too tired on a weekend to do anything... I'd just like to say aswel that the transport industry relies heavily on rail freight aswel so let's not forget about all the hard working train drivers out there moving 1000s of tons of cargo while we sleep !

Constantly harassment from police and their sidekick DMT make the job pain in the arse....

cpc lost 50.00 plus drivers.driving in uk is so bad ref rules regs fines,its just not worth doing anymore.

No wonder they are leaving, treated and respected better abroad. UK take a lesson from this..

Sounds like the NHS we all hero's during covid and now we are hated cause the waiting lists are big

A study by the Austrian economic research institute WIFO comes to the following conclusion: In manufacturing, the negative export effects are more pronounced for the United Kingdom than for Austria in all sectors.

Jimmy is bang on the mark. I’ve been a driver for 35 years and I’m disgusted the way we are treated. In Grangemouth where I work from, there is no facilities for lorry drivers. It’s Scotlands biggest port and has no toilets, no secure parking and no where for a proper sit down meal. It’s a disgrace how the local authorities get away with it.

I visited a truck stop in Japan and the food was top notch. Even the staff canteen at the wharves were top quality food cooked by a proper cook but it only cost at the time ¥ 500 which was about £3 for a sit down meal part subsidy by employer.

I know a few people who drive trucks and I've heard they get treated badly and it does make sense for them to stop. I've heard some stopping because of mistreatment as they are tired of being treated badly