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TruckNet UK's Rikki Chequer sees some 'green shoots of recovery' and discusses driver security.
Page 12
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We've had a lot of doom and gloom on TruckNet UK recently, with forum users posting items about job losses, short-time working and companies ietting dedicated subbies go.
But in the past couple of weeks, there has been a definite swing in the number of drivers finding new jobs. Those drivers working for agencies are starting to report a change from having no or very little work to be being booked for a week at a time, and some owner-drivers are even starting to pick up day work/spot hire.
In a complete reversal from the past few years, some Euro drivers are being instructed by their bosses to fill up on bunker fuel in the UK and not on the Continent — the value of the pound and the fall in the price of diesel have made topping the tanks up in the UK suddenly more attractive.
As you would expect, the case of the Greek truck driver who claims to have been attacked in his cab by three men and defended himself with a knife is a hot topic on the forums. One of the alleged attackers subsequently died and the driver was arrested in connection with the death of a 36-year-old mate. He has been released on bail and is due to return to the police station later in the week. Two men, aged 34 and 15, have been charged with conspiracy to rob and with assault with intent to rob as part of the same incident.
A third man, aged 18, has subsequently been charged with the same offences and later granted police bail.
Cool heads state that we should wait until all the facts are investigated and known before making a judgement on the situation. However if it transpires that these three men did attack a driver in his cab and in defending himself he is convicted, there will be a lot of angry drivers.
The seeming failure of the police to protect drivers, investigate thefts from trucks, the lack of secure parking and the `NIMBY'-type attitude most councils adopt have when it comes to providing somewhere for drivers to stop overnight are bad enough. If then a driver attempting to protect himself ends up in court, the system needs addressing by everyone from the trade associations, through the heads of the biggest corporations, down to individual drivers.