Follow the money
Page 11
Page 12
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
Pay rises were hard to come by in road transport last year, and they'll be even rarer this year. January's Trucking Britain survey reveals all PAY RISES ARE A bit of a rarity in transport at the moment. Nearly two-thirds (63%) of respondents to January's Trucking Britain survey did not award a pay rise in 2012 — and nearly half (44%) will not award a pay rise this year.
It's no surprise that the smaller the fleet, the less likely a pay rise is. For example, 82% of respondents who run up to 10 trucks did not award a pay rise last year and 51% of them will not do so this year.
On a positive note By comparison, 'only' 40% of fleets with more than 50 trucks didn't award a pay rise last year and just 33% won't award a rise this year.
Looking at the data in a more positive light, more than a third of all respondents (37%) awarded a pay rise last year and nearly a quarter (24%) plan to award one this year. Conversely, the larger the fleet, the more likely a pay rise is to be given: 60% of fleets with more than 50 trucks gave a pay rise in 2012 and 38% plan to this year. By contrast, only 18% of those with 10 trucks or fewer gave a pay rise last year and only 20% plan to give one this year.
So of those that awarded a pay rise last year, what did they give?
Optimism boost SINCE OCTOBERS high of 58, optimism levels have fallen: in January, the optimism score index was 36— the lowest since July 2012's 25. Of the respondents, 67% said they were either very optimistic or fairly optimistic about their company's prospects over the next 12 months, while 31% said they were not very optimistic or not at all optimistic.
Own-account operators were more positive in January than in December, registering an 85/15 optimistic split (compared with the previous month's 54/45). Logistics and contract distribution firms were not as positive as they were in December, posting a split of 76/24 compared with the previous month's 96/4. Hire or reward hauliers were less positive with a 58/39 split, down from December's 67/34.
• The next Trucking Britain survey is online. To take part, log on to conunercialmotor.com/ truckingbritain. Those who complete the survey will be entered into a draw to win E100.
In 2012, some lucky so-and-sos got 7.5% hikes (sorry, the data is anonymous so we can't tell you which operator that is!), while the lowest rise was 0.25%.
Below average The mode (the most frequently occurring increase) was 2%, and the median was 2.5%, while the average was 2.84%. Further analysis reveals more than half (58%) of those that awarded a pay rise did so below the average.
Among those awarding pay rises this year, the highest increase is 5% (at four firms), while the lowest is 1.5%. The mode is 2%, the median 2.5%, and the average 2.71%. More than half (53.6%) awarded a pay rise higher than the average.
Overall, 16% of respondents said they had dealings with union representatives last year but, once again, size matters: larger fleets are three times more likely to have staff with union representation than small fleets.
Similarly, logistics and contract distribution firms are three times more likely to have staff with union representation than hire or reward hauliers.
Some respondents told us about their discussions with unions, and experiences ranged from positive to negative. For example, several respondents described union representatives' attitude as "unrealistic and stubborn", but just as many described them as "constructive" and "productive". • If you gave one, what pay award did you give in 2012?
High 7.5% Average 2.84% Median 2.5% Mode 2% Low 0.25% If you plan to give a pay award this year, what will it be?
High 5% Average 2.71% Median 2.5% Mode 2% Low 1.5%