Drivers

Looks like the exploitation of an industry has finally ended. I'm talking about Truck drivers. 

Professional drivers have been relegated to no more than minimum wage wankers. As with most industries including I.T. that I used to work in, big corporations have moved to dominate the market and then depress wages by importing cheap foreign labour.

Coupled with a dehumanisation of the driving profession, despite the professional status and training required for the job, it's no wonder that people are reluctant to do the job.

The amount of training they go through and the responsibilities of the job should afford them professional status, but instead they are treated like dirt. Just a means of shipping stuff between A and B.

Facilities are not provided for them at distribution centres, there's very rarely even a toilet they can use. 

But long hours and low wages just forces people out of the job. There are more specialist transport roles, which are paid well and provide interesting work, but they are very few and far between.

The corporations are reaping what they sow. If you don't invest in an industry, don't be surprised when that industry collapses. 

When truckers can drive a van delivering Amazon parcels in the local area for the same money, get home at a reasonable hour every night and not have the responsibility and regulations of driving a 40-ton truck, why wouldn't they switch.

Couple the factors above with the reduction of driving standards in the UK, you add even more reasons why drivers don't want to do the job. I used to drive all over the country, but in the past 10 years I've hated it, because I know if I drive long distance I can be guaranteed to experience at least one incident where I have to avoid an inconsiderate driver. If your livelihood depends on not hitting or getting hit by other drivers, then the poor standard of driving is just another reason not to bother.

Along with the lack of or poor quality of facilities, the rip-off prices charged by motorway services for overnight stays, the risks of getting hijacked if you park on laybys, the long hours away from family, the lack of appreciation of the rules regarding driver's hours, the lack of consideration at distribution centres, the risk of overloading of trailers by clients, the list goes on as to why you wouldn't want to do the job.

It's not just about improving wages. Corporations need to understand they are dealing with humans, not robots. Tesla hasn't introduced a self-driving autonomous truck yet...