[Closed] how much do tankers drivers earn......

,am i missing something?

They are, essentially, driving round a bomb. High risk loading and unloading also.

understand that but people do jobs that involve safeguarding children on less than half!

Sits back and watches the stw hive mind froth about people who didnt go to college having the gaul to earn more than they do.

Tanker driver on the M1 gets £45k. Tanker driver in Helmand, under enemy fire, and IED threat get what? £18k?

Children aren't likely to explode or cause massive pollution incidents. And safeguarding children doesn't cause you to grow a moustache, have trouble keeping your trousers up or give you one tanned elbow.

Edit. Actually I take that back. Rossi46's child exploded and caused quite a remarkable pollution incident

I'd think thats about right. It's not just a case of passing your class 1 hgv (or whatever it's called nowadays) & being able to drive a truck, there's all sorts of qualifications involved to haul any chemicals.

but people do jobs that involve safeguarding children on less than half!

Like bus and coach drivers along with taxi drivers.

A tanker is not like a bomb,they are designed not to leak,but an impact from another vehicle or object may well pierce the skin of the tanker, and if they do the driver is trained to run like Linford Christie, with his lunchbox on fire.

Children aren't likely to explode or cause massive pollution incidents.

[i]Children aren't likely to explode or cause massive pollution incidents. And safeguarding children doesn't cause you to grow a moustache, have trouble keeping your trousers up or give you one tanned elbow. [/i]

seen some social workers recently!

Nods to don simon.

What responsibility has a driver got in case of a accident - assuming they survive or are are not injured? I guess full fuel or chemical tankers could be a security threat.

[i]according to the news £45k per annum......................? sorry but that seems a lot,,,am i missing something?[/i]

Is that more or less than you expected?

And I guess the £45k quoted is probably what they could earn at the best company with overtime etc.

If you want to compare worth in society and money earned with teachers, there a much much bigger fish to fry than tanker drivers.

I guess full fuel or chemical tankers could be a security threat.

Theyre usually fitted with a sophisticated tracking system that can switch off or slow down the engine incase of theft.

It appears that there are only 2,200 drivers supplying forecourts in the UK. Do they own there own tankers?

The tankers and tractor units are probably leased from various companies and used by the likes of DHL, etc, as opposed to being owned by the oil companies and driven by their staff.

http://blogs.channel4.com/factcheck/factcheck-do-tanker-drivers-earn-45k/10116

and i wonder how much people who read the news off a screen get paid, as a comparison.

there are plenty of "unskilled" jobs in the UK that pay £45k once unsociable hours, shift premium, overtime etc are added on.

much more than expected........even if the avg is £33,500, lots of jobs which have more responsiblity, danger or just plain hard work earn lots less.........feel that that the unions are not doing the cause of low paid workers any favours.

[i]there are plenty of "unskilled" jobs in the UK that pay £45k once unsociable hours, shift premium, overtime etc are added on. [/i]
apart from bankers or hedge fund managers would you care to name some?

Crap hours, long shifts, driving around a truck full of a highly flammable liquid + working for the best companies + OT + location (guessing tanker drivers in the south earn more than the north, simply because I know I could earn £15k/£20k more if I wanted to relocate to the badlands) = £45k. I was initially shocked but then it seems ok.

good link project....

surprise, surprise government/companies spread lies to vilify the unions and force down workers salaries

Sorry, but if fuel tankers were "like driving a bomb" then HSE simply wouldn't allow them to be on our roads if there was a high risk of them going off.

How many of these tankers have gone off in the last 10 years? I don't personally know but Ihonestly can't think of one.

I'd say there is a risk, as there is in everything and the severity is high but the likelihood is low. The risk therefore is relatively low.

Ok, yes it is a more dangerous job ( probably ) than a librarian has but I feel certain the risks are rewarded.

For this, I can't see their point for more money etc.

I'd honestly feel happier if they just came out with it and said because we feel like getting more money and sacked off these ridiculous h&s claims.

I used to work for an oil distributor and the tanker drivers were on good money, but none of them were massively better paid than the rest of use. Possibly Shell, BP etc drivers always delivering to petrol stations were on better money, not sure. As said above, most drivers are probably paid a fair bit less than the headline grabbing reports suggest.
Like, a few years ago, it was reported that train drivers were on £38k+ salaries, I looked into it and it wasn't the case, unless you did lots of overtime and/or were on the most sought after long haul routes probably given to the long standing most experienced drivers who had no life beyond driving and wanted to earn that money.
I don't have any issues with what people earn, you choose your profession and you know what your pay scales are. If you don't like it, find another job or profession.

I don't have any issues with what people earn, you choose your profession and you know what your pay scales are. If you don't like it, find another job or profession.

Correct.

vondally - Member

sorry but that seems a lot,,,am i missing something?

vondally - Member

understand that but people do jobs that involve safeguarding children on less than half!

Yup, I would say you are definitely missing [i]something[/i].

There is no connection between what a fuel tanker driver earns and what someone who's job involves "safeguarding children" earns.

If the fuel tanker drivers wages were slashed in half then that would have no effect on people who's job involves "safeguarding children". It would just simply increase the profits of the companies involved. And also presumably, make you very happy.

You also appear to have accepted without question the employers/government/Tory Party claims in connection with this dispute. Here however is Channel 4 New's "FactCheck" on the issue.

Channel 4 News

FactCheck: Do tanker drivers earn £45k?

The claim

“Tanker drivers are paid on average £45,000 a year – double that of a regular haulage driver.”
Government department DECC press release, 26 March 2012

The background

Wednesday’s talks to avoid a fuel tanker strike will bring to a head a dispute that’s been running for more than a year.

The union Unite, which represents 2,000 fuel-tanker drivers, insists it’s not about pay – but that it is pushing for better terms and conditions for workers in an industry that “used to be run by the oil companies alone”.

“Over the years it’s been contracted out to other companies and the conditions and the terms were kept pretty solidly at the beginning. But over the years they have become eroded,” Diana Holland, the assistant general secretary of Unite, said yesterday.

But that hasn’t stopped rumours that the union’s demands include a 27 per cent pay hike for drivers, and it hasn’t stopped Conservative party officials distributing leaflets claiming that tanker drivers earn up to £47,500 – or pointing out that’s more than a staff sergeant bomb disposal expert in Afghanistan (who earns around £35,000).

The implication is that tanker drivers are well-rewarded for the risks involved in lugging explosive cargo across the country.

According to the DVLA there are a total 55,592 LGV drivers of hazardous goods in the UK – with 84 per cent licensed to haul “explosives”.

But are the drivers as well off as the government claims?

The analysis

The average gross earnings of a full-time large goods vehicle (LGV) driver is £497.50 a week or £25,360 a year, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

An LGV is defined as any vehicle with a mass of over 3,500 kilogrammes – and covers vehicles previously known as HGVs (heavy goods vehicles).

The ONS doesn’t break down the pay of regular haulage drivers from tanker drivers; but we can assume that the latter command bigger pay packets – and the ONS figures show that the top 10 per cent of LGV drivers earn an average of £33,439.

That’s some 25 per cent less than the government’s figure of £45,000.

What’s more, it runs much closer to the average figure quoted to FactCheck by the union Unite, which represents 2,000 drivers who account for 90 per cent of those supplying petrol to UK forecourts.

A spokesman for Unite told us that the average salary of a tanker driver was around £35,000.

Yet the government, alongside some of the companies balloted for industrial action – such as Wincanton and Hoyer – quoted average salaries of £45,000.

Despite this, one Hoyer employee tweeted a picture of his payslip to us (below) adding: “I have (had) enough of the BS about what we earn WE DO NOT EARN 45K”.

“We’re guaranteed basic hours BUT we don’t do basic hours we are routed to max every shift. Due to redundancies less driver > work,” he added.

Of course this is just one worker at Hoyer, and a spokeswoman for the company continued to insist that the average salary was £45,000 for a 4×12-hour shift week.

However, she did concede that this figure includes “an element of overtime”. The overtime kicks in if drivers are stuck in traffic or if they work an extra day, she told us.

A spokesman for Wincanton also confirmed to FactCheck that the average £45,000 salary included “an element of overtime”.

The verdict

Yes tanker drivers earn more than your average LGV driver (the average gross annual salary across the board is £25,360), but according to official figures the average gross annual salary of a tanker driver is likely to be around £33,500.

That’s 25 per cent less than the £45,000 quoted by the government and by some haulage companies.

For a tanker driver to earn £45,000 in a year is however quite possible – but only if they put in extra hours in overtime.

Channel4 News Blogs The FactCheck

[url= http://blogs.channel4.com/factcheck/factcheck-do-tanker-drivers-earn-45k/10116 ]FactCheck : Do ranker drivers earn £45k?[/url]

I think a more pertinent question for each one of these 'XXX earn how much? OMG' threads is 'Why does this concern you so much?'....

There is no connection between what a fuel tanker driver earns and what someone who's job involves "safeguarding children" earns.

'Why does this concern you so much?'....

That's an easy one.

They take this stance because they are encouraged to do so by the employers/government/Tory Party.

And they like to dutifully, meekly, obligingly, and unquestioningly, comply.

They are generally "missing something", ie, the ability to think freely for themselves.

I concur.

Don't teachers teach because of the huge levels of satisfaction they get from helping other people learn, improve and generally grow up into decent human beings? Something that you can't put a price tag on.
Tanker drivers deliver stuff. 😕

You can't see a connection between the two ? Excellent. Don't look so confused btw - there isn't one.

Sits back and watches the stw hive mind froth about people who didnt go to college having the gaul to earn more than they do.

This is pretty outrageous though. I worked hard to get a degree, so why should the thickies who left school at 16 be allowed to sit back and send a Frenchman out to bring home more money than I earn with my own hands?

Interesting stuff (good link project). TBH I wasn't "shocked and outraged" by the £45k claim, considering that their job is to load, transport and deliver tonnes of volatile, environmentally hazardous and these days extremely valuable, liquids around the public highway. To find out the real figure is significantly lower than what we have been told is a bit of an eye opener. It's a shame the [b]facts[/b] as established by that C4 article arent being given the prominence that the employers/government claimed figures are.

surprise, surprise government/companies spread lies to vilify the unions and force down workers salaries

.feel that that the unions are not doing the cause of low paid workers any favours

nteresting stuff (good link project). TBH I wasn't "shocked and outraged" by the £45k claim, considering that their job is to load, transport and deliver tonnes of volatile, environmentally hazardous and these days extremely valuable, liquids around the public highway. To find out the real figure is significantly lower than what we have been told is a bit of an eye opener. It's a shame the facts as established by that C4 article arent being given the prominence that the employers/government claimed figures are.

By this logic privates in the military should be on 45k (in terms of danger to themselves) and so should a lot of scientists as the chemicals we use in labs will probably one day give us cancer or could potentially cause vast amounts of wanton carnage if we leak whatever hilarious thing we're working on into the environment.

I don't think many lower level scientists in Cat 4 (If you release it people are gonna die) labs earn that much.

No the reason why these people earn a half decent wage is because they can effectively hold the country to ransom, like the gobshite underground drivers.

The only people that complain about this sort of thing are those that made the wrong career choices.

Actually I can put up with the shit pay scientists get because the jobs interesting.

Those people that tend to strike, whine and complain are the who think they can hold society to ransom.

"Boohooo I only get 25k a year because when I was doing my GCSE's I probably couldn't be arsed to listen to the teacher and spent my entre day drawing penises on tables." Whining ****ing maggots.

If you're complaining about your lot, I'd suggest you can't.

Nahhh I'm not. I've had enough of people complaining about there lot and ****ing us all over because they feel their hard done to when most of us are in the same boat anyway.

Have another shandy and sleep on it.

No the reason why these people earn a half decent wage is because they can effectively hold the country to ransom, like the gobshite underground drivers.

so their job is very important, whilst you just piss about in a lab all day?

my dad drives tankers for a living (not petrol/oil) the week before last he worked 69 hours and drew just over £550 after deductions .I know he looked happy with that but i would rather earn less and spend more time with my family , which is why I'm a postie !

If it sounds like someone is earning far more than the majority of people would expect for a realtively unskilled job, then there has to be something in asking why. And note that asking why is not the same thing as criticising the issue.

I've never heard of a fuel tanker blowing up or being hijacked; that might be because the people that drive them are highly skilled, trustworthy individuals or it might be becase the threat is over dramatised and the systems in place for transporting fuel are very sophisticated.

Either way, if people express 'surprise' at how much these guys earn (note I said 'surprise', not ire) then most likely there is some truth to the notion that they're earning a lot more than they might otherwise expect.

To be fair, a lot of people end up earning a lot more than their base line capabilities would suggest or allow them to earn. This happens across all sectors.

You end up becoming worth far more in one very niche area and the level of pay you can command in that area is not remotely transferable eleswhere. My wife is a good example of this. She earns an exceptionally good wage as a pilot, but if she weren't able to be a pilot, I honestly think that she would seriosly struggle to earn maybe even half as much in another unrelated role. This does not mean she is overpaid as an individual; far from it.

You can't see a connection between the two ? Excellent. Don't look so confused btw - there isn't one.

Love this,
The shock from people who work in offices that someone can earn more money than them.
Please remember that both polititians and journalists lie too get the headlines that suit them.
Yes, tanker drivers earn good money, but most don't earn 45k a year. Also they have the shift patern from hell, and 60 hour weeks.
If you compare them to teachers, they also don't get three months holiday a year.

You leave my holidays out of this!!!!!!
My old man has been a lorry driver for god knows how long, including sometime driving haz chem tankers(but not petrol though) he works incredibly long hours starts at 5:30 most mornings. Hasnt ever earnt near that amount but i and he wouldnt begrudge it to others. Glad he's retiring.

Just remember that most teachers work an extra 10-15 hours a week and still do preparation for the upcoming term during their holidays as well.
Lots of sour grapes on here aren't there? Some of you IT boys must have far too much time free to [s]think about things[/s] sulk.

😀

I'd also add that i dont understand why the gov feel the need to interfer with private companies... I thought they wanted small government.

In summary. The government of the day will lie about everything, been there got that t shirt.

The shock from people who work in offices that someone can earn more money than them.

Should read

The shock from people who have spent a lot of time and money trying to acquire and master complex skills in order to get a better paid job when it turns out all you need to do to earn 100% more than the national average salary is to learn to drive (hey, didn't we learn this when we were 17?) and work in a highly unionised environment.

For the record, I earn substantially more than £45k a year so the original comment is not something I am guilty of.

The issue here isn't that the tanker drivers can earn £45k a year. It's that driving a tanker isn't differentiated in terms of skill requirement from other haulage jobs that pay less than half this. There are subtle differences between the two but it looks like the key factor to explaining the pay differential is the ability for the union to negotiate better pay and terms. Of course the fact that they are moving around a key national resource is key to that negotiation.

Just remember that most teachers work an extra 10-15 hours a week and still do preparation for the upcoming term during their holidays as well.

you make it sound as if that's over and above the call of duty.
teachers are well paid and don't work long hours compared to a lot of people, they do like to whinge though.

The key isnt that its of national importance because its run by private companirs that make lots of money. Being unionised obviously helps, why dont you join one?

teachers are well paid and don't work long hours compared to a lot of people, they do like to whinge though

Yep, driving a 40 ton tanker is just like driving a car. 😯
They earn more because of the extra training and licenses needed.
Also, as I mentioned, the shift pattern is really shit.
And by the way, driving an artic is quite complicated.

and work in a highly unionised environment.

it turns out all you need to do to earn 100% more than the national average salary is to learn to drive (hey, didn't we learn this when we were 17?) and work in a highly unionised environment.

Part of the whole reason I spent 3 years in Uni (and then went back to do another 3!) was so that I didn't have to work in such tough circumstances. I don't know why lorry driving is seen as the easy option.

I know a good few wagon drivers through social circles.

[b]they[/b] are angry about what fuel delivery drivers are earning, as in their opinion they are operating what is essentially a closed shop - there are plenty of fully qualified ADR drivers out there getting much less than them, who would be more than happy to do their jobs, but there in no possibility, as its all sewn up nicely to keep others out and keep their wages high.

bwaarp - Member

.......they can effectively hold the country to ransom, like the gobshite underground drivers.

😀 "hold the country to ransom" ? There's nothing quite like a bit of over emotive rhetoric is there ? Where do you get yours from bwaarp - the Daily Mail ?

I think you find that London, where the "gobshite" underground drivers operate, is not [i]"the country"[/i]. If you wanted an example of a group of people who have held the whole country to ransom why didn't you go for the obvious one and say Bankers ?

Or perhaps profit-hungry oil companies which you could say 'force and blackmail' the British people, who are totally dependent on them of course, even during times of great austerity and hardship, to increase their already mind boggling profits by another massive 54%, would be a more appropriate example of 'holding the country to ransom' in this particular case ?

[url= http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/feb/02/shell-profits-up-54-percent-oil ]Shell profits up 54% to £2m an hour[/url]

Wadja reckon ?

Sorry Ernie - are you saying that Shells increase in profit is from UK operations?

Bearing in mind its an anglo-dutch group that operates worldwide, how do you come to the conclusion that they're extracting more money from people in Britain???

teachers are well paid and don't work long hours compared to a lot of people, they do like to whinge though

Well paid? Erm......... Really? Glad I'm well paid.

Zulu, i know loads of lorry drivers too and whilst they wish they got paid more they dont think others should be paid less. Maybe I just no less Tories(by that i mean narrow minded jealous idiots).

I rather imagine that the only companies making significant profits in the UK at the moment are those paying minimum wage, or there and thereabouts, which require us ordinary taxpayers to supplement their employee's incomes up to living wage through benefits.

More sour grapes?

not really, i don't care what they earn it makes no difference to me.
(or the tanker drivers that doesn't affect me either)

Zulu-Eleven - Member

they are operating what is essentially a closed shop

Well in that case both the employers and the government have them over a barrel - a closed shop is illegal. Freeloaders have the full protection of the law.

I suspect your comment is just another example of zulubollox [img] [/img]

.

I can't imagine the employers and the government missing that trick.

Maybe I just no less Tories...

Know wonder teaching standards are dropping 😉

Ernie - [url= http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/essentially ]Essentially[/url]

I worke hard too make better literacy

Sorry Ernie - are you saying that Shells increase in profit is from UK operations?

No of course not. In an act of unparalleled benevolence, Shell operate at a loss in the UK.

"in their opinion they are operating what is essentially a closed shop - there are plenty of fully qualified ADR drivers out there getting much less than them, who would be more than happy to do their jobs, but there in no possibility, as its all sewn up nicely to keep others out and keep their wages high."

I don't understand - what's stopping haulage companies employing non-union drivers or paying a market wage? What's stopping new haulage companies winning business by cutting costs? I'm ignorant about the market - why isn't competition driving wages down? How does the unionisation create barriers to entry?

Zulu-Eleven - Member

Ernie - Essentially

Yes I understood that. You comment was essentially bollox.

Shell operate at a loss in the UK

They must be, as their tax bill seems disproportionally low.

aP - Member
Just remember that most teachers work an extra 10-15 hours a week and still do preparation for the upcoming term during their holidays as well.

I tried teaching, I went back to IT, it's loads easier! Also there was a kid that brought what can only be described as and entry level sword into school. No amount of turning it on and off again is harder than that.

Anyway, back on topic, what's this "overtime" you speak of?

See, nobody accused them of operating at a loss TJ - what you said is that they had [b]increased [/b]their profit from the British people at a time of austerity and hardship...

which I suppose you're now conceding was Erniebollox, yes?

Wow, this got tedious really quickly.

Wow, this got tedious really quickly.

You must be new here 8)

I was and am generally suprised at the figures quoted knowing several HGV drivers, folk who own small transport companies, folk who have small garages and they are no way close to that with overtime and bonuses.

My issues stems for the fact that the unions are supporting a small vociferious group who to all extent and purpose earn more than the avg wage whilst have not suppoort other sectors, public sector wages frozen for 2 years.Lots of public sector workers bring home low wages and the unions should be fighting for them.

Teachers have a hard job, social workers, support staff for social workers, residential care staff, those working anti social hours ie evenings and nights, plenty of folk out there that manage more than 80 staff who earn less than the tanker drivers.

What will happen when regionalised pay becomes a reality?

Teachers have a hard job, social workers, support staff for social workers, residential care staff, those working anti social hours ie evenings and nights, plenty of folk out there that manage more than 80 staff who earn less than the tanker drivers.

there are plenty of "unskilled" jobs in the UK that pay £45k once unsociable hours, shift premium, overtime etc are added on.
apart from bankers or hedge fund managers would you care to name some?

Yes Kimberly Clark, I work for them in an unskilled manufacturing position, last year I earnt 42k but I do work nights and weekends and that includes average 4 x 12 hrs of overtime each month.

I tried teaching, I went back to IT, it's loads easier! Also there was a kid that brought what can only be described as and entry level sword into school. No amount of turning it on and off again is harder than that.

brilliant.

Don Simon, people should be able to live ok though and maybe afford a house of a suitable size to have a family. As a teacher in the south east i cannot do the latter.

There are still people in the country still being paid overtime? 😯