The idiocy (and selfishness) of panic buying

BerkshireBlue said:
I said dry not shut. 100 stations had problems and that was on the Thursday before Friday had even began
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No no and no again The Guardian reported that several were forced to close. 100 had problems but still had fuel. Several out of thousands of petrol stations causes a nationwide panic that's not brexit, that's morons
 
Blue Mist said:
But it was one firm. It has been explained on here how they fucked over their drivers. Supermarkets had no problem until the idiots appeared, nor did anyone else
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You being very ostrich-like pretending there's no problem when there clearly is. You're a type of guy that would shit the bed and then lie it in thinking it's all fine
 
None of this operates in a vacuum. People do not trust politicians so when they see their supermarket shelves empty; when McDonalds has notices up saying that certain items can not be supplied; and when their local store has failed deliveries, they do not believe the government that there will not be a problem with fuel.
The issue around drivers is more complex than just blaming Brexit but the latter is a clear factor. It is an issue in freedom of movement for goods and employees: that is just a fact. There are other systemic problems like low pay, lack of facilities, and poor conditions that have all led to a shortage of drivers but to deny that Brexit is a contributing factor is purely myopic.
That this government was elected is a travesty. During their fourteen years in power, poverty, violence, homelessness, and debt have soared. We had more death than any European nation, despite being an island, and we cannot care for the neediest because we have culled social care provision, NHS budgets, and resources for mental health services. Meanwhile, one in four major UK businesses pay zero tax and the government refuses to close the loopholes that allow the British Territories to be recognised as the global leaders in enabling tax avoidance. Houses are now nearly 10x average salaries and a total readjustment is needed. This government will not be the ones who make that adjustment because they are largely funded by organisations and individuals for whom those shortfalls are serious opportunities.
 
oldius said:
None of this operates in a vacuum. People do not trust politicians so when they see their supermarket shelves empty; when McDonalds has notices up saying that certain items can not be supplied; and when their local store has failed deliveries, they do not believe the government that there will not be a problem with fuel.
The issue around drivers is more complex than just blaming Brexit but the latter is a clear factor. It is an issue in freedom of movement for goods and employees: that is just a fact. There are other systemic problems like low pay, lack of facilities, and poor conditions that have all led to a shortage of drivers but to deny that Brexit is a contributing factor is purely myopic.
That this government was elected is a travesty. During their fourteen years in power, poverty, violence, homelessness, and debt have soared. We had more death than any European nation, despite being an island, and we cannot care for the neediest because we have culled social care provision, NHS budgets, and resources for mental health services. Meanwhile, one in four major UK businesses pay zero tax and the government refuses to close the loopholes that allow the British Territories to be recognised as the global leaders in enabling tax avoidance. Houses are now nearly 10x average salaries and a total readjustment is needed. This government will not be the ones who make that adjustment because they are largely funded by organisations and individuals for whom those shortfalls are serious opportunities.
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This is the possibly the best post I have ever read on here about anything political. An outstanding contribution to this thread.
 
sir baconface said:
Having survived the great bog roll stampede and seen candles sell out on Merseyside, what is the next shortage you will plan for?

Edit, 21 March: How quickly things have changed. I was guilty of starting this thread under a different title just 9 days ago, when the bog roll stampede was little more than an amusing peccadillo. We could poke fun at panic buyers then. Not any more!
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I've just gone out and bought over 100 copies of the same Smiths single, turns out that i was just PANIC buying
 
Where I live in kent. Kent county council have gone out of their way to make lorry drivers unwelcome. Closed of lay-bys, bans on parking in industry sites etc. My kid brother who has just started back delivering meat says it's worse than ever trying to find a place to park for a rest. Lorrys arent welcome in kent.

www.unitetheunion.org

Kent lorry chaos set to end as parking ban extension refused

www.unitetheunion.org www.unitetheunion.org
 
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RACHACE said:
Why would I?
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Due to the context of your post. I don't think you intended it or generally believe it but it was basically something a Tory would say. Don't like your lot bugger off somewhere else. If this is an ideology you do believe then it would obviously apply across the board.Unless you would do it job by job which is somewhat odd.
As with everything on here someone will claim there best mate Phil earns shit loads, has a microwave, sky TV and a hot tub in his cab.
Phil is either a made up person or a lucky sod which bears no relation to the conditions most get in their role.

i used to drive lorries and the buses in Manchester. I got out so will be one of those who causes a shortage. If people are happy with that fine expect shortages.

Obviously the industry hit it lucky with free movement of people. So many drivers work hard with poor working conditions and have just about enough to feed themselves if somewhat scarcely and have a roof over their heads.

Not many people choose to work 70 hour weeks and lie on a shit bed in a lay-by off the A14.
 
Was stuck in a traffic jam about a mile outside Chester le Street. About half a mile long que for petrol. Got to Chester le Street and the one in the town centre only had 3 cars at the pumps. Do you think people in tis country see a q and think "i beeter join that".
 
richardtheref said:
Was stuck in a traffic jam about a mile outside Chester le Street. About half a mile long que for petrol. Got to Chester le Street and the one in the town centre only had 3 cars at the pumps. Do you think people in tis country see a q and think "i beeter join that".
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Yes. That's why they need petrol. Because averaging 0 miles per gallon whilst queuing for petrol means they need to buy more petrol so that they have enough petrol to queue for more petrol.
 
hilts said:
Due to the context of your post. I don't think you intended it or generally believe it but it was basically something a Tory would say. Don't like your lot bugger off somewhere else. If this is an ideology you do believe then it would obviously apply across the board.Unless you would do it job by job which is somewhat odd.
As with everything on here someone will claim there best mate Phil earns shit loads, has a microwave, sky TV and a hot tub in his cab.
Phil is either a made up person or a lucky sod which bears no relation to the conditions most get in their role.

i used to drive lorries and the buses in Manchester. I got out so will be one of those who causes a shortage. If people are happy with that fine expect shortages.

Obviously the industry hit it lucky with free movement of people. So many drivers work hard with poor working conditions and have just about enough to feed themselves if somewhat scarcely and have a roof over their heads.

Not many people choose to work 70 hour weeks and lie on a shit bed in a lay-by off the A14.
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Talking of striking it lucky. An ill wind and all that.

‘EU HGV drivers not expected here until mid Nov earliest. Government's 3-month visa dubbed "disingenuous" by an industry scrambling to find willing & able drivers.

The good news - supermarkets & haulage companies have been working behind closed doors to work up a list of EU nationals to entice over here. More bad news? It's going to cost businesses and ultimately consumers. Initial indications are showing wages for EU HGV drivers likely to surpass UK drivers wages by 20%.’
 
BobKowalski said:
Talking of striking it lucky. An ill wind and all that.

‘EU HGV drivers not expected here until mid Nov earliest. Government's 3-month visa dubbed "disingenuous" by an industry scrambling to find willing & able drivers.

The good news - supermarkets & haulage companies have been working behind closed doors to work up a list of EU nationals to entice over here. More bad news? It's going to cost businesses and ultimately consumers. Initial indications are showing wages for EU HGV drivers likely to surpass UK drivers wages by 20%.’
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I'm very glad all drivers will be getting a pay rise if only things had been done earlier. Such is life.

Higher wages cost business more money? Now that is a new development:-)
 
hilts said:
Due to the context of your post. I don't think you intended it or generally believe it but it was basically something a Tory would say. Don't like your lot bugger off somewhere else. If this is an ideology you do believe then it would obviously apply across the board.Unless you would do it job by job which is somewhat odd.
As with everything on here someone will claim there best mate Phil earns shit loads, has a microwave, sky TV and a hot tub in his cab.
Phil is either a made up person or a lucky sod which bears no relation to the conditions most get in their role.

i used to drive lorries and the buses in Manchester. I got out so will be one of those who causes a shortage. If people are happy with that fine expect shortages.

Obviously the industry hit it lucky with free movement of people. So many drivers work hard with poor working conditions and have just about enough to feed themselves if somewhat scarcely and have a roof over their heads.

Not many people choose to work 70 hour weeks and lie on a shit bed in a lay-by off the A14.
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Firstly I have no interest whatsoever in politics. Whether Tory, staunch Labour or whatever other group of privileged prats we are allowed to vote for, this situation, where a there's a shortage of drivers would have likely happened anyway.

Mainly because hardly anybody young sees transport and logistics as a good career choice. You've driven for a living so you'll know full well that the average age of a HGV driver is a concern and has been for a long time.

I reacted to a couple of posts that were giving a negative view on the job and the industry. The only reason I got involved was to point out that it's unfair to give that impression on an industry that I believe has sectors within it that could and should appeal to a young person wanting to make an honest living if they had the right attitude and mentality.

You and Pam seem to have got your knickers in a twist about me suggesting that drivers do not have to piss in bottles and shit behind tree's. Why? They don't!

But there are Hauliers out there that do push there drivers to such extents due to 'time sensitive deliveries and collections' and put money before the welfare of their employee and there are employees that accept that. I allowed a company push me hard when I 1st started out but quickly started to stand my ground. Many don't and just accept it but there are many other employers that do give a toss and make the job a lot more balanced and attractive than the posts I've responded to suggested.

What it has to do with how I feel about care workers I don't know. I'd also say that tootling around MCR in a bus or lorry doesn't give you anywhere near as much of an insight into the industry as you think. You do not have to do 70 hour weeks and sleep on the A14 if you don't want to.
 
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