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48hr Week
Drivers have always worked long hours in the haulage industry, wages have never been very good and the extra hours were usually welcomed by employees to boost their often poor hourly rate. The pressure on companies to compete, even to survive in some cases makes it essential that drivers do work overtime, this new EU directive will obviously have a huge affect on all aspects of the road haulage industry. If it is implemented the cost would be astronomical, a much higher hourly rate for drivers to compensate for the lack of overtime, a lot more would have to be recruited in order to fulfil contracts, more double-manned deliveries, the list is endless. The HFA feels that this would be a great benefit to drivers, if and when it is implemented, the same wages for less hours, more time to spend with their families, a much improved way of life. Not so for the employer, he will have to re-negotiate contracts and employ a lot more staff it will be a logistics nightmare. This directive will cause tremendous upheaval in the industry, good or bad? It depends on which side of the fence you are sitting.
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