As a Class 1 (C+E) driver, the last few months has been a very interesting experience. We were paying our drivers an average of £11 per hour this summer, our drivers are now earning just over £16PH that's just short of a 50% increase. I have moved from our office back to driving as it pays about £5 PH more and is hourly paid rather than the office salary. I don't think I am working more now I am driving than I was when in the office, but my pay has gone up from £25k to about £40k.
I voted remain, and I would tomorrow if had the chance again, but Brexit has certainly helped improve my finances, but it's not all Brexit. IR35 is a good shout, but not because of the obvious reasons, most Europeans that was driving in the UK were self-employed and on ir35, but the reason many went, and I have spoke to lots of them was the good old bound back loan from the government, many drivers got £10k+ covid bounce back loans and simply did a runner back to the EU as soon as they were able, never to return of course because they would have to repay the loans.
Am I worried about foreign drivers coming back to reduce our pay? Nope not one bit, most won't return and even if lots did, drivers now have much better understanding of the power their have and their ability to start demanding better pay and conditions, the ability to just park up the truck is very much in the thoughts of even the most loyal driver.
C+E drivers will earn on average of £20ph+ by the end of this year(£50k) which is about the right money when you look at the job and responsibility we have and do. If you think it's an easy job, I'll keep the offer open to anyone on this site to travel with me for one day and see what having 50ft +44t of trailer behind you looks like on our roads.
