Disruptions and driver shortages
Disruptions and driver shortages
(17 Sep 2021, 10:35 pm)Adrian It's not a "so called driver shortage", there's a national shortage of labour. It's been experienced across multiple industries, especially those with lower pay and conditions, such as transport and hospitality. It's also been reported over the media for months now: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/po...14605.htmlThe problem is, when CBSSG ended and the new BRG funding started, one of the hurdles is maintaining at least 90% of scheduled mileage (Vs before COVID).
I agree that its poor to have multiple services cancelled around the same time on one corridor, but given how tightly/'efficiently' operators seem to schedule (with duty boards are scheduled to the minute in terms of start times, finish times and legal breaks), I'd imagine it removes much flexibility in terms of asking Joe Bloggs to cover a 21 instead of a 34. With any leading drivers most likely already on the road.
As I understand CBBSG ended in August, I doubt trying to sub-contract commercial work out on a larger basis is affordable. Of course, that's on the assumption that independent operators aren't in the same boat... GCT seemed to hit this problem a few month ago.
I do however think there's been a lack of foresight here. As mentioned, national labour shortages have been in the media for months now, so I'd be really surprised if these so-called industry insiders weren't briefing operators even before then. I'm more surprised that we haven't seen the implementation of a reduced/emergency timetable by operators yet, reducing some of the high frequency services to allow some staff to be used as 'hot spares' to cover short-notice sickness etc. It would feel like a better solution than the current firefighting.
(17 Sep 2021, 10:35 pm)Adrian It's not a "so called driver shortage", there's a national shortage of labour. It's been experienced across multiple industries, especially those with lower pay and conditions, such as transport and hospitality. It's also been reported over the media for months now: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/po...14605.htmlThe problem is, when CBSSG ended and the new BRG funding started, one of the hurdles is maintaining at least 90% of scheduled mileage (Vs before COVID).
I agree that its poor to have multiple services cancelled around the same time on one corridor, but given how tightly/'efficiently' operators seem to schedule (with duty boards are scheduled to the minute in terms of start times, finish times and legal breaks), I'd imagine it removes much flexibility in terms of asking Joe Bloggs to cover a 21 instead of a 34. With any leading drivers most likely already on the road.
As I understand CBBSG ended in August, I doubt trying to sub-contract commercial work out on a larger basis is affordable. Of course, that's on the assumption that independent operators aren't in the same boat... GCT seemed to hit this problem a few month ago.
I do however think there's been a lack of foresight here. As mentioned, national labour shortages have been in the media for months now, so I'd be really surprised if these so-called industry insiders weren't briefing operators even before then. I'm more surprised that we haven't seen the implementation of a reduced/emergency timetable by operators yet, reducing some of the high frequency services to allow some staff to be used as 'hot spares' to cover short-notice sickness etc. It would feel like a better solution than the current firefighting.
