Model Boat Mayhem

Mess Deck: General Section => Chit-Chat => Topic started by: justboatonic on March 26, 2012, 10:16:45 pm

Title: Groan! Panic buying is back.
Post by: justboatonic on March 26, 2012, 10:16:45 pm
Thanks to the radio news, no doubt tv and internet news, fuel panic buying started today! A friend tells me his local Shell station sold out of fuel today due to panic buying and had to close for 6 hours before the tanker arrived.

Local morrisions was chocca when I went to fill up (I have a daily commute of over 100 miles a day).

Lord wept, why do they have to stir this up?
Title: Re: Groan! Panic buying is back.
Post by: malcolmfrary on March 27, 2012, 07:03:18 pm
It seems that the Army will come to the rescue
http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/society/army-to-provide-surly-24%11hour-garage-service-201203265055/

When I called in at Sainsburys filling station near Bishop Aukland on my way over to South Shields on Saturday that was packed solid, but that was because petrol was about 2P a litre cheaper than anywhere else.
Title: Re: Groan! Panic buying is back.
Post by: Capt Podge on March 27, 2012, 09:52:00 pm
Somebody told me a while ago that if I filled up with one of the "big brand" petrols I would get better mileage.

I filled up at an "Esso" garage and sure enough I got a further 20 miles on a tankfull when compared with a supermarket brand. O0

I still can't work out whether the extra miles attained outweigh the difference in the price - anyone got any experience of this ? and does the cheaper petrol have any adverse effect on the engine ?  :o

............wish I'd been born rich instead of good looking ! {-) {-)


Regards,

Ray.
Title: Re: Groan! Panic buying is back.
Post by: triumphjon on March 27, 2012, 10:42:03 pm
it would be more benificial if instead of panic buying , people would actually support those tanker drivers in their bid for better working conditions , driving a 44 tonne / 33000 litre highly volitile truck has a huge responsibility , not only for the drivers saftey but for the rest of the community too !
Title: Re: Groan! Panic buying is back.
Post by: meechingman on March 27, 2012, 10:42:43 pm
Funny, I just did two identical weeks work covering the same mileages. One on Murco from an independent station and one on Sainsburys. Sainsbury's won by over 5%.

No sign of queues here - yet!
Title: Re: Groan! Panic buying is back.
Post by: DickyD on March 27, 2012, 11:02:24 pm
it would be more benificial if instead of panic buying , people would actually support those tanker drivers in their bid for better working conditions , driving a 44 tonne / 33000 litre highly volitile truck has a huge responsibility , not only for the drivers saftey but for the rest of the community too !

Having spent 40 odd years driving Class 1 HGVs I can safely say that oil company tanker drivers have always had the highest pay and best working conditions in the transport industry and I certainly wont be supporting them. There are plenty of drivers carrying far more dangerous loads for a lot less money under worse conditions, Did the tanker drivers ever support the rest of us during the fuel blockades or industrial action, I dont think so.
Title: Re: Groan! Panic buying is back.
Post by: john s 2 on March 27, 2012, 11:04:06 pm
If the reports of what tanker drivers earn are correct. Then it seems to me that there wages are excellent.So they do not have my support. Possibly the best thing would be to sack the lot of them. Im sure that there are plenty of decent responsible drivers who would work for far less. John.
Title: Re: Groan! Panic buying is back.
Post by: pugwash on March 27, 2012, 11:23:36 pm
There was someone from the lorry drivers (not tanker drivers) on the radio the other day saying exactly the same as DickyD.
It should be the other drivers we support - they already get the better wages.

Geoff
Title: Re: Groan! Panic buying is back.
Post by: DickyD on March 27, 2012, 11:40:03 pm
These tanker drivers are on an average of £ 45,000 per annum which is approximately twice the normal HGV wage.
Title: Re: Groan! Panic buying is back.
Post by: lilgoth on March 27, 2012, 11:49:06 pm
Resposibility...alsmost was in a crash today thanks to one of them tho...idiot was just sat yapping away on the cellphone
weaving down the a38 at one point as we were overtaking him he pretty much swearved into our lane and we had to slam the brakes on
if there was anyone behind us... we would have been toast
yet he is on a really good salery and gets much better working conditions than most truck drivers ( or so my dad used to say )
now they go on strike ?
Title: Re: Groan! Panic buying is back.
Post by: Cotti on March 28, 2012, 07:30:29 am
I used to drive buses a few years ago and if ever there was a responsible job but with terrible pay and working conditions ten that was it!

Paul
Title: Re: Groan! Panic buying is back.
Post by: triumphjon on March 28, 2012, 08:03:55 am
which picket line were you on back when the hauliers were on strick a few years back ? a good many on the line i was attending wouldnt cross the line , . the current situation isnt about the pay these drivers are EARNING  its the conditions they are being forced into working under , as any haulier knows the gov imposed 56mph speed limit restricts how much can now be done within our drivers hours
Title: Re: Groan! Panic buying is back.
Post by: ACTion on March 28, 2012, 08:46:18 am
which picket line were you on back when the hauliers were on strick a few years back ? a good many on the line i was attending wouldnt cross the line , . the current situation isnt about the pay these drivers are EARNING  its the conditions they are being forced into working under , as any haulier knows the gov imposed 56mph speed limit restricts how much can now be done within our drivers hours
I read the speed limit for HGVs to be 60MPH on motorways, not 56. Be that as it may, if companies are forcing drivers to break the law ref driving hours and speed limits then they should be prosecuted, as should drivers using mobile phones while at the wheel. Paying the drivers more is no honorable solution, it only makes the drivers complicit in a conspiracy to break the law. It's also no reason for about five hundred blokes to hold the whole country to ransom. As an old trade union member I hate to say it but I don't support this action and I would not cry if the whole ruddy lot of 'em were sacked. £45K is a decent screw in anyone's language (apart from the usual cast of bankers, brokers, agents, MPs, footballers and the rest of the clowns, whores and comic singers).
Dave M
Title: Re: Groan! Panic buying is back.
Post by: richald on March 28, 2012, 10:10:10 am
I'm with DickyD and DaveM on this one . . .

Another Union Leader (the general secretary of Unite, Len McCluskey) wanting to flex his muscles
- it happens from time to time.

richald
Title: Re: Groan! Panic buying is back.
Post by: tt1 on March 28, 2012, 12:52:56 pm
Wish you'd stop mincing your words Dave and say what you mean! {-) {-) {-)

            Nice one :-))

Title: Re: Groan! Panic buying is back.
Post by: john s 2 on March 28, 2012, 03:47:27 pm
Exactly what conditions do the tanker drivers not like? Surely driving at 56 or 60 mph just means less deliverys a day. Thats not their problem. They still get the same pay. Does a petrol tanker have a tachograph? Hope someone can explain. Thanks John.
Title: Re: Groan! Panic buying is back.
Post by: triumphjon on March 28, 2012, 10:02:11 pm
all commercial vehicles over 3.5 tonnes gross weight have to be fitted with a tachograph , there are a few exceptions on vehicles needing to use them . although you may read the highway code as stating speed limit for hgvs on motorways as 60 mph , all newerhgv have a speed limiter fitted that is pre set to 56MPH  , this is apparently the most fuel cost effective speed according to BRUSSELS  . i ve  seen the adr courses that the road tanker drivers have to attend ( run by united transport tankers , avonmouth ) , AND  also  been an owner operator  myself , as well as driving commercial vehicles for other opeartors and have seen all manner of idiot manuvers out on our road system daily and not just by those who insist on using a hand held moblie phone while driving ! to date ive not heard anything that has stated that those tanker drivers ARE  coming out on strike
Title: Re: Groan! Panic buying is back.
Post by: DickyD on March 28, 2012, 11:14:36 pm
all commercial vehicles over 3.5 tonnes gross weight have to be fitted with a tachograph , there are a few exceptions on vehicles needing to use them . although you may read the highway code as stating speed limit for hgvs on motorways as 60 mph , all newerhgv have a speed limiter fitted that is pre set to 56MPH  , this is apparently the most fuel cost effective speed according to BRUSSELS  . i ve  seen the adr courses that the road tanker drivers have to attend ( run by united transport tankers , avonmouth ) , AND  also  been an owner operator  myself , as well as driving commercial vehicles for other opeartors and have seen all manner of idiot manuvers out on our road system daily and not just by those who insist on using a hand held moblie phone while driving ! to date ive not heard anything that has stated that those tanker drivers ARE  coming out on strike
So what is your point exactly ?  (http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p8/DickyD_photos/Smileys/thinking1.gif)
Title: Re: Groan! Panic buying is back.
Post by: triumphjon on March 28, 2012, 11:21:36 pm
when ddi you last drive for a living  DICK
Title: Re: Groan! Panic buying is back.
Post by: DickyD on March 28, 2012, 11:47:03 pm
2004 for TDG so what is your point ?
Title: Re: Groan! Panic buying is back.
Post by: justboatonic on March 29, 2012, 10:40:48 pm
all commercial vehicles over 3.5 tonnes gross weight have to be fitted with a tachograph , there are a few exceptions on vehicles needing to use them . although you may read the highway code as stating speed limit for hgvs on motorways as 60 mph , all newerhgv have a speed limiter fitted that is pre set to 56MPH  , this is apparently the most fuel cost effective speed according to BRUSSELS  . i ve  seen the adr courses that the road tanker drivers have to attend ( run by united transport tankers , avonmouth ) , AND  also  been an owner operator  myself , as well as driving commercial vehicles for other opeartors and have seen all manner of idiot manuvers out on our road system daily and not just by those who insist on using a hand held moblie phone while driving ! to date ive not heard anything that has stated that those tanker drivers ARE  coming out on strike

The way the government are handling this and, the public panic buying (so they can drive 6 miles to the supermarket on a full tank  <*<), they dont need to go on strike!

2 major filling stations within a mile of me are out of fuel. The local morrisons is gridlocked with people trying to fill up.
Title: Re: Groan! Panic buying is back.
Post by: funtimefrankie on March 30, 2012, 08:45:44 am
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/s320x320/549933_10150920212079148_668509147_12698262_663903022_n.jpg
Title: Re: Groan! Panic buying is back.
Post by: Guy Bagley on March 30, 2012, 09:50:26 am
i needed fuel yesterday, i was on reserve and the warning light was on ! - i passed a tescos filling station and joinerd the queue to fill up,
 there clearly was a large number of people hyped up by recent media reports who Were PANIC BUYING FUEL,

as i pulled up to the pump the previous pump user ( driving a mondeo )  had put £7-30 worth of fuel in his vehicle.... that is panic buying !- but only keeping his tank topped up like the crazy media reports suggested....

me... i bunged £80 of diesel in !
Title: Re: Groan! Panic buying is back.
Post by: grasshopper on March 30, 2012, 10:22:15 am
Typical government manipulation - those muppets that wasted fuel rushing to a petrol station queue, wasted time and fuel sitting in the queue have simply succeeded in swelling the governments coffers before the end of their financial year.

All this about drivers being 'forced to speed ' to hit targets and other H & S issues is probably just twaddle, blown up out of all proportion. Problems created by union officials to drag people out on strike creating anomosity within companies, families and friendships - and you lose pay whilst you're 'out' - yet the union officials still get their even larger salaries and bonuses. So what do they really care, they're no better than politicians....blood sucking leeches the lot of them.

Title: Re: Groan! Panic buying is back.
Post by: roycv on March 30, 2012, 10:40:43 am
Hi all, re the panic buying of fuel.
 The Irish had an answer for it 30 odd years ago when they had a fuel shortage, You could only buy a minimum of 4 gallons.  There were no queues at the garages. 

We were in Southern Ireland, and as we were on holiday we were given petrol coupons to make sure the holiday was not spoilt and we toured around and had a very nice holiday.
A pity we have politicians who make silly remarks in public.
regards Roy
Title: Re: Groan! Panic buying is back.
Post by: Dave13 on March 30, 2012, 11:31:28 am
Typical government manipulation - those muppets that wasted fuel rushing to a petrol station queue, wasted time and fuel sitting in the queue have simply succeeded in swelling the governments coffers before the end of their financial year.

All this about drivers being 'forced to speed ' to hit targets and other H & S issues is probably just twaddle, blown up out of all proportion. Problems created by union officials to drag people out on strike creating anomosity within companies, families and friendships - and you lose pay whilst you're 'out' - yet the union officials still get their even larger salaries and bonuses. So what do they really care, they're no better than politicians....blood sucking leeches the lot of them.



Grasshopper

I have to agree with you 100% as I went to the super market yesterday and their was massive queues for the petrol station.  %% %% I just don't know whats wrong with people!!
Dave:)
Title: Re: Groan! Panic buying is back.
Post by: Richtea on March 30, 2012, 11:40:24 am
Grasshopper

I have to agree with you 100% as I went to the super market yesterday and their was massive queues for the petrol station.  %% %% I just don't know whats wrong with people!!
Dave:)

Usually people DO start to panic buy when a government minister goes on television and tells every one "there's no need to panic buy"
Title: Re: Groan! Panic buying is back.
Post by: Dave13 on March 30, 2012, 11:52:19 am
Usually people DO start to panic buy when a government minister goes on television and tells every one "there's no need to panic buy"

Yeah well if they didn't go out and panic buy their would probably enough fuel for every one  :-) :-)
It's seems to me that the whole thing is being blown up out of all proportions by the government.
Dave:)
Title: Re: Groan! Panic buying is back.
Post by: U-33 on March 30, 2012, 11:54:06 am
saw this earlier...


(http://s12.postimage.org/mxq15822h/529113_358331774210831_172990069411670_981320_1043316722_n.jpg) (http://postimage.org/image/mxq15822h/)
Title: Re: Groan! Panic buying is back.
Post by: john44 on March 30, 2012, 01:02:35 pm
As usual its the car owners that loose out having to buy petrol at inflated prices from various petrol companies,
having to wait in ques for this (privilege)
 all on the pretext that the tanker drivers may strike. over pay? ask the workers who are on minimum wage if they would
like to train to be a tanker driver, but state that the pay is only £45,000 a year and see how many jump at the chance.
It seems their wages are as inflated as the price of petrol.

john
Title: Re: Groan! Panic buying is back.
Post by: Capt Podge on March 30, 2012, 05:17:11 pm
swelling the governments coffers before the end of their financial year.

Well said grasshopper - I was thinking along the same lines - the end of the financial year is looming so this surge in fuel sales will give a false indicator to whichever set of figures they decide to use for their reports.  >>:-(

Regards,

Ray.

n.b. I am no financial expert but common sense can see through these manipulations ! ;D

Title: Re: Groan! Panic buying is back.
Post by: Richtea on March 30, 2012, 06:37:29 pm
Just read in the news that a woman from York has suffered 40% burns after decanting petrol from a container,
into an open jug, in a kitchen with a lighted gas stove.
Title: Re: Groan! Panic buying is back.
Post by: Colin Bishop on March 30, 2012, 08:08:11 pm
Sheer stupidiy really, but a lot of people just don't realise how dangerous petrol is. A petrol/air mixture is explosive. Somebody once remarked to me that if petrol had just been invented it would be banned, and I think there is a lot of truth in that.

Keeping it at home is definitely a bad idea unless it's a small can in the shed for the lawnmower - never let it anywhere near the house. The thought of people keeping jerrycans of it in the garage terrifies me.

Colin
Title: Re: Groan! Panic buying is back.
Post by: Kangaroo1 on March 30, 2012, 08:45:04 pm
To the fuel tanker drivers who are going to strike ...

Your jobs will have to be done by armed service personnel of whom none will be on 45k a year as you are ....
All have had enforced pension changes and a two-year pay freeze ....
And your jobs are the last thing that our stretched armed services need at this time...
So can you stop moaning and if you dislike your job and your employers so much, then quit ....

And you could join the armed forces and then you will understand what hard and dangerous work really is.
Title: Re: Groan! Panic buying is back.
Post by: malcolmfrary on March 30, 2012, 09:03:22 pm
Quote
The thought of people keeping jerrycans of it in the garage terrifies me.
Me to. 
It didn't worry the government minister who did, whatever he later said, encourage the keeping of a highly volatile fuel in or around homes, or any of his advisers.  Few of them have any greater knowledge or actual wisdom than the rest of us, but they do have the ability to talk themselves into jobs that they have no ability to fulfill without actually worrying about being caught out by facts.  The truth behind the incident is probably that the unfortunate lady would have suffered an accident anyway, but someone, somewhere will try to make political capital out of the incident anyway.
Title: Re: Groan! Panic buying is back.
Post by: Bob K on March 30, 2012, 09:10:11 pm
Even keeping a small quantity of petrol in the shed is not a good idea, especially if you happen to be charging your LiPo battery away from the house for 'safety'   {:-{
Title: Re: Groan! Panic buying is back.
Post by: dreadnought72 on March 30, 2012, 11:50:01 pm
I just bunged fifteen quid in the car (it was, after all, below "empty") after finishing a shift at Sainsbury's tonight.

The petrol checkout operator there said her till had served "over 950 people" that day - perhaps 50% up on normal - and that people were filling all sorts of tanks to be placed in their boots => dangerous practice.

The thing is - and I never normally buy conspiracy theories - I'm not sure if the government are SO stupid to cause an unnecessary panic like this through a badly worded comment. What if they'd rather people filled up while deliveries are still being made, in order to diminish any effects of a "few days'" strike? I bet in most cases, cars with full tanks will not mind if garages are empty for a week or so. Win for government from the additional taxes (and it's a flippin' huge amount of cash) and win for them dealing with dissenting unions...not least because, without a doubt the memory & effects of the tanker strike under the Blair government looms large. And then threatening army support to maintain supplies means the possibility of real fuel shortages is near-zero anyway.

It's all game-playing and typical politics, I think.

Andy
Title: Re: Groan! Panic buying is back.
Post by: peter c on March 31, 2012, 12:56:27 am
I agree with you.

I usually fill up when the needle reaches the last mark before the red section, this gives me about 100 miles before running dry (pure guesstimate, never run out of petrol yet!).

People seem to forget unions give 7 days notice of any strike action, which gives plenty of time to fill up, they seem to think everything will happen tomorrow.

Peter

Title: Re: Groan! Panic buying is back.
Post by: Shipmate60 on March 31, 2012, 10:52:07 am
In my 20 plus years as a TU rep I have never known anyone who wants to go on strike.
The tanker drivers are not striking about pay, but their conditions which have been slowly eroded over years and their employers not taking the changed seriously.
This leads to frustration which slowly grows to dissatisfaction and anger.
From my understanding of the situation the concerns are safety and portable pensions.
As the drivers are on short term contracts due to the contracts awarded to the companies this leads to problems for things like getting a mortgage (if you can get one) and confusion about pensions.
If i changed employment every 3 years I would have over 11 pensions to deal with.
Some reasonable employers don't have a great problem with portable pensions but others do.
As with all contracted out industries price is usually king.
Some however maintain a good level of communication with the workforce but so many are only interested in making as much money out of a contract as possible ( I have been there).
This does lead to nil investment in the workforce and dissatisfaction.
Isn't it funny how after the Govt make such stupid, basic mistakes that the drivers can have their hours of work extended which will ensure that the drivers earn overtime and even more money!!!

Bob