Panic buying fuel again

I did manage after passing 3 empty stations to find one with some this evening, although limited to £35 , meant we have a car we can use now than a static ornament on the drive. I must have been the only one without fuel, as the drive to work in our little car this morning , which had fuel, the whole world were hammering at speed on the A roads, like it wasnt an issue..................
 
A little gutting in your panic to fill up :)

https://amp.theguardian.com/business/2021/sep/27/petrol-station-chaos-worsened-by-motorists-filling-up-with-wrong-fuel

Tim.
 
R.E92 said:
IR35 had been bad for most industries. It's typically not something that people are aware of as it's only talked about in niche outlets.

I personally have chosen to work less as a result of IR35 and I know a lot of others who are doing the same. It's just not worth getting out of bed when you have to pay income tax on your entire earnings. Higher rate income tax combined with NI and the business costs incurred when working away from home mean that you end up being much more selective when taking on projects. It was designed as a cash grab but I think it's backfired on them.

This fuel shortage is actually getting pretty serious. All but 1 station that I passed on the way home tonight was closed. How can anyone commit to a long journey at the moment unless they have enough fuel for the entire trip? If business were struggling with staffing before, they are going to be fucked now.

This. I hold HGV1 and PSV1 and until a few months ago; when it ran out an ADR for most things that go bang when you put a match to them - I kept these licences current as a 'plan B' whilst I did other things and tried other enterprises. But; having retired early from doing other things I did agency driving work for a couple of years as my own company - my wife retired early and also did agency work (in her chosen field) via the company. We cut down working before Covid and are lucky that we can manage with our pensions. Now I could ring the agency and be in a truck tonight but why should I risk crossing a tax bracket threshold and buggering my tax affairs around when I don't have to? I haven't avoided tax - my company paid all the tax that was due; as did I if I took a dividend. I can't be the only one thinking that its not worth getting back behind the wheel - and I certainly don't want a full time job!

.... and that's without the other rubbish; firms trying to get me to tramp around and 'camp out'; night time road closures; crash for cash; finding a gap in a lay by to have a break or stop for a pee and the modern favourite - make a one hour delivery slot at a supermarket distribution centre despite the traffic or risk getting turned away!

Bah humbug - its time the consumer paid the going rate to get things delivered. The whole system has been trimmed to the bone and drivers were the point where costs were saved - hence many driving as their own 'company' but always at the same place. I fear this is the wake up call.
 
Just to add to the IR35 item for those that are not aware of it. This is a 20 odd year old tax law that they have modified to make it even more evil. It is relating to "deemed" employment, i.e. "they" (HMRC) decides that you really should be employed by the person you work for.

They use the strange example that for example a freelance nurse should not earn more than an NHS employed nurse, which is completely rubbish of course as the freelance nurse does not get sick pay, have to provide for their own pension, have to look for their own jobs wherever etc. The same applies to HGV drivers and any other industries.

Up till recently, the self employed person decided that they were outside of the IR35 scope and worst case, they would lose a tax case. The new implementation of the law means that the employer is now also liable for tax, and worst part, retrospectively. This has killed a huge section of employment, be it in the oil and gas industries where the vast majority of people are self employed due to their specific knowledge they transfer to diferent customers.

Nobody in the banking sector will employ self employed people anymore as they will not underwrite the liability risk that in 20 years time they get a retrospective tax bill, and the same applies to the current HGV crisis as the self employed drivers are not going to work at a tax rate that puts them on equal pay as an employed person, but without the benefits.
 
Crazy Harry said:
This. I hold HGV1 and PSV1 and until a few months ago; when it ran out an ADR for most things that go bang when you put a match to them - I kept these licences current as a 'plan B' whilst I did other things and tried other enterprises. But; having retired early from doing other things I did agency driving work for a couple of years as my own company - my wife retired early and also did agency work (in her chosen field) via the company. We cut down working before Covid and are lucky that we can manage with our pensions. Now I could ring the agency and be in a truck tonight but why should I risk crossing a tax bracket threshold and buggering my tax affairs around when I don't have to? I haven't avoided tax - my company paid all the tax that was due; as did I if I took a dividend. I can't be the only one thinking that its not worth getting back behind the wheel - and I certainly don't want a full time job!

.... and that's without the other rubbish; firms trying to get me to tramp around and 'camp out'; night time road closures; crash for cash; finding a gap in a lay by to have a break or stop for a pee and the modern favourite - make a one hour delivery slot at a supermarket distribution centre despite the traffic or risk getting turned away!

Bah humbug - its time the consumer paid the going rate to get things delivered. The whole system has been trimmed to the bone and drivers were the point where costs were saved - hence many driving as their own 'company' but always at the same place. I fear this is the wake up call.
Would you consider taking an employed role with return to base within same day. Your LGV C+E with ADR is quite sought after at the moment and wages are high?
 
No matter what the root causes are within the haulage industry in general, they are not the reasons we have pretty much run out of fuel at the pumps in THREE DAYS!
That is purely down to the selfish, ignorant and greedy attitude of the wider general public. There is no other explanation. :x
 
Pondrew said:
No matter what the root causes are within the haulage industry in general, they are not the reasons we have pretty much run out of fuel at the pumps in THREE DAYS!
That is purely down to the selfish, ignorant and greedy attitude of the wider general public. There is no other explanation. :x

Didn't you just buy a gaz guzzler? You must have gone out for a drive :D :evil:
 
pvr said:
Didn't you just buy a gaz guzzler? You must have gone out for a drive
Funny you should mention that. It was due to be delivered on a transporter tomorrow. Guess what? They are unsure when they can do it now!
If I do get it, it looks like it will be sat on the drive for the foreseeable :(
 
Petrol coupons were reissued by the Govt in the 70’s - their use was never implemented tho’,

I think the safest bet would be to make a minimum charge at the pump and ban / fine Gerry can use.

Make a minimum charge of say £30 to discourage the £5 top up idiots!

Bikes and small cars £15 min charge?
 
Its an odd situation. Initial panic buying, followed by people who were not panic buying, now needing to legitimately fill up their cars after staying away. Meanwhile panic buyers continue to top-up and now see those legit drivers trying to get fuel, so panic again.

Feels like it need management :lol:
 
ronk said:
I think the safest bet would be to make a minimum charge at the pump and ban / fine Gerry can use.

So for all those gardeners, tree surgeons and other small cc petrol powered equipment wouldn’t be able to use their equipment without first filling a jerry can of fuel :poke:
 
There seems to be a sudden glut of gardeners and tree surgeons!

Meanwhile- when our Government and political morons should be getting a grip on the situation- Parliament is in recess ! They aren’t back until 18th October
 
That is the problem I have with my tractor, not being road licensed I can’t fill it up with diesel at the moment. No red diesel in my area either.
 
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