TRUCK RUCKUS
Sturgeon blasts firms for sending HGV drivers out
NICOLA Sturgeon was embroiled in a spat with transport companies last night after she accused them of sending HGV drivers out on the road despite the red weather warning.
The First Minister sent a blunt message to the firms after hundreds of drivers were trapped in their cars overnight on the M80.
The motorway was blocked by a combination of extreme weather and jack-knifed lorries.
Asked about the snarl-up at First Minister’s Questions at Holyrood, Sturgeon said: “To be absolutely frank, there were far more HGVs on that road than there should have been when a red warning was in place.
“We have to be extremely clear in the message we are sending to companies who deliver using HGVs.
“This is not a criticism of drivers – driver safety is one of the important issues. But during a red weather warning, an HGV shouldn’t be on a trunk road unless it is unavoidable.
“Given the branding on some HGVs I saw pictures of yesterday, I’d struggle to say that their journeys were unavoidable.
“That message should go out strongly from the chamber to companies who use HGVs during conditions such as those we are currently experiencing.”
Unite Scotland have established that DHL bosses in the Westfield depot at Cumbernauld, ignored police and Scottish Government travel warnings on Wednesday. Five drivers were forced out on HGV deliveries to Inverness, Elgin, Aberdeen and Edinburgh.
Their loads were non-essential furniture goods and clothing.
The union said the crew sent to Inverness, Elgin and Aberdeen were stuck in traffic jams for more than 24 hours outside Perth and only got moving on Thursday afternoon.
The Edinburgh driver was trapped from 11am on Wednesday until the same time yesterday in the jam on the M80.
Unite regional officer Wendy Dunsmore said: “This is a flagrant breach of health and safety laws. The management concerned have ignored red and amber warnings.
“It isn’t an exaggeration to say they were prepared to put lives in jeopardy – they’re more concerned about protecting company profit than the wellbeing of staff.”
The union said the Westfield depot operates a no attendance, no wages policy. At other DHL depots, drivers were sent home on full pay after the bad weather closed in.
Dunsmore added: “Are DHL operating a postcode lottery on terms and conditions when bad weather affects deliveries?
“In some depots you get sent home on full pay, while drivers at Westfield are told if they are not working, they won’t get wages.
“It’s shameful. You have to risk life and limb to get your pay packet.”
Road Haulage Association regional manager Brian Kenny insisted the branding on lorries did not necessarly reflect the cargo.
He said: “Some of those vehicles will be carrying essential supplies and some dispatched days earlier.
“Where would the goverment like those vehicles to park up? There are very few facilities in Scotland.
“This is not a case of hauliers just sending people out despite the warning. It’s likely most would have been out prior to it being issued.”
They’re more concerned about profit than the wellbeing of staff UNION OFFICER