Trade Platers Unite to Challenge High Portal Fees Impacting Earnings

Trade Platers Unite to Challenge High Portal Fees Impacting Earnings

Trade Platers Unite to Challenge High Portal Fees Impacting Earnings

UK trade platers, the dedicated drivers responsible for moving cars across the country for dealerships, are joining forces to fight back against a system that’s eroding their earnings. These drivers, who are essential to the vehicle movement industry, have seen their income slashed due to portal services that charge high fees and percentages, reducing the pay they take home.

For years, portal operators have charged dealerships fees for coordinating these moves, while also taking up to 12% of drivers' earnings. As a result, trade platers are spending long hours on the road, covering hundreds of miles, only to find their pay falling far below a livable wage. Many drivers have pointed out that, after expenses, they would earn more as local Uber drivers.

Now, however, the industry is seeing a push for change. Trade platers are coming together, forming a collective to offer dealerships better service at a fairer price while ensuring drivers receive the income they deserve.

Steve Day, Chairman of the Gibraltar-based Move Group, spoke exclusively to Global247news about the movement, sharing his perspective on the situation:

“Trade plate drivers are being treated like slaves of the industry,” Day said. “The drivers do all the hard work, covering long distances to keep dealership stock moving, but the portal operators are fleecing them. It’s reached a point where many would earn more driving locally for Uber. Now, it’s time for change, and drivers are uniting to make it happen.”

With this growing movement, the goal is to reshape the trade plating industry into one where drivers receive fair compensation for their work, allowing dealerships to work directly with drivers or collectives for an efficient, cost-effective solution.

The initiative marks a significant step in transforming the industry, one that could result in better earnings and work conditions for drivers while providing a more transparent, affordable service for dealerships.

The history of car trade platers—drivers responsible for transporting vehicles across locations, often hundreds of miles apart—reflects the evolution of the automotive trade and logistics sector. Trade plating began to gain prominence in the early-to-mid 20th century, when the automobile industry started growing rapidly, and dealerships, as well as manufacturers, needed reliable ways to transport cars efficiently across regions.

Origins and Early Days

In the early days, vehicles were moved individually by train or on specialized car trailers. However, as demand grew, dealerships and manufacturers began looking for more flexible and direct ways to transport vehicles to showrooms, dealerships, and customers across the country. This led to the rise of trade plating, where drivers could drive the vehicle itself across cities or countries, usually on temporary or "trade plates." These plates allowed drivers to legally operate the vehicles without registering each one individually, as the cars were technically in transit rather than in active use.

Trade plates initially became popular in the UK and Europe, where densely populated cities and regions made short-distance car transfers viable. Eventually, as dealerships started needing to move cars longer distances, trade platers found themselves covering hundreds of miles per job.

The Role of Trade Platers in the Automotive Boom

The post-war boom in car manufacturing led to a massive increase in demand for trade platers. With more brands entering the market, and as the desire for personal vehicles soared, the need for efficient, cost-effective vehicle transportation grew. Trade platers became essential, transporting vehicles from manufacturers to dealerships, showrooms, and auctions. The job required flexibility, long hours, and the ability to navigate vast regions reliably.

During this time, the role of a trade plater expanded beyond dealerships to include delivering cars for rental companies, fleet management services, and private sellers. For many drivers, the job was challenging yet rewarding, as they could drive various vehicles while also earning a decent wage.

The Digital Age and Rise of Portal Services

With the arrival of the digital age in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, the way trade platers found and completed jobs began to change. Online portals emerged, acting as middlemen that connected dealerships and car manufacturers with available trade platers. While these portals initially offered a convenient service for drivers and clients, allowing for greater reach and coordination, they also introduced additional fees that reduced driver earnings over time.

Today, trade platers often struggle with the costs that portal platforms impose. Many portals charge dealerships a fee for using their service and, additionally, take a percentage of the driver’s pay, which has gradually diminished the profitability of trade plating. As a result, there’s a growing call for reform, with drivers uniting to seek better pay structures and to challenge the fees levied by portals.

Modern Trade Plating and the Push for Change

Currently, trade platers play a vital role in the automotive industry, ensuring a seamless movement of vehicles across the UK and beyond. However, the economic pressures caused by high portal fees and low wages have led to drivers banding together in recent years. Many trade platers are advocating for fairer rates, either by seeking direct contracts with dealerships or forming collectives that offer competitive, portal-free alternatives.

 

This shift marks a new era in trade plating, where drivers are empowered to negotiate better working conditions while continuing to provide the crucial service of car transport. The future of trade plating may increasingly favor models that reduce intermediaries, allowing drivers and clients to benefit from more transparent, fairer pricing structures in a highly competitive market.

Today, trade plating remains a critical part of the automotive industry, balancing the demands of modern transport needs with a history rooted in flexibility, service, and, increasingly, driver advocacy.

 

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1 comment

I worked with engineus vehicle movement first company to use transport between job, paid no expenses,only per job, worked 12 to 18 hours a day, worked our £2 per hour, bad companies

Qumar zaman

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