OOH where to start?
Theres an essential bottom line here and that is the truckers have enough industrial muscle to command that level of pay.Obviously one reason for that is because they can influence the supply of such an important commodity,but it goes deeper than that.They have another essential strength and that is a union (Unite I believe)that is willing to fight for its members pay in a way that gets results(it seems).Many truck drivers and other professional drivers dont earn anything like that amount because they either dont belong to a union,or belong to a useless one,or are just individuals fighting their own corners.
I often find it interesting that the "professional classes"get so upset when their degrees and other qualifications dont automatically get them into the higher tax band as of right,but wont join a union to assist themselves collectively.I can only assume that unions are seen as too "old labour" or worse still working class,and fighting for your pay and conditions not a suitable thing for professionals to do.
Truth is there will only ever be a small number of individuals who can connand big salaries on their own.The rest of us need to act together to get anything other than taken for a ride.