jbaz73:
I have worked for some [zb] route planners who take the ■■■■ “the computer says…”
Tell me about. Like when they have a 13 hour day planned for you, you get delayed for 3 hours and they still expect you do do the same run.
switchlogic:
ROG:
Which do you put first - safety or job ?Job, the odd serious injury or death is just par for the course in this industry
Are you serious ?
overworked/underpaid:
Hi,
E-petition is now ready to be signed please follow this link,
epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/48547
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Thankyou
No thanks 
ROG:
switchlogic:
ROG:
Which do you put first - safety or job ?Job, the odd serious injury or death is just par for the course in this industry
Are you serious ?
I’m always serious, I’m a very serious man.
ROG:
switchlogic:
ROG:
Which do you put first - safety or job ?Job, the odd serious injury or death is just par for the course in this industry
Are you serious ?
Ask a stupid question, expect a stupid answer!
overworked/underpaid:
Hi,
E-petition is now ready to be signed please follow this link,
epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/48547
and let others know.
Thankyou
No thanks.
Why is it a stupid question?
There seems to be many that put job in front of safety - or it seems that way to me from answers given
ROG:
Why is it a stupid question?There seems to be many that put job in front of safety - or it seems that way to me from answers given
Or, people live in the real world and use a workable compromise between the both.
switchlogic:
ROG:
Why is it a stupid question?There seems to be many that put job in front of safety - or it seems that way to me from answers given
Or, people live in the real world and use a workable compromise between the both.
Why would anyone want to compromise on safety ?
Perhaps I am getting the wrong vibes from answers given on this issue …
Because Rog many of us live us live in the real world, compromise is the only option. Life is inherently a risky business and people have to accept that. Risk cannot be eliminated and we have to find a happy medium between doing the job safely and economically compromising both to a certain extent. Its all good and well having a company that never compromises on safety but if you took that to its logical conclusion nothing would ever leave the yard ‘for safety reasons’.
There is of course the whole other issue of people becoming complacent BECAUSE OF h&s and the nanny state. People don’t take responsibility for anything anymore in the stupid belief that its the governments or companies job to look after them and ensure their safety. And who can blame them when H&S morons insist on teaching drivers who have been driving decades how to get in and out of a lorry.
Sorry Rog, I know you are obsessed with safety but in this country our stupid H&S culture is doing more harm than good and all its doing is keeping hi-vizzed up clipboard weilding morons who cant do anything else in jobs thinking up more stupid rules, like wearing hi-viz in the cab or not allowing drivers on trailers.
switchlogic:
Because Rog many of us live us live in the real world, compromise is the only option. Life is inherently a risky business and people have to accept that. Risk cannot be eliminated and we have to find a happy medium between doing the job safely and economically compromising both to a certain extent. Its all good and well having a company that never compromises on safety but if you took that to its logical conclusion nothing would ever leave the yard ‘for safety reasons’.There is of course the whole other issue of people becoming complacent BECAUSE OF h&s and the nanny state. People don’t take responsibility for anything anymore in the stupid belief that its the governments or companies job to look after them and ensure their safety. And who can blame them when H&S morons insist on teaching drivers who have been driving decades how to get in and out of a lorry.
Sorry Rog, I know you are obsessed with safety but in this country our stupid H&S culture is doing more harm than good and all its doing is keeping hi-vizzed up clipboard weilding morons who cant do anything else in jobs thinking up more stupid rules, like wearing hi-viz in the cab or not allowing drivers on trailers.
Good post, and a sensible answer to a not so sensible question 
So if I’ve done a 15 hour day with a night out is it up to me if I take a 9 or 11 hour break or if the boss says it has to be 9 hours do I have to obey?
Ched:
So if I’ve done a 15 hour day with a night out is it up to me if I take a 9 or 11 hour break or if the boss says it has to be 9 hours do I have to obey?
Either way it will be a reduced daily rest
Your boss can plan a 9 hour rest but ultimately it is up to you - you are the one driving it
Ched:
So if I’ve done a 15 hour day with a night out is it up to me if I take a 9 or 11 hour break or if the boss says it has to be 9 hours do I have to obey?
You can have as many hours off as you want but it will still count as a 9 as you have done a 15 hour day… So logically might as well take a 9.
Sorry yes I didn’t really think before posting there. I need to go on a cpc course cos now I’ve got another question I’m confused about. I have to have at least a 9 hour break in a 24 hour period right? So I MUST stop working after 15 hours DUTY time as opposed to 15 hours WORK. i.e. regardless of breaks and POA. If I start at midnight I must stop at 3PM even if I have accumulated 5 hours of POA and breaks?
In fact since we have a collective night workers agreement of 12 hours, if I start at midnight I must stop after 12 hours work and at the latest by 3PM regardless of breaks and POA?
overworked/underpaid:
Hi,
E-petition is now ready to be signed please follow this link,
epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/48547
and let others know.
Thankyou
nah, your fine. Hours mean money! But seriously, no, stick it up your chuff.
I can’t help sometimes feeling like we , the drivers, of the economy and we are literally, are having the mickey taken out of us.
We are vital to the countries industry and commerce and has been said elsewhere, no trucks for three days would be pretty much catastrophic.
So why are we paid so little in exchange for the responsibility we have, both in the terms of safety and having to know reams of law and regulations.
Many of us do dangerous work with deeply unpleasant chemicals or other hazardous loads including petrol etc.
I know many drivers do not want a reduction in hours because of the loss of income it may bring.
But my point is that we should not have to max the hours to have a decent income - I don’t think it unreasonable to work a 45 hour week and have an average wage. Like most other professions.
Sure, if you have few family ties (or ones that you would really not have 
) do the max and enjoy a well earned living.
So the minimum should be £10 ph for C, more for multidrop or HIAB, Moffet etc, and say £12.50 for CE and again more for additional skills. ADR stuff at least £2.00 ph on top for all classes. Overtime after 45 and there should be extra for unusual shifts or start times. Starting work at 3 am should not be classed as day work! And proper night out money that is on top of a decent hourly rate. Too often away money is used to make up a so-so wage when it should be extra.
Also any vocational licence in the UK should be gained in the UK - drivers from anywhere else should take their test here before being granted a licence.
We shouldn’t have to give our lives for this industry, sometimes sadly literally, but have the choice to spend time with loved ones or to persue hobbies and interests just like everybody else.
I know many guys (and gals) on here are well paid but there are many who are not and I just get the uncomfortable feeling that we are taken for granted not just by the industry but the country as a whole.
Thats it, rant over!
“having to know reams of law and regulations.”
Get real! The vast majority of driving jobs require the driver to know relatively little in the way of rules & regulations. The fact that large numbers of drivers appear unable to understand even the basics (have a look on this forum for umpteen examples of folks asking for answers to pretty basic questions) is surely confirmation that, by and large, the pay reflects the degree of specialist knowledge required to do the job.
If we were to work a 40 hour week how expensive would stuff be in the shops, you’d need 50%(guess 
) more drivers with added cost for NI etc, I’d be on my way home before teatime on Wednesday. I’m not saying it’s right, but I knew exactly what I was getting myself into when I took my test. If working away for long hours is not your thing then maybe you should look at a career change. Its not everyone’s cup of tea.
Roymondo:
“having to know reams of law and regulations.”Get real! The vast majority of driving jobs require the driver to know relatively little in the way of rules & regulations. The fact that large numbers of drivers appear unable to understand even the basics (have a look on this forum for umpteen examples of folks asking for answers to pretty basic questions) is surely confirmation that, by and large, the pay reflects the degree of specialist knowledge required to do the job.
+1 there’s not a lot of skill needed in most driving jobs and this thing with “without lorry drivers you would have nothing” ■■■■ that’s on Facebook and in some people’s mind is ■■■■■■■■!
We could say a lot of things that without them the country wouldn’t work.
“Without fuel rigs you wouldn’t have a job”
In my short time of driving I’ve noticed there is a difference between drivers and DRIVERS. Some actually do it as they like the job and look after the kit that’s given to then, and others are there as there’s nothing else and they dont give a ■■■■!