I agree with the OP. for me, 10hrs is enuff as i have a family and want to see them everyday. Problem is, certain people think that because you are a truck driver then you should do max hours everyday abd not have a private life. There are drivers like this who just want to work all they can but i think its dangerous practice to have someone driving a 40tonne truck who has been on duty for over 12hours. Dont tell me a drivers concentration level is the same after 12hours? Especially on nites!
I once came on duty at 10pm and was told that i had a 14 hr shift planned, i refused to do it yet another guy said he would do it! The usual ‘have to have a word with your agency’ crap came from the TM but a couple of days later i spoke to the company driver/trainer about it and he agreed with me that 14hrs is too long yet stated us drivers were our own worst enemies as TMs will keep pulling stunts like this until ALL drivers start refusing.
I believe in this day and age, we as ‘professional’ drivers have a responsibility to drive safely and alert and act in a professional manner. The days of the dirty eggy vest trucker running max hours for the money needs to be a thing of the past. TMs and haulAge firms will continue treating drivers like the idiots we are until we all realise we ARE professional drivers and need to be treated accordingly.
Driveroneuk:
Generally a very negative work ethic in this country now. No wonder the Eastern Europeans get the jobs.
Some of these 8 hrs and I’m done men should try running their own business.
Amazes me that anyone who chooses to work in road haulage expects to be able to work only a part day.
When I used to travel down & stay in digs to work at Tesco NDC Milton Keynes, if it was looking like an early finish i would ask if there was anything else.
There again I’m old school, if I turn in to work for someone I am there to assist them with their business and to get the job done. I will do what I can to help and be as efficient as possible. I am not of the mindset, minimum hours, maximum money, drag the job out.
If I was a TM at, say, Tesco, I would randomly go out with drivers to time the runs.
I would far rather do 3 x 15 hr shifts than 5 days at 9 hrs.
Never read so much rubbish in my whole ‘old school’ life!
Long hours and low pay are a communist work ethic aren’t they? I’m sure they would welcome you with open arms in North Korea! There comrade you could also time exactly how many milliseconds every task has taken!
Don’t have a problem with working hard etc but expect to be rewarded appropriately as per what is promised or agreed in your T&C’s but these are now worthless because they have been legislated out of existence.
And to use the threat of ‘talking to your agency’ or ‘this will be remembered’ is purely and simply bullying in its purest form.
Piston broke:
I do agree that 9 hours is enough but there is far more to lose here than a couple of hours off of your day… An occasional extended day to help out isn’t going to hurt surely?
Unfortunately occasional becomes permanent.
Hi Fred
Yeah, obviously that’s the danger but the OP must have a pretty good working relationship to have been there for 8 years, so perhaps stating his case ie ’ I’m only helping you out cos you’re in the ■■■ - I don’t really want to make a habit of it’ might have done a little good and earned a little respect…
I am a firm believer in principles, and sticking to them, but sometimes it does more good to bend a little rather than have to cope with the pain of being too rigid, if you follow me?
Principles don’t buy bread, milk or Yorkies…
I respect your opinion.
I’ve been bending a little my whole working life and all its got me is long hours, low pay, earning less than I did years ago and the security of knowing that I can be dispensed with in just a swish of a pen or the ‘I’m sorry but I will have to let you go in 45 days time cause times are hard’ rubbish only to find the job reinvented under new (much worse T’s & C’s) when it gets busy again.
After nearly forty years of being flexible and never being unemployed through any fault of my own, I am certainly no better off but I can show you those that are!
fredthered:
And just this morning it is suddenly discovered that ‘zero hours contracts’ exist!
FFS!
only because the people who are willing to sign the contracts exist. if they couldnt get drivers on the contract they would have to rethink it. supply and demand!
I’m neither exploited nor driving in a dangerous condition. If I am tired I will take a nap. If I feel I was being taken for a pillock I wouldn’t do it. BUT if asked after 9 hours if I would do so more and there was no reason not to I.e. Pre planned arrangements I would do it. Its called being flexible and a team player.
andy187:
As an agency driver for the last 8 years i have never found the need to try to work over 10 hours a shift.
Tonight I have done a shift at a major supermarket, 30 miles commute, 45 minutes driving.
3 stores, 2 runs 5 hours driving 270k
back to yard, diesel up, started at 15:00 finished at 00:45
Hand keys and paper work in,
TM “oh Andy can you do one more?”
Me " no thanks I done over 8 hours I’m done now"
TM “But you only done 9 hours”
Me " sorry going home as I am contracted for minimum of 8 hours"
TM " Well sorry I am going to have words with agency as 9 hours is no good as we are busy"
All fine and well for her to say that as the office staff work 8 hour shifts.
As far as I am concerned I have completed my contractual obligations of 8 hours… same as when this company brought in 6 hours minimum I would diesel up after 6 hours and go home.
So what would any one else done?
Rolled over and do another 5-7 hours?
There are so many hours in the day… and I like to spend most of them at home!
And I don’t mind doing over 9 hours working if there is traffic or unloading delays as I expect that can happen, but to be asked to work extra hours no thanks.
Had quick cuppa in canteen another driver said " don’t blame you… stand your ground!, do it once they expect you do it again"
no wonder you aint in a proper full time job taking that attitude
JJ192:
no wonder you aint in a proper full time job taking that attitude
Quite happy being agency… regular work and times to suite me, along with days off when needed.
And not bothered bout long hours, if i know before hand, to make plans for the next day.
They do this quite regularly, even with own drivers. and i have been stitched up before by them.
They asked me once do a short (!) run after i had done 11 hours… The store was 60 miles away!
And if i had done less than 8 hours yes i would have done another run. But there is no guarantee of getting no delays at tip.
I cant believe some of the answers and attitudes on here, 9 hr or 10 hr days…obviously not real transport operatives. I know that in a full time job, a lot of bosses will take the ■■■■, and for others it is the norm to work a 15 every other day, and with a minimum 9 hrs off, that is what a lot of jobs entail. There is such a thing as flexibility, and just because an agency gives you the work, doesnt mean they are your boss, the employing company is. So as a transport manager, i would phone the agency, and say Dont send that driver anymore, so that would be 1 less client you can work for, and if they keep sending drivers, to work a 9 hr day, theres a good chance that agency wont get anymore work, and lets face it, some large companies employ more than one agency, they will now go to the bottom of the pile.
As a small word of warning, a fellow hgv driver, and good friend of mine, was recently sacked by an agency, and told never to enter the premises of the company he was working for ( no names )
so the powers that be are at work, and the reason, for writing a remark about the company on Facebook. So you see, we as a nation talk about free speech, but with the internet, and social networking sites, we have lost that right, there are spies everywhere, only too willing to spill the beans so to speak, so just be very aware of what you write, and who you write about.
Conor:
You might find you get plenty of time to spend at home now. I wouldn’t be surprised if the agency stopped ringing if I were you.
Being kept busy ta.
6 hours today then rest of week shunting 10am till 8pm
Wait until September when the work at the agency starts drying up and see how much your phone rings then.
Already sorted…
August to December regular work
guaranteed 9 hours paid per shift 5/6 days a week (usually only work 8 )
Same contract every year for us.
And is my 1st choice rest of year.
truckyboy:
I cant believe some of the answers and attitudes on here, 9 hr or 10 hr days…obviously not real transport operatives. I know that in a full time job, a lot of bosses will take the ■■■■, and for others it is the norm to work a 15 every other day, and with a minimum 9 hrs off, that is what a lot of jobs entail. There is such a thing as flexibility, and just because an agency gives you the work, doesnt mean they are your boss, the employing company is. So as a transport manager, i would phone the agency, and say Dont send that driver anymore, so that would be 1 less client you can work for, and if they keep sending drivers, to work a 9 hr day, theres a good chance that agency wont get anymore work, and lets face it, some large companies employ more than one agency, they will now go to the bottom of the pile.
As a small word of warning, a fellow hgv driver, and good friend of mine, was recently sacked by an agency, and told never to enter the premises of the company he was working for ( no names )
so the powers that be are at work, and the reason, for writing a remark about the company on Facebook. So you see, we as a nation talk about free speech, but with the internet, and social networking sites, we have lost that right, there are spies everywhere, only too willing to spill the beans so to speak, so just be very aware of what you write, and who you write about.
this is very true. reputation is everything in this game and it works both ways. if you are very helpful and obliging you will be more likely to be helped out on those occasions that you need an early finish. sometimes i am given the choice of more hours or going home and usually i will go back out but there are times when i cant be bothered. they are happy to let me go after 8 hours as long as they dont actually need me. its all about customer relations and back scratching although they dont all appreciate your efforts
There is nothing that pees me off more. You break your neck doing X amount of deliveries in 9-10 hrs. You get back to the depot at a reasonable time,then the bomb drops. Can you just…? No thanks.
truckyboy:
I cant believe some of the answers and attitudes on here, 9 hr or 10 hr days…obviously not real transport operatives. I know that in a full time job, a lot of bosses will take the ■■■■, and for others it is the norm to work a 15 every other day, and with a minimum 9 hrs off, that is what a lot of jobs entail. There is such a thing as flexibility, and just because an agency gives you the work, doesnt mean they are your boss, the employing company is. So as a transport manager, i would phone the agency, and say Dont send that driver anymore, so that would be 1 less client you can work for, and if they keep sending drivers, to work a 9 hr day, theres a good chance that agency wont get anymore work, and lets face it, some large companies employ more than one agency, they will now go to the bottom of the pile.
As a small word of warning, a fellow hgv driver, and good friend of mine, was recently sacked by an agency, and told never to enter the premises of the company he was working for ( no names )
so the powers that be are at work, and the reason, for writing a remark about the company on Facebook. So you see, we as a nation talk about free speech, but with the internet, and social networking sites, we have lost that right, there are spies everywhere, only too willing to spill the beans so to speak, so just be very aware of what you write, and who you write about.
So what is a real ‘transport operative’ then?
I thought (mistaken obviously) that I was a driver? If I’m an operative then I need to know how to ‘operate’.
Just about everyone is saying he should have done the job, so what about this one last Christmas eve I did a supermarket shift got back about 4pm and told to take another one out to a store that was shut but they get paid to do run and if shut not there problem. I never did it but should I have?
mac12:
Just about everyone is saying he should have done the job, so what about this one last Christmas eve I did a supermarket shift got back about 4pm and told to take another one out to a store that was shut but they get paid to do run and if shut not there problem. I never did it but should I have?
i’ve done that,last minute tesco direct newcastle,got there,nobody to be seen,“does’nt matter,bring it back”
dle1uk:
Ive said in plenty posts that i dont do the signing on thing and disagree with those that prefer to claim benefits then work. I also understand why guys are saying if you dont do it then its opening it to poles ect, but why should the driver roll over? personally i think 10 hours aday is enough for anyone but thats just me… but in the ops case why was it left till last minute? more then likely the office had cocked up and instead of trying to sort it in a better way they just use the first available body that comes back through the door…
what happened to when we were all happy to do 60 -70 hr a week and were proud of the job we did?
dle1uk:
Ive said in plenty posts that i dont do the signing on thing and disagree with those that prefer to claim benefits then work. I also understand why guys are saying if you dont do it then its opening it to poles ect, but why should the driver roll over? personally i think 10 hours aday is enough for anyone but thats just me… but in the ops case why was it left till last minute? more then likely the office had cocked up and instead of trying to sort it in a better way they just use the first available body that comes back through the door…
what happened to when we were all happy to do 60 -70 hr a week and were proud of the job we did?
Some backward thinking drivers still think we should, others think why work 2 weeks hours in 1 week when only getting 1 weeks pays.
