sapper:
Winseer, I was under the impression that it didn’t matter if you were moved after 11 weeks, to another contract or job, the 11 weeks still counted if you went back under a topping up scheme, or have I picked it up wrong?.Sapper
When they move you for more than 6 weeks you go back to the beginning of your 12 week period
^^^^ What he said. 
It’s 8 weeks in some places before the “aggregate” decays off though. I got caught out like this at RM two years ago. 
Can’t see myself ever going back in there now at Christmas time after “that”. 
robroy:
xichrisxi:
You only see jobs advertised normally for smaller companies,the bigger ones normally have a lot of agency drivers already doing the job so it makes sense to offer them the full time position as they already know the job and what it entails rather than risking a new starter who eventually leaves because he can’t hack it.That’s right. What I can’t figure is, we regularly get a lot of the agency guys on here, telling us how it is much better to be doing work through the agency for whatever reason, than being employed, but as soon as they are offered full time work they snap the employer’s hand off.
So how does that work.
Not me! Not for a big clock! Soon as you go full time employed, you’re assuming the ‘bend over position’. You may or may not get shafted, it’s out of your hands now…
Truckulent:
robroy:
xichrisxi:
You only see jobs advertised normally for smaller companies,the bigger ones normally have a lot of agency drivers already doing the job so it makes sense to offer them the full time position as they already know the job and what it entails rather than risking a new starter who eventually leaves because he can’t hack it.That’s right. What I can’t figure is, we regularly get a lot of the agency guys on here, telling us how it is much better to be doing work through the agency for whatever reason, than being employed, but as soon as they are offered full time work they snap the employer’s hand off.
So how does that work.Not me! Not for a big clock! Soon as you go full time employed, you’re assuming the ‘bend over position’. You may or may not get shafted, it’s out of your hands now…
Yeh because we all know agencies are entirely fair and honourable with drivers, don’t we mate. 
Been employed driver since I finished my own trucks 22 years ago and NEVER assumed the bend over position once, as entirely in my own hands.
So don’t judge other driver’s actions by your own . 
I’m an employed driver. Have been for 6 years. Previous to that I have been working PAYE for 14 years.
I haven’t assumed the bend over position once. Unless a pretty lady asked of course 
F-reds:
I’m an employed driver. Have been for 6 years. Previous to that I have been working PAYE for 14 years.I haven’t assumed the bend over position once. Unless a pretty lady asked of course
Wot? She does you? 
Winseer:
F-reds:
I’m an employed driver. Have been for 6 years. Previous to that I have been working PAYE for 14 years.I haven’t assumed the bend over position once. Unless a pretty lady asked of course
Wot? She does you?
Yeh I couldn’t figure that one out.
Unless the lady had that old condition …Strapadychtomy
Winseer:
It seems everyone knows what a “bad” job is - but who gets to define a “good” one?
A good job is like ■■■■■■■■■■■. Almost impossible to define, but we know it when we see it.
robroy:
Truckulent:
robroy:
xichrisxi:
You only see jobs advertised normally for smaller companies,the bigger ones normally have a lot of agency drivers already doing the job so it makes sense to offer them the full time position as they already know the job and what it entails rather than risking a new starter who eventually leaves because he can’t hack it.That’s right. What I can’t figure is, we regularly get a lot of the agency guys on here, telling us how it is much better to be doing work through the agency for whatever reason, than being employed, but as soon as they are offered full time work they snap the employer’s hand off.
So how does that work.Not me! Not for a big clock! Soon as you go full time employed, you’re assuming the ‘bend over position’. You may or may not get shafted, it’s out of your hands now…
Yeh because we all know agencies are entirely fair and honourable with drivers, don’t we mate.
Been employed driver since I finished my own trucks 22 years ago and NEVER assumed the bend over position once, as entirely in my own hands.
So don’t judge other driver’s actions by your own .
Maybe you should heed your own advice and not judge others’ actions by your own assumptions?
I do’nt work for agencies my friend - they’re the scum of the earth. Direct is the way. Employed always leaves the balance of power with the employer. You may have been lucky and worked for reasonable folk, but that’s all it is - luck. Plenty have bent over and continue to do so. And it’s not possible for it to be in your hands if you’re employed - unless you’re the one telling the gaffer what you’re doing, and refusing anything that doesn’t suit. …Hmmmm. Perhaps you are, but I think it unlikely …
F-reds:
I’m an employed driver. Have been for 6 years. Previous to that I have been working PAYE for 14 years.I haven’t assumed the bend over position once. Unless a pretty lady asked of course
Unless you’re setting your own rate, and deciding which jobs you’re given you do, and which you don’t do and taking holiday whenever you wish, days off whenever you wish all without asking someone first, and still getting your wage, you’re bending over every day mate. And isn’t employed and PAYE the same thing?
TheNewBoy:
As above…The jobs I see on the recruitment sites & similar for the same companies/jobs every week, makes you wonder what’s wrong with the jobs as they don’t look that bad on paper
Have you ever walked down your local high street, and looked in the travel agents window?
No doubt there’ll be a few bargain holidays to exotic locations posted in the window for peanuts prices. But when you walk in and enquire, those holidays at peanuts prices have mysteriously become unavailable. But they do happen to have similar holidays available for higher prices, which you might be tempted to accept now that your sat at the desk chatting to the agent …
Truckulent:
Truckulent:
robroy:
xichrisxi:
You only see jobs advertised normally for smaller companies,the bigger ones normally have a lot of agency drivers already doing the job so it makes sense to offer them the full time position as they already know the job and what it entails rather than risking a new starter who eventually leaves because he can’t hack it.Not me! Not for a big clock! Soon as you go full time employed, you’re assuming the ‘bend over position’. You may or may not get shafted, it’s out of your hands now…
Yeh because we all know agencies are entirely fair and honourable with drivers, don’t we mate.
Been employed driver since I finished my own trucks 22 years ago and NEVER assumed the bend over position once, as entirely in my own hands.
So don’t judge other driver’s actions by your own .Maybe you should heed your own advice and not judge others’ actions by your own assumptions?
I do’nt work for agencies my friend - they’re the scum of the earth. Direct is the way. Employed always leaves the balance of power with the employer. You may have been lucky and worked for reasonable folk, but that’s all it is - luck. Plenty have bent over and continue to do so. And it’s not possible for it to be in your hands if you’re employed - unless you’re the one telling the gaffer what you’re doing, and refusing anything that doesn’t suit. …Hmmmm. Perhaps you are, but I think it unlikely …
Looks like you and me have a different definition to ‘bending over’ mate. You appear to put ‘bending over’ under the same umberella as taking and following instructions, and generally doing what you are paid to do, yeh I do that, but bending over?
Nah trust me.
I have bending over down more as ALLOWING your employer to treat you unfairly, push you, hassle you, shaft you , talk to you like ■■■■, give you unreasonable and/or near impossible workloads, and all the rest of it, the ‘bending over’ bit comes in when you just go along with it, take it all up the arse, and say nothing to your boss, but maybe whine and whinge to everybody (except him ) to make yourself feel better…NONE of which I do let me assure you of that.
It has nothing to do with luck, it is standing up for yourself and letting them see you will not be treated like a ■■■■!
Lucky with reasonable folk? …yeh , .I once worked for the notorious Dutch ffs, so I know what I’m on about, the Dutch are not the most reasonable people, I know, I married one. 
We all know bosses all try it on, and test you to see how far you will go, it’s how far you go along with them that determines ‘bending over’ and it aint as you say, you telling the gaffer what
you are going to do.
I do my job efficiently and get through my workload, other drivers in my co.are ■■■■■■ about, and a lot bend over, that’s their problem, not mine.
Of course the employer has the upper hand/ balance of power, so you ‘Do your job’ and there is nothing he can do.
Tried the self employed own business thing years ago mate, much happier drawing a wage in full time employment.
ezydriver:
Winseer:
It seems everyone knows what a “bad” job is - but who gets to define a “good” one?A good job is like ■■■■■■■■■■■. Almost impossible to define, but we know it when we see it.
We know it’s “no good” the moment we see it more like…
I hate Tats, the constant repetitive whines, fluffing the lines instead of the lead actor, same old faces, same old places, never saying the right thing, always saying the wrong thing, zooming to guy’s mug when we wanna see what she thinks, ATM, slapping, spitting, and no actual ■■■■ dialogue whatsoever.
“Disgusted of Tunbridge Wells.”
Truckulent:
F-reds:
I’m an employed driver. Have been for 6 years. Previous to that I have been working PAYE for 14 years.I haven’t assumed the bend over position once. Unless a pretty lady asked of course
Unless you’re setting your own rate, and deciding which jobs you’re given you do, and which you don’t do and taking holiday whenever you wish, days off whenever you wish all without asking someone first, and still getting your wage, you’re bending over every day mate. And isn’t employed and PAYE the same thing?
Yes they are the same thing. At no point did I even try to infer they were different. Just that I have been PAYE since I eft school, but not always as a driver.
The rest of your post is rubbish too.
I negotiated a rate that both me and my employer were happy with. He told me what he expected of me, and I told him what I expected of him.
I can have a day off whenever I like, I do have to ask for it first, but have not been refused one yet so why would that matter? I could counter that, as a Limper, you would be wishing for a days work when there wasn’t one to be had.
It’s called being a grown up. Try it.
F-reds:
Truckulent:
F-reds:
I’m an employed driver. Have been for 6 years. Previous to that I have been working PAYE for 14 years.I haven’t assumed the bend over position once. Unless a pretty lady asked of course
Unless you’re setting your own rate, and deciding which jobs you’re given you do, and which you don’t do and taking holiday whenever you wish, days off whenever you wish all without asking someone first, and still getting your wage, you’re bending over every day mate. And isn’t employed and PAYE the same thing?
Yes they are the same thing. At no point did I even try to infer they were different. Just that I have been PAYE since I eft school, but not always as a driver.
The rest of your post is rubbish too.
I negotiated a rate that both me and my employer were happy with. He told me what he expected of me, and I told him what I expected of him.
I can have a day off whenever I like, I do have to ask for it first, but have not been refused one yet so why would that matter? I could counter that, as a Limper, you would be wishing for a days work when there wasn’t one to be had.
It’s called being a grown up. Try it.
Oh dear. Touched a nerve there…Why are employed drivers so sure that they’re better off than S/E? If you’re S/E and are smart enough to do it right, you can earn a much better wage than the vast majority of employed drivers. And, still be your own boss. As employed you can never be the boss, by definition.
I don’t just rely on driving to pay the bills, so I never have any issue with there being no work available… 
In fact, at the moment I’ve that much work on, I’m hardly driving at all…
I don’t put all my eggs in the one basket…
Not at all dear boy. It’s a debate. That’s what you do on here.
The S/E driver with “other irons in the fire”. Please, I’m crying the cliché is that bad
As I see it the only realistic way to do SE/agency long term is to have other income streams whether that’s a trade, seasonal work or a pension doesn’t matter. Being able to take a break from driving and being involved in other industries gives you a broader outlook on things.
Truckulent:
Oh dear. Touched a nerve there…Why are employed drivers so sure that they’re better off than S/E? If you’re S/E and are smart enough to do it right, you can earn a much better wage than the vast majority of employed drivers. And, still be your own boss. As employed you can never be the boss, by definition.I don’t just rely on driving to pay the bills, so I never have any issue with there being no work available…
I don’t put all my eggs in the one basket…
At the end of the day mate different things suit different people, it’s how you approach things that determine if it suits you or not.
Back on topic, good jobs are rarely advertised because drivers never leave them, there are far more crap firms than good ones in this game.
It’s a lot to do with how much the boss treats you with respect, or not, as well as the wages. The boss who does gets far more out of the driver also, but many bosses are too stupid and set in their ways too much to see that it is counter productive to treat a good driver like ■■■■.