Been invited to attend an interview for the above working out of Southampton. I have worked for transporter firms before for over 10 years and know the game pretty well but things have changed since then.
Can any current drivers of this firm please give me any idea of what is expected workwise, by that I mean is there a choice of days / nights or 4 on 4 off and where are the runs likely to be for any chosen shift (if a choice is available)?
Any ideas on the rate of pay and how it is calculated (used to be a mix and match of basic, number of cars per km etc. etc. years ago), holidays and any restrictions placed on you also gratefully recieved. Pm’s welcome.
I know they never used to need to advertise the job even when the economy was in much better shape. Now in the midst of a “triple dip” recession adverts for this work ain’t uncommon. Ever wonder why?
The current drivers are all ex Autologic and or from the companies they swallowed up, their contracts i am told are ring fenced, probably mostly still Walon1 and Walon2 agreements, new starters are apparently going to be offered new contracts.
I suspect even the current drivers would like to know what the new contract will be.
I expect ECM to be rubbing their hands and welcoming on board many more good highly skilled fully trained and experienced drivers in the fallout… 
Juddian:
The current drivers are all ex Autologic and or from the companies they swallowed up, their contracts i am told are ring fenced, probably mostly still Walon1 and Walon2 agreements, new starters are apparently going to be offered new contracts.
I suspect even the current drivers would like to know what the new contract will be.
I expect ECM to be rubbing their hands and welcoming on board many more good highly skilled fully trained and experienced drivers in the fallout…
Thanks for that Juddian. I did notice that back in 2008 I think it was, Avril tried to break the Union with her de-recognition threats and then back tracked. Now I suppose this is another way she can achieve the same result. Luckily I’m in a position where if I don’t like what I’m told at an interview I can walk away so I might just pop along to find out what the crack is anyway.
Just thinking a bit more about it and what you said, it’s surely going to near on impossible to hit a £30k figure away from the old agreements?
mikeshe:
Just thinking a bit more about it and what you said, it’s surely going to near on impossible to hit a £30k figure away from the old agreements?
Depends how the pay is made up, i was in the game for 20 years and every company had their own pay scheme, some as complicated as hell some good some bad.
Invariably those who paid badly provided a good training opportunity, so loads of drivers started with on the bad jobs did the invariable damage and buggered off to a good job as soon as the opportunity cropped up.
I wouldn’t entertain the job for less than £35k (expect considerably more once skilled) Excluding nights out for a 5 day week, its filthy complicated hard work and you get hurt regularly, it deserves a good premium.
Juddian:
mikeshe:
Just thinking a bit more about it and what you said, it’s surely going to near on impossible to hit a £30k figure away from the old agreements?
Depends how the pay is made up, i was in the game for 20 years and every company had their own pay scheme, some as complicated as hell some good some bad.
Invariably those who paid badly provided a good training opportunity, so loads of drivers started with on the bad jobs did the invariable damage and buggered off to a good job as soon as the opportunity cropped up.
I wouldn’t entertain the job for less than £35k (expect considerably more once skilled) Excluding nights out for a 5 day week, its filthy complicated hard work and you get hurt regularly, it deserves a good premium.
I know what you mean about it being complicated hard work… done over 10 years on Tolemans until it went ■■■■ up.
mikeshe:
Juddian:
mikeshe:
Just thinking a bit more about it and what you said, it’s surely going to near on impossible to hit a £30k figure away from the old agreements?
Depends how the pay is made up, i was in the game for 20 years and every company had their own pay scheme, some as complicated as hell some good some bad.
Invariably those who paid badly provided a good training opportunity, so loads of drivers started with on the bad jobs did the invariable damage and buggered off to a good job as soon as the opportunity cropped up.
I wouldn’t entertain the job for less than £35k (expect considerably more once skilled) Excluding nights out for a 5 day week, its filthy complicated hard work and you get hurt regularly, it deserves a good premium.
I know what you mean about it being complicated hard work… done over 10 years on Tolemans until it went ■■■■ up.
Tolemans?..sheesh you don’t need a job then probably living off yer investements… 
ECM are (or were) recruiting by the way, i know of some lads that are making the jump.
Juddian:
mikeshe:
Juddian:
mikeshe:
Just thinking a bit more about it and what you said, it’s surely going to near on impossible to hit a £30k figure away from the old agreements?
Depends how the pay is made up, i was in the game for 20 years and every company had their own pay scheme, some as complicated as hell some good some bad.
Invariably those who paid badly provided a good training opportunity, so loads of drivers started with on the bad jobs did the invariable damage and buggered off to a good job as soon as the opportunity cropped up.
I wouldn’t entertain the job for less than £35k (expect considerably more once skilled) Excluding nights out for a 5 day week, its filthy complicated hard work and you get hurt regularly, it deserves a good premium.
I know what you mean about it being complicated hard work… done over 10 years on Tolemans until it went ■■■■ up.
Tolemans?..sheesh you don’t need a job then probably living off yer investements…
ECM are (or were) recruiting by the way, i know of some lads that are making the jump.
I wish! 10+yrs on Tolemans and then left BOC on the tankers after 20 years last June. Got money in the bank and spent a fortune renovating the house but was going stir crazy at home with this poxy weather!
mikeshe:
Juddian:
mikeshe:
Juddian:
mikeshe:
Just thinking a bit more about it and what you said, it’s surely going to near on impossible to hit a £30k figure away from the old agreements?
Depends how the pay is made up, i was in the game for 20 years and every company had their own pay scheme, some as complicated as hell some good some bad.
Invariably those who paid badly provided a good training opportunity, so loads of drivers started with on the bad jobs did the invariable damage and buggered off to a good job as soon as the opportunity cropped up.
I wouldn’t entertain the job for less than £35k (expect considerably more once skilled) Excluding nights out for a 5 day week, its filthy complicated hard work and you get hurt regularly, it deserves a good premium.
I know what you mean about it being complicated hard work… done over 10 years on Tolemans until it went ■■■■ up.
Tolemans?..sheesh you don’t need a job then probably living off yer investements…
ECM are (or were) recruiting by the way, i know of some lads that are making the jump.
I wish! 10+yrs on Tolemans and then left BOC on the tankers after 20 years last June. Got money in the bank and spent a fortune renovating the house but was going stir crazy at home with this poxy weather!
Bugger me Mikeshe, you must around my age (mental of 14 in my case) are sure you want to go back to the game, nothing normal trunk wise around for an easy life.
Still urge you to go and have the interview mind, see what they’re offering, if its Anvil and Bernard’s previous one (the one we rejected despite a 2k sweetener but was a close call thanks to some) its reasonable but a good step down from the proper rate.