A scouse ■■■■ once said to me “Swings and round abouts” no idea what it means but take the good days with the bad, fingers crossed you have more good days then bad
muckles:
the nodding donkey:
muckles:
the nodding donkey:
And that is why we are struggling to get paid more than minimum wage, and have to consider that working 13 hours a day is a minimum. And some employers expect you to break the law whilst you are working.Please enlighten me?
Not much point really. If the phrase “the only one who matters is you” doesn’t make it clear, I’m wasting my time.
Let me see if that made it any clearer?
It would be great if drivers stuck together to get some bargaining muscle to improve conditions in the industry, but that seems unlikely from my experience of the industry or many industries in the UK.However my understanding of of Santa’s post was to stay out of the petty company politics that you get in all jobs. which really isn’t about improving things but more about petty little jealousy’s.
Of course I may have misunderstood his post as well as yours, but then I’m a simple six fingered country boy.
Don’t know about you fingers, and whilst Santa may be right about the petty company politics, his remark about only caring about yourself, is what is the real problem in our business. Each man for himself, I’m alright Jack, and if I can screw you over for a quid, so I will.
Are you a union member?
the nodding donkey:
muckles:
the nodding donkey:
the nodding donkey:
And that is why we are struggling to get paid more than minimum wage, and have to consider that working 13 hours a day is a minimum. And some employers expect you to break the law whilst you are working.Not much point really. If the phrase “the only one who matters is you” doesn’t make it clear, I’m wasting my time.
Let me see if that made it any clearer?
It would be great if drivers stuck together to get some bargaining muscle to improve conditions in the industry, but that seems unlikely from my experience of the industry or many industries in the UK.However my understanding of of Santa’s post was to stay out of the petty company politics that you get in all jobs. which really isn’t about improving things but more about petty little jealousy’s.
Of course I may have misunderstood his post as well as yours, but then I’m a simple six fingered country boy.
Don’t know about you fingers, and whilst Santa may be right about the petty company politics, his remark about only caring about yourself, is what is the real problem in our business. Each man for himself, I’m alright Jack, and if I can screw you over for a quid, so I will.
Are you a union member?
I do understand where you’re coming from, but when it comes to normal driver petty squabbles I think it’s best to keep out of it, it’s mostly about other drivers being selfish.
Maybe what we should be trying to do is stop drivers worrying about who has the newest truck or the easiest run and get them to worry about the stuff that will improve it for everybody.
In my early days of work, warehouse work not haulage, I tried to change things, tried to get some workforce agreement and so we could go to the management. I found people all big on talk, but lacking the wiliness to actually go and talk to the management or to back the ones of us that would, it wasn’t even that the boss was unapproachable. Does make you wonder why you bother trying in the end.
Although I have found people are more willing to stand together in race teams, might be something about being part of a close knit team working together and we have managed to change practices in some teams that been accepted as the norm for years. Actually I’ve found the team bosses more willing to accept change than some of the old school, work all hours and drive home brigade.
Yes I’m a member of URTU.
muckles:
the nodding donkey:
muckles:
the nodding donkey:
Not much point really. If the phrase “the only one who matters is you” doesn’t make it clear, I’m wasting my time.Let me see if that made it any clearer?
It would be great if drivers stuck together to get some bargaining muscle to improve conditions in the industry, but that seems unlikely from my experience of the industry or many industries in the UK.However my understanding of of Santa’s post was to stay out of the petty company politics that you get in all jobs. which really isn’t about improving things but more about petty little jealousy’s.
Of course I may have misunderstood his post as well as yours, but then I’m a simple six fingered country boy.
Don’t know about you fingers, and whilst Santa may be right about the petty company politics, his remark about only caring about yourself, is what is the real problem in our business. Each man for himself, I’m alright Jack, and if I can screw you over for a quid, so I will.
Are you a union member?
I do understand where you’re coming from, but when it comes to normal driver petty squabbles I think it’s best to keep out of it, it’s mostly about other drivers being selfish.
Maybe what we should be trying to do is stop drivers worrying about who has the newest truck or the easiest run and get them to worry about the stuff that will improve it for everybody.
In my early days of work, warehouse work not haulage, I tried to change things, tried to get some workforce agreement and so we could go to the management. I found people all big on talk, but lacking the wiliness to actually go and talk to the management or to back the ones of us that would, it wasn’t even that the boss was unapproachable. Does make you wonder why you bother trying in the end.Although I have found people are more willing to stand together in race teams, might be something about being part of a close knit team working together and we have managed to change practices in some teams that been accepted as the norm for years. Actually I’ve found the team bosses more willing to accept change than some of the old school, work all hours and drive home brigade.
Yes I’m a member of URTU.
So am I. It took people with bigger balls and more confiction than me, all those years back, to stand up to the mill owners, iron masters, and bosses in general, to fight for the rights that the workers have now. They came forth from real depravation and terrible working conditions, I guess we simply have it to good… but we must never get so complacent, as to lose what those before us fought so long and hard for.
tommymanc:
A scouse [zb] once said to me “Swings and round abouts” no idea what it means but take the good days with the bad, fingers crossed you have more good days then bad
The way I look at it every day I get around without hitting something is a good day.
Tris:
tommymanc:
A scouse [zb] once said to me “Swings and round abouts” no idea what it means but take the good days with the bad, fingers crossed you have more good days then badThe way I look at it every day I get around without hitting something is a good day.
Unless it’s a grumpy forkie or wear house bod 
montytom:
Hello people, I have now had my class C+E job for just over a month and I must admit it’s the best thing I have done. For the first time in my working life I am actually enjoying the work.
I’m genuinely pleased for you, I remember my first month, but give it thirty years and you’ll have had the enthusiasm knocked out of you. 
I was originally told by my instructor upon passing that “Treat each day like today - that you’ve just passed. That way you get to keep your feet on the ground, and don’t get into bad habits that may well see you come a cropper one day otherwise”. That was 25 years ago, and I took that advice. Some think I’m a timid driver by comparison, still needing three shunts to get it on the bay sometimes, having to check twice because I couldn’t remember if I’d already done the legs etc. - but it’s kept me away from accidents and licence endorsements over the years (although I have been carpeted many a time over the years!)
I still find myself enjoying the job too - I try to stay away from the hassle and stress of the office as much as I can. In this job - that’s easier to achieve than in most other lines of work.
Drive long - and prosper! 
Harry Monk:
montytom:
Hello people, I have now had my class C+E job for just over a month and I must admit it’s the best thing I have done. For the first time in my working life I am actually enjoying the work.I’m genuinely pleased for you, I remember my first month, but give it thirty years and you’ll have had the enthusiasm knocked out of you.
30 years?!■■ It’s only taken 3 for me.
Winseer:
I was originally told by my instructor upon passing that “Treat each day like today - that you’ve just passed. That way you get to keep your feet on the ground, and don’t get into bad habits that may well see you come a cropper one day otherwise”. That was 25 years ago, and I took that advice. Some think I’m a timid driver by comparison, still needing three shunts to get it on the bay sometimes, having to check twice because I couldn’t remember if I’d already done the legs etc. - but it’s kept me away from accidents and licence endorsements over the years (although I have been carpeted many a time over the years!)I still find myself enjoying the job too - I try to stay away from the hassle and stress of the office as much as I can. In this job - that’s easier to achieve than in most other lines of work.
Drive long - and prosper!
Yes that walk around saves so much that could go wrong.
When i’ve finished discharging a tank and put everything away i sometimes wear a groove in the concrete walking round the lorry two or three times to make sure i’ve locked up, disconnected and stowed all pipes, locked the customers intakes, depressurised the tank, wound up any stabilisers etc etc.
Have to be especially vigilant when its dark, everything looks different.
Harry Monk:
montytom:
Hello people, I have now had my class C+E job for just over a month and I must admit it’s the best thing I have done. For the first time in my working life I am actually enjoying the work.I’m genuinely pleased for you, I remember my first month, but give it thirty years and you’ll have had the enthusiasm knocked out of you.
The keen part is slowly drained out of you after years of being ■■■■ ed about, stuffed, and shafted.
Then when the cynicism eventually sets in, you remove the rosy glasses, and you begin to see the true picture, you see stuff as it REALLY is and suddenly stop believing all the bs fed to you, but instead look for (and if you are on the ball, usually find) the REAL agenda, and find yourself mistrusting all those in authority in the job.
And before you know it you become an arsey grumpy ■■■■■ who believes absolutely nothing you are told in the job, and after years of banging your head against a wall trying to point stuff out to less exp drivers to no avail, just start looking after no1…so I’m told
So savour and enjoy these keen days mate, they are the best, and we’ve all enjoyed them. 
Santa:
Stay out of yard politics. You are happy with the pay and the work - take no interest in what others get or do (or say they get or do). The only one who matters is you.
To make it clear [er] - I have seen many drivers getting all wound up because Joe ‘always’ gets the nights out; or Fred ‘always’ gets a short run on Friday; or Jack gets all the overtime.
Once you go down that road, and the ‘always’ is rarely true anyway, you will never be happy. Even if it IS true, it doesn’t matter a jot, so long as YOU are earning enough, and not getting too much of the rubbish work. If that’s the case, and they won’t do anything about it if you ask then look for another employer.
When I worked at Blake’s there was a clerk who did some Sundays. He ‘always’ fixed himself an easy run down empty to Cheddar and return with a load of yoghurt. The full time drivers resented this hugely, but I worked a lot of Sundays, and sometimes did the same run, or down with a delivery first. To me it did not matter - I got my 12 hours in at double time, so how did what he did make any difference to me?
Santa:
Santa:
Stay out of yard politics. You are happy with the pay and the work - take no interest in what others get or do (or say they get or do). The only one who matters is you.To make it clear [er] - I have seen many drivers getting all wound up because Joe ‘always’ gets the nights out; or Fred ‘always’ gets a short run on Friday; or Jack gets all the overtime.
Once you go down that road, and the ‘always’ is rarely true anyway, you will never be happy. Even if it IS true, it doesn’t matter a jot, so long as YOU are earning enough, and not getting too much of the rubbish work. If that’s the case, and they won’t do anything about it if you ask then look for another employer.
That is right. I tend to keep myself to myself at work, I aint a loner as such, as I do socialise on nights out down the road or social events at home with a couple of our drivers.
However, as for giving a ■■■■ where Tom, ■■■■, and Harry are, all the internal ■■■■■■■■ from other drivers, on the phone, and/or what runs they are doing? …not interested.
I just keep my head down, tell nobody nothing (in fact tend to feed them bs for a laugh 
) do my job and make things as comfortable for myself as possible…and it works for me.
Juddian:
Winseer:
I was originally told by my instructor upon passing that “Treat each day like today - that you’ve just passed. That way you get to keep your feet on the ground, and don’t get into bad habits that may well see you come a cropper one day otherwise”. That was 25 years ago, and I took that advice. Some think I’m a timid driver by comparison, still needing three shunts to get it on the bay sometimes, having to check twice because I couldn’t remember if I’d already done the legs etc. - but it’s kept me away from accidents and licence endorsements over the years (although I have been carpeted many a time over the years!)I still find myself enjoying the job too - I try to stay away from the hassle and stress of the office as much as I can. In this job - that’s easier to achieve than in most other lines of work.
Drive long - and prosper!Yes that walk around saves so much that could go wrong.
When i’ve finished discharging a tank and put everything away i sometimes wear a groove in the concrete walking round the lorry two or three times to make sure i’ve locked up, disconnected and stowed all pipes, locked the customers intakes, depressurised the tank, wound up any stabilisers etc etc.
Have to be especially vigilant when its dark, everything looks different.
“Fate is always looking for an idiot. If you declare yourself to be that idiot at the start - then Fate runs away from you, and finds another mug instead. If you deny that you are that idiot - then guess what? - It IS you!”
Because I’m more tilted to nights - I, indeed - have also found myself walking many a mile round and round the truck like it’s a maypole.