Therein lies the problem, there is only so much money in the job. The company wants to make a few quid, so if we take it down to basics and assume that everyone wants to make the same profit margin, then the extra cost of high spec lorries and chrome has to come from somewhere and the driver’s wage packet is going to suffer long before the guvnor’s tell their wives they’re getting a Mini instead of a Range Rover Sport, because they need to look after their drivers
Therefore in 99% of cases, the lorries you see with all the bling have been paid for by the driver, whether they know it or not
It is a strange situation that is unique to our industry, you never see a builder with a chrome shovel
Gates:
Having nice things in/on your truck don’t make you cab happy.
If I had the choice i would pick the truck that made my job/life easiest.
Light bar, nice paint job, polished alloy wheels, make it look nice and COULD make the driver feel more happier.
Fridge, microwave, coffee makers, make life/work better and SAFE you money.
Same could be said about taking a lower wage for a better truck.
i.e scania low roof 420 on general haulage away all week.
or
scania topline 420 on general haulage away all week for 0.50p a hour less.
0.50p X say 60 hours is £30. - TAX = £20.40
Is it worth it to go for the small cab and have no room or get alittle bit less money and have room to move on your time off. Standing up to get dressed and room to keep all your stuff.
FFS Are you for real? Why the hell should a driver take a wage cut to help subsidise a better spec motor for his boss , if he had any consideration for his driver he would buy the right motor for the job in the first place, and at the same time get a better residual value on trade in. No wonder this job has rapidly turned to crap if drivers are suggesting and willing to do things like this
So you dont think drivers should stand for what they want?? A comprimise could be made with the boss as to the type and spec of the cab. After driving car transporters for a spell I will not spend all week away in a cab I cant stand up in now. I have worked for companies who have units in on demo and ask for the drivers input from there not only go on fuel and rates after all if the driver is happy then they are more likely to retain the said driver
I’m ALL for drivers standing up for themselves, how did you interprete otherwise from my post? what I am not for is drivers, or namely me, paying for a proportion of the means of doing his job, the only things I would pay for is what I can use to make my life easier and remove when the motor goes, or I leave, ie fridge microwave etc, not something that promotes the public profile of the firm I work for, that is the privelige of the vehicle owner.
Gates:
Having nice things in/on your truck don’t make you cab happy.
If I had the choice i would pick the truck that made my job/life easiest.
Light bar, nice paint job, polished alloy wheels, make it look nice and COULD make the driver feel more happier.
Fridge, microwave, coffee makers, make life/work better and SAFE you money.
Same could be said about taking a lower wage for a better truck.
i.e scania low roof 420 on general haulage away all week.
or
scania topline 420 on general haulage away all week for 0.50p a hour less.
0.50p X say 60 hours is £30. - TAX = £20.40
Is it worth it to go for the small cab and have no room or get alittle bit less money and have room to move on your time off. Standing up to get dressed and room to keep all your stuff.
FFS Are you for real? Why the hell should a driver take a wage cut to help subsidise a better spec motor for his boss , if he had any consideration for his driver he would buy the right motor for the job in the first place, and at the same time get a better residual value on trade in. No wonder this job has rapidly turned to crap if drivers are suggesting and willing to do things like this
So you dont think drivers should stand for what they want?? A comprimise could be made with the boss as to the type and spec of the cab. After driving car transporters for a spell I will not spend all week away in a cab I cant stand up in now. I have worked for companies who have units in on demo and ask for the drivers input from there not only go on fuel and rates after all if the driver is happy then they are more likely to retain the said driver
I’m ALL for drivers standing up for themselves, how did you interprete otherwise from my post? what I am not for is drivers, or namely me, paying for a proportion of the means of doing his job, the only things I would pay for is what I can use to make my life easier and remove when the motor goes, or I leave, ie fridge microwave etc, not something that promotes the public profile of the firm I work for, that is the privelige of the vehicle owner.
Sorry rob had another post in my head at the same time
On the other side of this bling-king mentality, do these highly impressive paint jobs add to the residual value of any if the trucks? I mean, a high quality metallic or vivid colour with coded bumpers and fenders, maybe a top bar and a set of Durabrites, to me looks classy, as are some if the nations fleet colours. But someone in the market of a second truck, would they really want something custom made and so on for one individual or a specific reason? Film stars, racing drivers, rock singers and so on… I’d admire the artists work and never knock it but from a drivers point of view it does nothing for me and as an owner driver (hypothetically speaking) I just wouldn’t want to buy a second hand unit airbrushed like this.
As for cab comforts, the more of anything that makes living on the road more enjoyable, the better. I wish I could have a fridge and microwave in the artic I drive but I’m not in it day in, day out nor am I the only person who drives it.
I do like the artwork that depicts a companies’ history ie steam wagon, Mickey Mouse Foden, Daf CF but ice maidens, vikings wtf for on an English motor?
It’s the Countrywide motors which catch my eye, being the mainstay of my work is within agriculture but their plain white/green wagons look every bit as good and to me offer a better buy for the used market. …
but ice maidens, vikings wtf for on an English motor?