I’m thinking of jumping ship from general haulage to doing recovery. There are a couple of firms near me and one has an opening. Has anyone on here done a recovery job before? If so pros and cons? The pay seems to be okay for the area I live in, but I wouldnt mind a heads up before going in for a chat with the gaffer.
It’s a Marmite job. You either love it or hate it, but you soon find out which is which.
As Dork Lard correctly said, it’s a marmite job. I imagine that working for the likes of AA/RAC would be a very structured job with plenty of box ticking etc. The real fun starts when working for a contractor or “cowboy” as I like to call them.
I worked for a cowboy for three years and have no regrets whatsoever, no regrets that I did it and no regrets that I left either 
. If you like a challenge, like every day to be different, if you like solving unusual problems, if you have a cavalier attitude to H&S and don’t mind some dubious goings on it is probably one of the best jobs you’ll ever have. If you are prepared to put the graft in, and by that I mean 30+ hour shifts and constantly on call then you can earn some serious money (and shed some serious weight too!).
I left purely and simply because I’d got my inner cowboy satisfied and wanted a far more structured and easier life, but I’d do it again if I were a younger man.
the maoster:
As Dork Lard correctly said, it’s a marmite job. I imagine that working for the likes of AA/RAC would be a very structured job with plenty of box ticking etc. The real fun starts when working for a contractor or “cowboy” as I like to call them.I worked for a cowboy for three years and have no regrets whatsoever, no regrets that I did it and no regrets that I left either
I left purely and simply because I’d got my inner cowboy satisfied and wanted a far more structured and easier life, but I’d do it again if I were a younger man.
Yeah. Shed the social life, the wife & kids etc.
Imagine not having much more than 4hrs sleep in a 48hr period, the phone rings at 4am, it’s 4 deg’ outside, blowing a gale & it’s raining horizontally. If this is the first thing to enter your head when that phone rings . . . Then you won’t like the taste of Marmite.
As for unusual problems, you will find it absolutely & utterly amazing how some vehicles can end up in the position you find them. There is NO instruction book, there is no one to guide you.
A past workmate did it for a few years. Worked with a company that had a police contract. Got freaked out having to recover blood soaked cars finding bits of people that had been left behind… The final straw was nearly being kidnapped after he towed a car full of drugs. His story not mine so take with a pinch of salt.
On another forum one of the lads who did this told us of the hours and pay involved, it was bloody scandalous, how he never dropped off the road asleep at the wheel is a mystery.
Have been quiet keen to do the heavy side on recovery but always something says no. One advert just recently says 4 on 2 off 24hr call out on work days upto £36000 per year. Like I said to her who must be obeyed you don’t get paid that for nowt
Juddian
Whats the other forum you mention, I’m keen to read the info etc?
Years ago I knew a guy that had the police contract in an area of east lancs and he casually recounted to me one day that he’d been out on a fatal and found an arm amongst the wreckage - where upon he shouted across to the departing ambulance crew, oi lads you’ve forgot something.
This was, of course pre seatbelt days…
I was in a police contractors yard picking up an insurance company job when one of their trucks pulled in with a car on the back and accompanied by several police cars .
The car had several bullet holes in .[emoji32] !
I learned quite early to photograph cars and accident scenes .
I had one where after recovering a vehicle that had punched a hole in a historic and expensive stone wall and had returned the vehicle to the owners address the driver denied doing the damage .
£37000 damage to the wall .
The photographs of his car in the wall changed his mind .
Attending fatalities on a closed motorways during the night whilst forensic investigation is still in progress is not for everyone, and puts everything into a different prospective.
But having had a history of marshalling and fire duties in motorsport probably readied me for some of the carnage I faced .
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Thanks for all the responses. Sounds like its a take the rough with the smooth job. I think I’ll give it a bash, I wont know until I try. I’m just a bit fed up at the moment with my job, even though I know there is a lot worse out there. The grass might be greener, might not.
paul1181:
Thanks for all the responses. Sounds like its a take the rough with the smooth job. I think I’ll give it a bash, I wont know until I try. I’m just a bit fed up at the moment with my job, even though I know there is a lot worse out there. The grass might be greener, might not.
If you find that all you’re doing is the relay contracts for the big Co’s then don’t forget to talk to your passengers. They can be extremely peed off with their situation but you sometimes need to remind them it isn’t your fault. You will meet some very interesting folk with very many stories to tell. I used to carry a couple of blankets & pillows at night, always very appreciated.
^^^^^ establishing a rapport with your passengers sometimes bring pleasant surprises like generous cash tips! You’ll soon develop a nose for who’s likely to tip and who isn’t.
A breakdown can be quite a traumatic time for some folk and by the time you arrive there late they’ll be very irate at the lies the breakdown Co have told them re your eta and as you’re the first face to face contact they’ve had you’ll get it in the neck, if you can calm them and provide a good service their guilt at how they spoke to you will impel them to tip!