Do we make it hard for new drivers?

NEW AND WANNABE DRIVERS (INTERACTIVE)
21

Brownie71:
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Doing my first run delivering frozen / chilled food in a full sized rigid last week after passing my test at the end of last month I had a tough initiation. I had the paperwork thrust at me after asking how long I’d held my class 2 with a look of disgust on the transport supervisors face and was told where to find my truck and then he was off with someone else before I could anything. You felt like you would be treated like a leper if you did.

When I get back to the depot 13 1/2 hours later I get a bollocking for not filling in the paperwork properly, when I asked about reporting faults I was told find a mechanic and that was that, they were back behind their window sitting with their backs to me.

At this point I was thinking have I made the right decision taking this career path■■? My confidence was shot and I went home feeling pretty bad even though I know I’m not a numpty and I should be able to do this - JUST GIVE ME A BIT OF SUPPORT :imp: :imp: :imp:

I guess it’s a steep learning curve and as they say - whatever don’t kill you makes you stronger.

Read this.
trucknetuk.com/phpBB2/viewtopic. … ight=judge

To start with you have to work with people like this who thinks you are already the scum of the earth.

22

Brownie 71,dont lose heart the frozen class 2 multi-drop is probably the toughest gig your gona get,been there mate its the main starting point for newbies,they hope that because youve never been spoilt by doing the good work,that you will accept that this is how it is,it aint belive me i did a lot of agency to start with and your gona have to accept that the bottoms where we all start.Make a point of getting on well with your agency,dont moan to much be subtle in your not happy with the job explanation,cos what might happen is the agency guy might think ‘i like this guys attitude’ and you might just get sent to a blue-chip client,a good rapport with your agency is VITAL,its not always about them just throwing you into the first job that comes that particular day,they wont rirk sending numpties to some clients as they could lose that contract,so a reliable driver with a good attitude always has a chance :wink: :slight_smile:

23

Cna understand the stresses of working behind the window but do they understand the stresses of going out on the road. Espec when you are new and dont really know what you are doing ?

Into a company got all these procedures etc… but no one tells you so no ■■■■ sherlock not gonna be followed if i havent been told the magical secrets of what they are. Give me a load of paperwork and then when i ask how its to be filled in and they say just get out on the road. No probs just dont expect it to be all filled in correctly when i get back end of story.

Biggest thing that annoys me is, you get a check sheet, “Do you know how to operate a tail lift”, “do yuo know how to operate fridge” etc… supposed to tick yes or no and the no’s the supervisor will show you. But in most cases he just ticks them all for you and gets you to sign and say off you go. Prob signed a legal document covering their asses so if some accident happens they can say well you said you knew what you were doing.

Fridges places, i can prob guess who you were working for Brownie ive worked for most class 2 places in Glasgow at some time or another. Ever need any advice PM me.

These places, check out truck, make sure temps are correct on fridge if they are out or seems fridge is not working go back to transport office. If they say don’t worry about it, get them to sign statement on defect sheet saying that. For example fridge supposed to be set at -22 and its at somthing like -3 put in -3 get them to sign. If you go out do a run and temps aint set right and stuff melting shops may knock it back and suddenly its the F’ing agency driver doesent know what he is doing and they will try charge the agency for the cost of wrecked stock. Also check its got diesel in it before taking it out again some won’t tell you that but if the fridge runs outta diesel it will be your fault.

Taillift make sure it works before you take it out, make sure you know how to use it. Some are easy just button, some involve pluggin a controler thing in. Espec with class 1’s drive 150 miles then find don’t have an anderson lead is a a F-up.

Some of these places sit around for 3 or 4 hours to get a run then suddenly its a mad rush to get you out the door. Don’t rush or miss out your checks.

A lot of it is supervisors and other people not doing their job making sure you know what you are doing then complain when you don’t.

Saying this most places arent like that, most places are ok with new drivers make sure you know what you are doing. Just a sizable few tho who don’t.

WIndow staff i take them as i find them. Can understand their stress and their frustration. Place i used to goto people always complaining about that “■■■■■” behind the window. I walk in friendly say hello and she is nice enough with me, others walk in and start having a go at her and she has a go back espec when a lot of the problems to do with that depot are nothing to do with her. Can be dealing with the same people a few times a week may as well try and get on with them other wise makes job a lot harder. Somtimes walk in you are friendly and they kinda snap at you but after a few times they loosen up with you.

24

Steve

  1. thats why i wont work for them
  2. i told you to give me a ring if you needed help
  3. dont let it get to you. they are a bunch of arrogant merchant bankers there. you need attitude to survive working for them. the best way to deal with them is to say, no when damian calls with that job :wink: :laughing:
25

i worked at all 4 of the big frozen companies and can honestly say that i wouldnt go back on multi-drop fridge work for a grand a week,it aint enough for a start! especially the one thats got the devils number on the side of the truck 666 oh sorry i must have added it up wrong! :smiling_imp: mind you gota say the other worst job on class 2 multi-drop has to be bakery work,again worked for the two big boys and in some ways that was worse than frozen,loading your own truck at 2.30 in the morning,only 40 stacks sort out then off to do 15-20 drops on a new route where every shop or ‘service road’ is the back of beyond,then come back wait in a queue of 20 to un-load your empties,christ there were blokes in the job doing it for 25 years or more! NEVER AGAIN well out of it
:smiley: :smiley: :smiley: :smiley: :smiley: :smiley: :smiley: :smiley: :smiley:

26

Is it a legal requirement to sign a vehicle check / defect sheet as I didn’t get anything at that job though I had at the two other companies I worked with the week before?

27

I dont know if its a legal requirement or not someone else could say.

But your responsable for the condition of the truck.

Some companies that get you to sign off you know how to do this and that, and make you sign off you have had proper rests etc… before hand are covering their arses. Kinda why its annoys me when they hand you a sheet and they have basically ticked it for you. So that later if something does happen they saw tough luck you signed you knew what you were doing other wise we would have shown you.

28

Traz:
well i look for parking spaces away from other lorrys so far, as i dont want to damage anyone elses motor.

so i guess you wont be using any msa’s then! :wink: :stuck_out_tongue: :stuck_out_tongue: :stuck_out_tongue:

29

Brownie,sounds like you worked for a company at Harthill. :wink:
They don’t give you a mobile or a fuel card either.
They didn’t tell me anything about the fridge unit,just handed me five yellow seals for the back door.
After doing my 3rd drop,got ready to go and a shop assistant ran over to ask me what the temp. was.
I hadn’t been told or shown, that I had to take temp. readings before starting to off-load.
Gave her the temp. and she went into a blind panic,saying it was over permitted temp.
Said to her,what do you expect,the door’s been open for an hour taking the stuff off. :unamused: :unamused:
Keep at it Brownie,things can only get better.

30

You know it gsm…probably not the best place to cut your teeth as a new driver. I’m looking at other places now, at least I’m not alone…I thought they might not like my face or something…obviously lack of communication is the norm there.

31

Brownie,the problem with the place is everybody’s going around with an attitude.
If you got an hour induction when you first went there, the job would be straight forward.

32

brownie listen to scanny thats not a good place even for experienced drivers if he can get you a better deal go for it as gsm said to much attitude flying about goodluck

33

Cheers for the replies fellas…feel better for them.

34

scanny77:
Steve

  1. thats why i wont work for them
  2. i told you to give me a ring if you needed help
  3. dont let it get to you. they are a bunch of arrogant merchant bankers there. you need attitude to survive working for them. the best way to deal with them is to say, no when damian calls with that job :wink: :laughing:

and

drivers wanted urgently. all classes

how much finders fee do you get

:question: :laughing: :laughing:

35

zip. i dont get anything to introduce drivers. they are a good agency and i have drivers interests at heart so i try and get drivers in there but i dont make a penny out of it. i only get paid for the work i do myself

with that place, even a simple trunk is a pain. they sent me up to carnoustie to swap trailers at their tattie farm. even with a map it took ages to find it. they blamed me for not being able to follow directions but it turned out to be their directions that were the problem. coming off at the A930 and turning right is not the same as coming off at the A930 and turning back on yourself. no one mentioned going back on the A92 and taking the first left after a mile or so.
i got back and they asked me to do a quick run to ■■■■■■■■■■■ for a trailer swap. i was sat there for 4 hours waiting and why was this? the trailer i was picking up had been collected earlier in the day :imp:

i wont go back there. i told the agency to file them under the same as tesco. no effin chance

36

scanny77:
zip. i dont get anything to introduce drivers. they are a good agency and i have drivers interests at heart so i try and get drivers in there but i dont make a penny out of it. i only get paid for the work i do myself

give that man a round of applause :wink: :laughing: :laughing:

37

i have got one ace for you Steve. if you dont know how to use something on a wagon, tell them you arent leaving until you are shown or you wont be using it. i did that last year with a firm that ran a couple of HIABS. i did the course years ago but i never received the certificate. i told them i wasnt HIAB trained but they said i didnt need it. got to a drop on a building site. the fork lift (if thats what the big ones are called) was broken so they wanted me to use the crane. i refused on the grounds that 1. i wasnt certified. and 2. i couldnt remember how to stow it properly. the end result was a call from the gaffer saying that i was refusing to tip. i corrected him and explained the actual situation so i was told to wait for the FLT to be fixed.
dont use anything you dont know how to use properly. if they whinge about it, call the agency. they will back you up. they dont want you having an accident and hurting yourself. their drivers are their main priority. if you are right, they will be 100% behind you. Andy should be pretty hot on all the regs in transport. he was a TM for one of our clients (in fact, it was me who got us in there) so H & S etc should be his specialist subject plus he is a class 2 driver. he still goes out on the road.
failing that, let me know whats going on. i will set you straight and i will set the agency straight. either way, the problem will be resolved. they know i am hot headed enough to tell the client what i think of them but i always give the agency the chance to sort it first. im not diplomatic so i let them try their way :laughing:

38

Richie. I’ll make doubly sure I am certain I’m not putting myself or anyone else at risk and if it takes twice as long then so be it. I think I’ve worked out most the things I need to do the job they want so I won’t refuse another shift just yet but will be willing to walk away if it gets to the point where I feel unsafe or unable to do the job well.

Been applying for a number of permanent jobs today but most want much more experience that what I have. No problem though as I want to find a company that will be willing to spend some time teaching me the ropes properly.

39

i wasnt insinuating that you would be unsafe mate. i a lot of drivers take the wagon out then get stuck out in the field. a prime example being the tail lift. they get out and find out it isnt working or they dont know how to use it. some are isolated from the cab but the button isnt marked. some have a key that has to be inserted in the control panel. better to ask back at base rather than get 2 or 3 hours away and realise you cant tip. iceland is a good example. the tail lifts are unreliable (probably due to the shoddy work carried out by the contractor) so i always hook the anderson lead up and fully test the tail lift before i leave base. i have had faulty anderson leads (the end fell off one resulting in some pretty sparks on the ground), faulty electrics, some didnt like wet weather, some had intermittent faults, some wouldnt lift with any weight on them. i even heard of one that snapped 2 days after it had (supposedly) been tested with a 2 ton weight.

all im saying is that you should always give the wagon a quick once over to make sure its all working and you are happy with what you are required to use. its not just the safety aspect. you will look like a bit of a spanner if you get to a tip and cant tip it because you didnt check before you left. i bet quite a few drivers here have learned that one the hard way. no me though COUGH :blush: :blush: :blush: :wink: :laughing:

i dont know if it is taught in training but ALWAYS physically check your fuel level for 2 reasons

  1. to check the cap is secure
  2. the gauge can be wrong
40

Scanny,have you done a delivery for Iceland at the Davidson Mains store(Edinburgh)?