What’s this “night out” thing of which you speak? 
I’ve only ever done two of 'em in the 11 years I’ve been driving full time 
If you break down thats ok, if you get delayed thats ok, most things unforseen is ok but bad planning is not ok if they know you want in Friday evening, so if they are giving you loads that run you’re time out then your working for cowboys its as simple as that
Got to be unlucky,to get caught out on Friday,at my place.
We have to work with the boats but 95% of the time I get home on a Fri,
If not there’s a MAJOR row!!![emoji848][emoji847][emoji108]
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When I was tramping I was home every Friday, they got my time from Monday morning right up until Friday, and that was it, no ifs or buts, from Friday night till Sunday evening that is my time with my family, I can accept that mechanical problems may leave you stranded on a Friday and it happens, but if it happens earlier in the week it’s ■■■■ poor planning for them not to get you home.
Were i work im home every friday only run in saturday if held up or asked to do a saturday.The joy we get everything is planned so you know what your doing and very rear in will change.In the last year ive ran in 1 saturday thats it.
What’s the cause of you not getting back to the yard on a Friday, can you identify one?
If all the drivers at your place struggle to get home, you probably don’t have much chance of changing it. However, if it seems to be that you’re getting stranded more often then there is probably something to discuss with the planners.
I do general haulage too, so it’s a different situation to the specialist haulage that Albion’s firm runs.
Personally, I’ve got no issue getting stranded through bad luck, but I would do with being planned not to get home on the regular. I’d either have to be able to come to a resolution with the office, or find a different firm.
What really counts is what they said to you when you took the job on.
Here, we are very clear that there is absolutely no pattern to our work, we usually show people previous time sheets so they see the quiet and the busy weeks when we interview.
What did they say to you Rowley? Did they say you would be home every Friday, or did they say that it would be a 50/50, or a 60/40 split?
I get home all the time on a Friday and only do occasional Saturday work.
I have worked for firms in the past where if I need to be home and asked they would make it as difficult as possible in fact I never used to say i needed to be back as you had more chance then…
Learned a long time ago tramping or any distance work is unpredictable, never make any arrangements before Saturday saves getting the aggro off her indoors for cancelling
Usually being flexible is needed but it helps if you set your stall out early, or they will just take the ■■■■ on Fridays and more often than not stitch you up.
For me I offer to work my fair share of Saturdays so it’s a given that when I request a Friday finish baring an unforeseen delay I’ll be home on Friday.
To be fair my planners will arrange the work to get me home. At first it wasn’t always like this as I had to refuse to do a few Friday collections to train em. Even pulled out once which is very rare for me. Yep threatening using the withdrawal method makes them behave.
Basically it’s a two way street but if the balance ain’t right youl just be the ■■■■■ who never gets finished off. Nobody wants that.
Occasionally a job will be offered that can turn into a Sat run in, if this is the case haggling usually takes place where I’ll be bribed with 9 hours pay for working 4.
But in this game nothings a given so hope for the best but prepare for the worst.
albion:
What really counts is what they said to you when you took the job on.Here, we are very clear that there is absolutely no pattern to our work, we usually show people previous time sheets so they see the quiet and the busy weeks when we interview.
What did they say to you Rowley? Did they say you would be home every Friday, or did they say that it would be a 50/50, or a 60/40 split?
Oh yeah when I started tramping (was a day man first with same company) I knew I’d be looking at 50% of fridays out. That’s not what I’m getting at here. I’m trying to find out if other company’s are the same, or other areas of haulage away from general is different? So I can make a decision whether it’s worth a move into something else, or if all haulage is the same? I’ve only ever done general no curtainsiders so I don’t know.
Rowley010:
albion:
What really counts is what they said to you when you took the job on.Here, we are very clear that there is absolutely no pattern to our work, we usually show people previous time sheets so they see the quiet and the busy weeks when we interview.
What did they say to you Rowley? Did they say you would be home every Friday, or did they say that it would be a 50/50, or a 60/40 split?
Oh yeah when I started tramping (was a day man first with same company) I knew I’d be looking at 50% of fridays out. That’s not what I’m getting at here. I’m trying to find out if other company’s are the same, or other areas of haulage away from general is different? So I can make a decision whether it’s worth a move into something else, or if all haulage is the same? I’ve only ever done general no curtainsiders so I don’t know.
Well it looks like there are better options for you out there - are you going to move?
albion:
Rowley010:
albion:
What really counts is what they said to you when you took the job on.Here, we are very clear that there is absolutely no pattern to our work, we usually show people previous time sheets so they see the quiet and the busy weeks when we interview.
What did they say to you Rowley? Did they say you would be home every Friday, or did they say that it would be a 50/50, or a 60/40 split?
Oh yeah when I started tramping (was a day man first with same company) I knew I’d be looking at 50% of fridays out. That’s not what I’m getting at here. I’m trying to find out if other company’s are the same, or other areas of haulage away from general is different? So I can make a decision whether it’s worth a move into something else, or if all haulage is the same? I’ve only ever done general no curtainsiders so I don’t know.
Well it looks like there are better options for you out there - are you going to move?
Suppose it depends if I find something that could suit me better. There’s a few tipper companies near me, a few other general haulage, then a bit further down the road at Heywood there is fowler welch, or huntapac near Preston. Closer to Clitheroe the better though.
Work for off drivers 6 years.1 years total for tramping.every planned Friday I was at home.but in all 6 years was just in 2 unplanned night out due show weather.As well may be 2-3time back to yard with 15 hours 15 minute and was I think 2-4 time with 17 hours shift due traffic,ferry problem.
Back I my tramping days I used to tell my boss…“Monday to Friday morning I’m yours…but Friday afternoon is mine to get home.”
Never once have I had to run in on a Saturday.
This was part of the reason I left my old firm. During the interview they specified it would be “occasional” run-ins on a Saturday morning. In reality, they expected one Saturday in three. And the Saturday wasn’t a “run-in”. It was a full day of work. Starting at around 5AM and finally getting back to the yard at around 3PM.
A cocky young planner used to always try it on, as they couldn’t get anyone for love nor money to work Saturdays. In the firm’s mind, you never had any “guaranteed” days off. Come Thursday or Friday you might get asked to run-in on Saturday morning, or possibly asked to start on Sunday. For those that want it, then fair enough. But having any sort of life outside of work was impossible. Just not possible to plan anything outside of work. Every aspect of your life outside of work was an “if” or “but”.
I do agree that tramping has unpredictability about it, there are so many things that can change so quickly. But I always think that a firm should plan to get their trampers done and back to the yard by 5PM on their fifth day. The sixth day should be only used when there’s absolutely no other option, unless a driver wants it. And just out of decency it should be a morning finish. Not a 10-hour shift. Expecting trampers to work 1 in 3, or even 1 in 4 Saturdays is in my opinion unfair. Especially, when you’re clocking-on at 4 or 5AM Monday morning, and being on the road all week.
No I don’t .
There wasn’t exactly a full time job for me when I started back . It was 3 days a week and slowly it built up to 4 days. then there was an option to work every other weekend . Its an odd pattern but it works for me and is based on a 14 day period -
Week one
Monday- full day
Tuesday - full day
Wednesday - half day - early finish
Thursday - late start - this gives a 24 hour reduced rest
Friday - full day
Saturday - full day
Sunday - another 24 hour reduced rest
Week 2
Monday - full day
Tuesday full day
Wednesday - full day
Thursday - full day and finish
Friday , Saturday and Sunday are my full weekend rest and payback for my reduced breaks before back to work on Monday morning .
Not everyones cup of tea but as I say - it works for me - a nice long weekend everyother weekend and very easy with 2 or 3 days holidays to turn it into a very long weekend every now and again .
Rowley010:
There’s a few tipper companies near me, .
Yeh go for tipper work, you will still do the 6 full days work but at least you’ll get through it in 5. 
I actively ask to run in on Saturdays, we run groupage from our depots around the country that needs to make the boat. Finish early on the Friday, sleep on the bay then start around midnight. Run back through the night.