Went for an interview for a TM role at a company the other day and was speaking to the owner about the work, defects, damages and maintenance etc.
During the conversation he started saying a driver had come back to the yard a few weeks ago with a wing mirror hanging off. The driver told him the usual story, “I pulled in, the other guy came barrelling through and took my mirror clean off”, the owner asked him if he’d got the other guys details, was told no, asked if he’d reported the incident to the police, again told no. He then told the driver that HE would have to cough up £250 to get a new mirror fitted.
The owner seemed to take great delight in telling me this story, as if it made him seem like some sort of hero. He seemed not to realise though that this sort of action will only see him lose any decent driver, leaving him to deal with the sort of idiots who do this sort of damage on a regular basis.
I know I wouldn’t accept it as a driver, nor would I look to enforce it as a TM. (And I’d imagine no-one on here would stand for it either)
This is the second company I’ve heard of doing it. The first, a driver punctured a tyre, caught the side wall on the edge of something, ended up being charged almost £600 for a new tyre to be fitted
I’m wondering though if this is a rarity, or are more companies looking to bring this sort of action in?
I’m with you, I didn’t stand for it as a driver and wouldn’t be on board with it as a TM.
Ex-boss of mine blamed me for an engine malfunction after he’d sent the truck 150 miles away to save money on a repair bill Three days after it came back the engine overheated while I was outside using the hiab. He threatened me with a disciplinary hearing, I told him where to stick his job - one of my best ever decisions
ive heard of quite a few companies that charge the driver for repairs. if not the full amount at least a flat fee.
i even know of one instance that the lorrys plastic trim was cable-tied on and panels with riveted on patches. An agency driver damaged the passenger side step and the company tried to charge the agency for a brand new step and mud gaurd even though the mudgaurd had been “repaired” several times.
If you’re running vehicles then you have to expect them to get occasional minor damage. If you don’t want to pay for it just add a little bit extra onto every job you charge customers for and it will soon be covered.
I’m really hoping this was just one or two bad companies and that this isn’t something that starts to become more common
Its more common than you think. I once worked for someone that started charging for damaged. Some of the guys were so gutless they just paid up without a fight! It was a fleet of tippers and bulkers and the places we had to go inevitably caused minor damage to the wagons. £500 was the charge regardless of the damage!!
I was in a tight spot once and pulled the passenger step off and sure enough later that day came the phone call demanding £500. I told him that his wagon was getting parked up and his keys getting thrown in the river. (pre tracker days) He suddenly became very friendly and said I didnt have to pay it this time around.
I later found out he had a thing about seeing how far he could push his drivers and if you argued back or even threw a punch at him he had a lot more respect for you
i’ve never worked for an outfit that charges a driver for damages in my 43 years,and counting, truckin’. nearest i come to it was a small outfit tipper operation who paid a small yearly bonus if you didn’t have any ‘own fault’ damage.
I went from one extreme to another…worked one place was a clause in contract which they pointed out when started your responsible for 1st £250 worth of any damages and in the event it will be deducted from your wages weekly at an amount agreed.
Last place I worked truck had a blown bulb while out so bought one fitted it myself.
Got money back. But office were why didn’t you ring us we’d of booked you into nearest renault
and garage got them to do it for you
I’ve never worked for one like this but I have heard of them and there’s always one, relatively large, name that springs to my mind whenever this gets mentioned but I’ve no idea if they still do it.
Personally I woukdnt work for an outfit like this. Don’t get me wrong I’ll never say I’m too good not to have a bump because it happens eventually to all of us just through sheer balance of probability. But I’m generally quite careful and cautious and if I do have a bump it would be an accident and not caused through incompetence or disregard to property.
Likewise I’ve also worked for firms where no matter what you did and how much damage was caused it was seemingly impossible to receive any form of sanction for it
Applied for an internal shunter job near Bradford some years ago. During the interview, it was revealed that there was a £250 payment required for damage to trailers and equipment. The interview ended at that point when my mate got up and walked out without saying another word.
Accidents happen. It should be seen as a business risk.
The company can choose to take out expensive insurance to diminish that risk if they want to.
They can choose to take cheap insurance and use any saving against repairs.
They can choose to take cheap insurance (and if they write it into the contract) take money from drivers.
If I was under such a contract I would want to get a very good salary so my extra risk would be rewarded by extra pay.
If a driver is taking part of the business risk, they should get a part of the saving the business is making.
Unless it was exceptional circumstances, I would simply not take any job like that.
Had an accident at M62/M1 on the roundabout. Was 62 w/b going to m1 n/b. Spun out a people carrier who was in left lane for M1 n/b, no indicator. I was in right lane for M1 n/b, with left indicator on. Spun her out. Police called, Tacho printout, breathalyzed, all good. Co wanted to charge me £300. I told them that I wanted 3rd party details as I was going to sue her for £300. Never heard about it again.
msgyorkie:
I later found out he had a thing about seeing how far he could push his drivers and if you argued back or even threw a punch at him he had a lot more respect for you
Ah… the old Bully Boss scenario Yeah, I’ve seen that before, these types of guys don’t seem to like my approach to their “management style”
thehairyarsedtrucker:
My question would be, Is it legal ? Just because it is in your contract doest make it legal.
I’m confident that…
There isn’t a law against it on the statute books as such. But, if you signed a contract agreeing to pay damages to the firm then, you’d be hard pushed to withold payment in the event of you ripping a door off a box trailer or similar. You agreed to pay, therefore you’d have to pay I would have thought.
Lots of company car drivers have this, but it’s a nominal fee rather than the atcual cost of repairs, only after a suitable investigation with an appeals and discipline system rolled in. It’s to try and remove a blaise approach to ownership and that damage is acceptable as the Co can pay.
If you agree in writing to be responsible for damages, you are.
“Your employer is not allowed to make deductions unless:
…you agree in writing
…your contract says they can”
They can even take money to put you below minimum wage, if you`ve agreed to it.
“A deduction cannot normally reduce your pay below the National Minimum Wage even if you agree to it, except if the deduction is for:
…
something you’ve done and your contract says you’re liable for it, for example a shortfall in your till if you work in a shop
…”
Three days after it came back the engine overheated while I was outside using the hiab. He threatened me with a disciplinary hearing, I told him where to stick his job - one of my best ever decisions 
