I don’t mean to laugh mate, but those sorts of hours are normal, if not a bit low for what is expected in this game…
A lot of jobs will be trying to max you out on your daily hours, it’s just the way it is!
Not every job is like that, but you’ll probably find that most on this forum are clocking up over 55-60 hours a week.
48 hours is the standard working week for most jobs, and while overtime is described as “available”, it’s almost mandatory!
I can’t tell you about the wages in that area, as I’m a soft southern jessie!
No issue with the long hours as such, my point really was you would be working those hours to make practically nothing @ £7.5 an hour. There is working hard and there is just wasting your time IMO… at £10+ definitely worth it.
Of course as a newbie you would expect the crap jobs for a while but not long term, not if your doing it right anyhow.
That’s why I said to research the pay rates in your area…
Down here on the sunny south coast, you should be able to get £10 an hour (self employed) without any real problem. You can actually get more than that if you’re prepared to really work hard for your money… But from reading other posts about what it’s like in some areas up North, £8 is more realistic.
What you will also see in this game is that some/a lot of firms offer a low hourly rate, but tag bonuses on top to make up the salary. This is OK in principle, but not so hot when it comes to taking holiday or possibly going sick, as you wouldn’t get things like “attendance bonus”, as your not attending work… Just something to watch out for pal!
PaulNowak:
Does my box in if I hand in a timesheet with less than 70 hours on it, I’m living in it to maximise my earnings, not do scenic country walks.
At least you get to show off your Blue Peter badge mate!
Well I’ve decided for now to look at the odd bit of agency work. I can do around 10 hours a fortnight I reckon but will need to check. I’m going to stay where I am unless something just pops up. But any money that I gain from agency I’ll be putting it onto more training. I’m going to do my hiab and fork lift of some sort (need to look into it) in the next few weeks this might get me more agency work which in turn will pay for training and go towards class 1.
I’m starting to look at it as a long term plan for now and then move into it full time over the next 12-18 months. I’m even considering selling the motorbike to find it lol must be mad.
biker10:
Well I’ve decided for now to look at the odd bit of agency work. I can do around 10 hours a fortnight I reckon but will need to check. I’m going to stay where I am unless something just pops up. But any money that I gain from agency I’ll be putting it onto more training. I’m going to do my hiab and fork lift of some sort (need to look into it) in the next few weeks this might get me more agency work which in turn will pay for training and go towards class 1.
I’m starting to look at it as a long term plan for now and then move into it full time over the next 12-18 months. I’m even considering selling the motorbike to find it lol must be mad.
Before u make the plunge.
I would balance up what you do just now on pay scale compared to maybe 30-35k driving a truck.
Also take into consideration about work life balance.
Driving working times are all over the place.
Different start times and never know when your going finish.
Then boost your wages by doing nights out and long shifts.
You can clear £550-600 a week easy but you be doing long hours and out 3 or 4 nights a week.
I know the hours are not easy. Ive been in the catering game for 18 years and done some very ruff shifts. As it stands im in a nice cushy job but these are like gold dust and over the next 5 years our place is getting flattened. The whole industrial park im on is going. Now it supposed to be rebuilt but wether that includes our part or not is a different story. If it doesnt im back to chefing and usually thats starting around 8am and finishing around anything from 11pm - 1am the next day in some circumstances. Only difference is you are salaried so get paid nothing over 40 hours regardless. I hate catering now its just one of those things. I can cope with this job for now but I need a back up as I would not take another catering job. If I can get a little part time work/casual work it will give me some idea of how it goes without leaving my job.
I am salaried not the highest paid in the North East but there are a few other benefits the we have
I am not stressed not pushed if it get done it gets done easy only time I speak with office is if there is a problem very easy going it could be better paid but hey will see how the year goes
I worked in catering for 25years with some jobs I was salaried some paid by the hr some by the shift but as I was single with 2 young kids worked round there school times & activities so not always the best jobs but what suited me at time
When I passed at 23/24 I found it hard to get work. Only got my current gig because they were so desperate for drivers. Got a year behind me now, according to the TM it only cost the company an additional £630 for add me to the companies insurance. When you consider the size of many logistics firms, thats a small price to pay for another bum on a seat.
biker10:
I know the hours are not easy. Ive been in the catering game for 18 years and done some very ruff shifts. As it stands im in a nice cushy job but these are like gold dust and over the next 5 years our place is getting flattened. The whole industrial park im on is going. Now it supposed to be rebuilt but wether that includes our part or not is a different story. If it doesnt im back to chefing and usually thats starting around 8am and finishing around anything from 11pm - 1am the next day in some circumstances. Only difference is you are salaried so get paid nothing over 40 hours regardless. I hate catering now its just one of those things. I can cope with this job for now but I need a back up as I would not take another catering job. If I can get a little part time work/casual work it will give me some idea of how it goes without leaving my job.
Being saleried ■■■■■ unless you work a normal 9-5 job which set start and finish times. Salary work in transport is a little different, like catering your times can be all over the place but unlike catering you’re left to get on with it providing you don’t take the mick. I’m salaried and work long hours but days rarely feel like a chore. Sure its annoying when you are sat on a bay waiting for the warehouse mob to get off the cans but for me personally that is a rarity. As a driver, you are your own boss within reason as most places let the driver plan his day and because of the EU driving laws, I can say that I’m not going any further or not going into London till tomorrow because I will run out of time and the office can’t say anything about it!
Radar19:
When I passed at 23/24 I found it hard to get work. Only got my current gig because they were so desperate for drivers. Got a year behind me now, according to the TM it only cost the company an additional £630 for add me to the companies insurance. When you consider the size of many logistics firms, thats a small price to pay for another bum on a seat.
Ours is another £500.00 on the excess if there’s an accident, which i don’t think is too bad.
