Similar for me, if my route takes me near homebase (not the DIY shop) I can park up and go home. Night out is paid if less than 11 hours off.
I need 6 hours kip so usually stay with the truck. Madness I hear you cry but by the time I’ve got home, annoyed the wife, faffed about etc it’s time for bed then up earlier than I would do if in the truck
Our lot will only give you night out money if you are an hour or more away from the yard.
If it takes 1 hr 20 to get to work before a you start work that’s your decision to live that far away
alix776:
If it takes 1 hr 20 to get to work before a you start work that’s your decision to live that far away
Er - he already said it’s 40 minutes away…
Radar19:
Our lot will only give you night out money if you are an hour or more away from the yard.
Ok in theory at 56mph, if you are 50 to 55 miles away on your way back or way out, they don’t cough up, or have I picked you up wrong.?
I think I would have that sorted mate tbh.
robroy:
Radar19:
Our lot will only give you night out money if you are an hour or more away from the yard.
I think I would have that sorted mate tbh.
Try 52 but yes.
Until drivers attitudes change we will all be liable to 15 hour days maybe the next generation will see sense and bring our industry more in line with other industries
Whilst doing a mental/pysical assessment of me my doctor asked me what a average day consisted of ,get up ,do 15 hrs , sleep in layby , get up etc etc .
Looked totally bemused , just gave me a sick note for 2 weeks 
I don’t want nights out and in fact this week I didn’t do any because the jobs didn’t require it. I understand that a truck has to be moving to earn and if required because of timings or my position at the end of a job it may be beneficial to the company to send me further or have me wait , it may require a night out. However the boss will first ask if I mind. Now if it doesn’t fit in he I is fine with that. On the whole I will do it. I always carry two nights gear as standard. It’s all about working together and a professional attitude. It also makes life a bit more interesting. I personally enjoy doing a run and then calling in when done and waiting for the next job. Could be twenty miles could be 300 miles.doesn’t suit everyone. All my working life I have only had about 6 hours sleep a night it’s all I need. Plenty of time to sleep when you’re dead
Radar19:
robroy:
Radar19:
Our lot will only give you night out money if you are an hour or more away from the yard.
I think I would have that sorted mate tbh.Try 52 but yes.
I suppose the obvious way to get around it is hang back before you hit the 52 mile mark, but how can they justify it,… if you can’t get back you can’t get back.
If it was say 10 miles where relatively easy to get a lift home, that would be slightly more reasonable I suppose. 
What are the opinions on this with you and the rest of the drivers.
If it was me I’d be taking 13 off, 11 + 2 (2 being 1hr journey home ×2) even if I slept in cab.
What a stupid regime not paying nights out within 1 hour of depot, presumably 40/50 miles radius, probably due to too many historic dodgies locally when the driver did have time to get back (might not have been your company, the guvnor responsible might have bought this knee jerk with him), however its affecting their business…the only possible benefit to them i can see is that the unpaid watchman won’t be tucked up in bed with his Mrs when he should be on guard in the lorry is their thinking here.
I’ve never worked anywhere with this in place, and agree that it needs sorting, so get yer shop steward onto it Radar mate.
By the way, am i the only one who regularly, would book meself into a B&B for a proper comfy night out, anything to get away from the bloody tin can…remember i was in a cut down car transporter cab for years, and in the early days on the cars in the coffin welded to the back of the day cab.
If I think I am being taken for a ■■■■ and/or treated unfairly I tend to kick back, but in a way with no comeback ie play them at their own game. In this case I would park in the most truck crime ridden area within that 52 mile radius I could find.
■■■■ being as Juddian puts it, an unpaid night watchman. 
I mean’t I only do 52mph. Basiclly, if you get to Newark truck stop you’ll get your night out money however if you get as far as Caenby Corner you won’t so what I do is flat out tell the planners I’m not going to make it back to the yard, get to a point where I know I was will my night out money then run it in the next morning.
robroy:
Radar19:
robroy:
Radar19:
Our lot will only give you night out money if you are an hour or more away from the yard.
I think I would have that sorted mate tbh.Try 52 but yes.
I suppose the obvious way to get around it is hang back before you hit the 52 mile mark, but how can they justify it,… if you can’t get back you can’t get back.
If it was say 10 miles where relatively easy to get a lift home, that would be slightly more reasonable I suppose.
What are the opinions on this with you and the rest of the drivers.
If it was me I’d be taking 13 off, 11 + 2 (2 being 1hr journey home ×2) even if I slept in cab.
Everyone is on the same deal bar one who has been with the company before it was bought out so he’s on his old contract with plenty of OT whilst we get none, money goes up after 8 hours etc.
Can I just say that I work for a tight arsed firm, but at least we get paid a night out where ever we are out.
Do these firms not see that it is not productive in the long term to come up with these penny pinching half arsed schemes that just simply ■■■■ a driver off.
A ■■■■■■ off driver is not a co.operative or productive driver 
robroy:
Can I just say that I work for a tight arsed firm, but at least we get paid a night out where ever we are out.
Do these firms not see that it is not productive in the long term to come up with these penny pinching half arsed schemes that just simply ■■■■ a driver off.
A ■■■■■■ off driver is not a co.operative or productive driver
The only reason I’m still where I am is because everyone else round here is running work for those pallet companies. 95% of our work is a doddle. Tomorrow for me is Donny for 6am, then Liverpool before 10 then a few collections then back to the yard.
Radar19:
robroy:
Can I just say that I work for a tight arsed firm, but at least we get paid a night out where ever we are out.
Do these firms not see that it is not productive in the long term to come up with these penny pinching half arsed schemes that just simply ■■■■ a driver off.
A ■■■■■■ off driver is not a co.operative or productive driverThe only reason I’m still where I am is because everyone else round here is running work for those pallet companies. 95% of our work is a doddle. Tomorrow for me is Donny for 6am, then Liverpool before 10 then a few collections then back to the yard.
I’ve worked in the past for at least one excellent firm, not this one.
I too am only still where I am because I know what I am going to do and I’m left alone to do it.
As I said the firm is not known for it’s driver welfare consideration, although our depot is not TOO bad.
As for loyalty or connection from me to them, it don’t exist I’m afraid, it’s purely mercenary.
robroy:
Radar19:
robroy:
Can I just say that I work for a tight arsed firm, but at least we get paid a night out where ever we are out.
Do these firms not see that it is not productive in the long term to come up with these penny pinching half arsed schemes that just simply ■■■■ a driver off.
A ■■■■■■ off driver is not a co.operative or productive driverThe only reason I’m still where I am is because everyone else round here is running work for those pallet companies. 95% of our work is a doddle. Tomorrow for me is Donny for 6am, then Liverpool before 10 then a few collections then back to the yard.
I’ve worked in the past for at least one excellent firm, not this one.
I too am only still where I am because I know what I am going to do and I’m left alone to do it.
As I said the firm is not known for it’s driver welfare consideration, although our depot is not TOO bad.
As for loyalty or connection from me to them, it don’t exist I’m afraid, it’s purely mercenary.
So you’re not a “team player” then robroy? 
From what i can tell, a lot of firms devise devilishly complex ways to limit your pay when your off or sick, and set your overtime so it only kicks in after working X hours per week, or even month. Yet I bet the moment you start playing that game, and use the system to try and benefit yourself, they take a very dim view of it! 
Evil8Beezle:
So you’re not a “team player” then robroy?
From what i can tell, a lot of firms devise devilishly complex ways to limit your pay when your off or sick, and set your overtime so it only kicks in after working X hours per week, or even month. Yet I bet the moment you start playing that game, and use the system to try and benefit yourself, they take a very dim view of it!
I’m very much a team player, by how much is determined by the way I am treat.
The way I see it a firm only reaps what they sow in terms of driver performance.
I worked for a firm for 10 yrs, I was the only northern based driver, I would do stuff beyond the call of duty, and did on many occasions as the TM was a gentleman who treat me as both a pro and a grown up, and amply rewarded me.
It makes ALL the difference, any less treatment is counter productive, ok they save pennies but it costs them pounds in real terms, but they are so wrapped up in their greed they just don’t see it.
robroy:
Evil8Beezle:
So you’re not a “team player” then robroy?
From what i can tell, a lot of firms devise devilishly complex ways to limit your pay when your off or sick, and set your overtime so it only kicks in after working X hours per week, or even month. Yet I bet the moment you start playing that game, and use the system to try and benefit yourself, they take a very dim view of it!I’m very much a team player, by how much is determined by the way I am treat.
The way I see it a firm only reaps what they sow in terms of driver performance.
I worked for a firm for 10 yrs, I was the only northern based driver, I would do stuff beyond the call of duty, and did on many occasions as the TM was a gentleman who treat me as both a pro and a grown up, and amply rewarded me.
It makes ALL the difference, any less treatment is counter productive, ok they save pennies but it costs them pounds in real terms, but they are so wrapped up in their greed they just don’t see it.
With regard to bosses, common sense and intelligence don’t go hand in hand do they?
I’m also the kind of person that will go above and beyond when treated fairly and with respect. But if I feel i’m being abused or treated like a mug, my attitude changes. But not everyone is like that, and firms probably have to treat us all like the lowest common denominator. Employment laws mean that it’s difficult to sack someone as being a useless prick, and this probably means that its hard for even a good boss to put together a team, where EVERYONE works in the best interests of the company.
I’ve yet to see one!