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!
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!
Can’t argue with any of that bud.
But how many of us just tolerate the useless pricks in life?
As they are the ones dragging it down for the rest of us…
Evil8Beezle:
But how many of us just tolerate the useless pricks in life?
As they are the ones dragging it down for the rest of us…
That opens up a whole new discussion. Why are there so many as you put it ‘useless pricks’ in the job, and what attracts them.
I may have my rosy bins on, but I don’t remember as many in the job when I started, maybe as a newbie I just didn’t notice them. Is it the lack of real skill required, then we get back to the dumbing down thing. Is it to do with poor pay or what.
Thankfully at least they are still in the minority, but with co.s just about wiping driver’s arses nowadays in terms of instructions and guidance, who knows what the future holds.
Depressing myself now…off to bed.
.
Plastic chicken:
As if a fifteen-hour shift wasn’t bad enough, it’s also what you have to do during it that counts as well.
A day’s shift for me can comprise a 150-mile drive, followed by 10-12 drops, handballing white goods, mainly washing machines and fridge freezers (and my truck can hold around 80 individual mixed items, doubled up)…and then another 150-mile drive back to the yard. To be fair the shift rarely stretches to the max, but it can be around 13-14 hours. Then it’s back in the next day to deliver more of the same. There’s no way the regulations can take into account what individual drivers have to physically do during the course of a day, so my boss seems to think that a shift like that is perfectly acceptable. The problem is that in the past, other drivers have been stupid enough to complete similar runs by hook or by crook, so my boss thinks everybody should be able to do it.
All I can do is insist on taking a full eleven hour rest break between shifts.
And when I get home, I’ll kiss the dog, pat the wife, and be fast asleep on the couch ten minutes later.
Sounds just like another driver on this forum I know. (Not that he ever has time to post! )
Multi-dropping in my limited opinion should be restricted to shorter hours!
I don’t know who you are on about Evil? I agree with many on here, its the multi drop drivers that get abused to the max. Your hours are ■■■■■■■■■■■■ and you handball everything, so in a 15 hour day you may have driven for 7 hours, but done other work lugging loads of ■■■■ about for the other 9 hours. So safe to say 15 hour days are bloody exhausting and tiring for a multi drop driver! But things will never change as EU regulations protect all driver not specifically one type of drivers unfortunately.
Dipper_Dave:
I don’t need a union to work less hours, a simple ‘no’ usually suffices. Or if pushed ‘sorry I’m tired’ works wonders.
Balls gentlemen please
You cant always point the finger at the company. I did a 80 hour week in December (pay week ends on a Saturday night) with a night out at the end. Why? Because a client required it and I am now in my 9th year with them (on and off) and I like to provide a good service. There are money grabbing guys in there but they get fewer hours than me because I dont hang the job out. I go and actually earn my pay. Yesterday was a perfect example. Normally it would be a 9 or 10 hour shift on a Sunday. Last week I was asked if I would do 12 hour shifts on Sundays instead but I wound up with a 14 1/4 hour shift and a night out after a 65 hour week.
I would be happy with 45 - 50 hours but waiting for trailers to be loaded and waiting for a ferry to come in does bump the hours up
I agree with many on here, its the multi drop drivers that get abused to the max. Your hours are ■■■■■■■■■■■■ and you handball everything, so in a 15 hour day you may have driven for 7 hours, but done other work lugging loads of ■■■■ about for the other 9 hours. So safe to say 15 hour days are bloody exhausting and tiring for a multi drop driver! But things will never change as EU regulations protect all driver not specifically one type of drivers unfortunately.