Yesterday i had my second shift. It was for store 21. 3 drops in the centre of some small minicities for same agency like friday. The nice thing ia they said to come again from monday for an ongoing contract paying 10/h. I say i already have sorted with another agency ( i.e. the one with palletways) for 11/h. In 2 mins they said that they can pay the same if i go with them. I said ( me being a man of word) that i promised in the other place so i cant turn back now, but if i dont like it i give them a call.
So as new driver i can already negociated my rates lolz. So 11/h for class 2 i think is very good. My advantage … i was full of myself strong personality and ready to answer all possible questions. Or… ive just been lucky .
And another offer of 10.50/h day 11.50 night and 13 weekend to work at another ongoing contract with cold or frozen products. Long shifts minimum 50 hrs a week.
BTW yesterday i went 14 hrs for 12/h .
And… one question for agency worker. Almost all agencies said they r not paying brakes. But just 45 mins no matter how much brake you have. Is that normal?
romik:
You know what is interesting, when I was tipping at ASDA & TESCO hubs, I think I was the only one with straps securing pallets as I was asked to undo them, none of the other drivers were asked. It was a bit of a revelation, does anyone bother?
They shouldn’t need to ask you to remove the straps, it’s part of your job to remove them
romik:
I understand now, but other drivers only opened back doors, didn’t see them removing straps.
They probably wasn’t using straps, plenty of drivers don’t use straps on curtain-siders, but depending on the load they may get fined if stopped.
Also it depends on what you’re carrying, for instance pallets of light boxes aren’t always suitable for strapping because of the damage the straps can do and the fact that the load won’t move anyway.
sfantu:
Yesterday i had my second shift. It was for store 21. 3 drops in the centre of some small minicities for same agency like friday. The nice thing ia they said to come again from monday for an ongoing contract paying 10/h. I say i already have sorted with another agency ( i.e. the one with palletways) for 11/h. In 2 mins they said that they can pay the same if i go with them. I said ( me being a man of word) that i promised in the other place so i cant turn back now, but if i dont like it i give them a call.
So as new driver i can already negociated my rates lolz. So 11/h for class 2 i think is very good. My advantage … i was full of myself strong personality and ready to answer all possible questions. Or… ive just been lucky .
And another offer of 10.50/h day 11.50 night and 13 weekend to work at another ongoing contract with cold or frozen products. Long shifts minimum 50 hrs a week.
BTW yesterday i went 14 hrs for 12/h .
And… one question for agency worker. Almost all agencies said they r not paying brakes. But just 45 mins no matter how much brake you have. Is that normal?
Thank you and good luck all.
One agency I’m with asks to see daily tacho printouts when you submit your timesheet so there is no way you can fudge your break times. Others don’t ask so I only put down 45 minutes. As long as I’m keeping to VOSA rules then I’m happy.
I turned down an offer of permanent job, due to low rate take home £460 for 65 hours tramping. Instead changing agency for a bigger one with multiple big clients, now will be on £8.5-£10 ph basic and time and half for OT. Still umbrella scheme, but really considering going Ltd, need to speak with accountant about it. Any advice? If gross pay is say £35k per year, how much would one save going Ltd?
romik:
You know what is interesting, when I was tipping at ASDA & TESCO hubs, I think I was the only one with straps securing pallets as I was asked to undo them, none of the other drivers were asked. It was a bit of a revelation, does anyone bother?
…nope,possibly across the rear of the back 2,though that’s only as its getting rallied along the 75 or 77…other than that,never
Very good Start Romik, Just Reading all this gives me chills wonder how is it like out there, Question did you had any knowledge about the roads as to which city you are going to and short cuts etc, i have seen new drivers going to southampton, Thurrock, Newmarket Maidstone on their first day at work, i just kind of wonder how do they do it…
I just use maps and truck satnav, sometimes if I am unsure I would post question to Lorry Driver UK page on FB & get reply quick. But truck tables satnav has been very reliable. I am quite upset about tonight though, I suppose I just wanted to get home and didn’t pay enough attention, even though the car was parked bang opposite entrance to yard with wagons coming in and out all the time not the best place to leave car for a week.
romik:
I just use maps and truck satnav, sometimes if I am unsure I would post question to Lorry Driver UK page on FB & get reply quick. But truck tables satnav has been very reliable. I am quite upset about tonight though, I suppose I just wanted to get home and didn’t pay enough attention, even though the car was parked bang opposite entrance to yard with wagons coming in and out all the time not the best place to leave car for a week.
Don’t worry about it man. Stuff like this happens. So far, I’ve ripped the bottom off a wagon and scrapped the side of a Stobarts unit. Not something I like to brag about mind
Well it’s my first day tomorrow. (Is there a terrified emote?)
Passed my class 2 a month ago and apart from my assessment on Friday, hadn’t driven anything bigger than my 3.5t XLWB ■■■■■■ since then.
It’s a weeks work and that’s OK because it takes me up to my class 1 training. Think it will be good to have that weeks work before the artic. Just so I’m not going from the van up to something so big.
I’m frantically trying to ‘revise’ for stuff I should know.
(WTD and EU hours; thanks for the Sticky guys. Found an app called Tachoguard, so see how that goes too.)
Strap usage. Yeah I’m a bad van driver, I rarely strap. Monday is a curtain sider so I better remember. It’s loaded already, so I hope they secured everything. I’ll check in the morning
Trucknav and phone holder and charger out of the van.
Food!! I suspect I’m going to be a “Miss Daisy” so while I have to do breaks, I can’t see a nice pull over for a McD in the offing. (Bless my US friend who told me about the 99p cheeseburgers!)
Being a little feeble short-arse, I was in two minds about box with tail lifts. Yes I get to ride the tail lift (“The ladder is there so it’s legal but it’s short, so take the tail lift”) but pump trucks are my shopping trolleys!
At least I learnt in a manual, so that’ll be ok.
Wish me - and the poor fools who are letting me out in their 17t lorry - luck!
EDIT:
Fair warning to anyone in Brum in the morning and Manchester in the afternoon!
I’m ok at driving but HORRIBLY slow at unloading. Never had to fiddle with curtain sider before and it was interesting. Got the tail lift out … and couldn’t lift it back over to fold. I see Weetabix in my future.
Did wonder about the BMW driver who insisted on diving in front of me … with his baby in the car. Remember people … that lorry driver could be competent, or could have just passed their test. Probably best not to play chicken with them.
Acquitted myself quite well (I thought) around little dinky side streets with parked cars. Only really bad moment was the council van driver who thought a right hand indicator means … go ahead up my outside, I won’t squish you. Ho hum. Don’t ask me how he didn’t get a nudge.
My Trucknav tried to take me down a 7.5t limit back to the depot.
But they’re letting me out again tomorrow, so … woot.
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