I know it is getting tough out there but how low will people steep to get a job?
I know of two people who were chucked off a good job last week only to be replaced by a shyster who is legendary for brown envelope payments to the right people, stink dosnt it? then I was sitting in a pub last night having the same sought of conversation when an agency driver tells me the same thing happens in his world. Come on guys where will this all end?? anybody else have this bad experience or is it very rare, if it is going on, how do we stop it??
Maybe if some hauliers showed a bit of backbone, and remember the way they have been treated instead of seeing the £££, things will get better, some are their own worst enemy. If the good times return, the greasers will ZB it up at some point, then the call to invite you back should be met with a swift " go ZB yourself ". Unfortunately there seems to be no solidarity within the industry, the more things change, the more they stay the same!
Money talks, it is endemic in all aspects of industry and local and national Govt.
In my opinion the UK is one ot the most corrupt places on the planet!
If you can`tbeat them you usually join them and in times of hardship it is often more bountiful. 
HIT MAN? 
little enis:
then I was sitting in a pub last night having the same sought of conversation when an agency driver tells me the same thing happens in his world.
Just experienced something similar. I’ve been working regularly on agency contract since April until the Woolies collapse when I suddenly find myself with no work at all. Four weeks to Xmas and nothing, start phoning agency twice a day to be told there is nothing out there.
So, I go see the traffic manager at my previous site and ask if there is any work, to be told he had been trying to book me but was told I was busy on ‘other work’. Explained that I’d been sitting on my jacksy for two weeks and he gives me the following -
‘There are a few here in traffic that take favours from drivers to ensure they get booked, we cant prove it but we know it goes on.Same as your agency, they get favours too.’
OK, says I, as a self employed driver I suggest if you want me you book me direct and I will tell the agency to bill you. Result = two weeks of solid work again. The agency don’t like what I’m doing but they can’t stop me as they are still getting their cut and I am complying with my s/e contract.
In view of this I am in the process of phoning all my previous agency work and giving them my number with the view of phoning me direct.
How do we stop backhanders, no idea. But you can make a stand for yourself without resorting to the same game.
Have a great Xmas all 
Too many do-gooders in this country, that’s the problem. To you guys that are moaning, either learn to play the game or suffer the consequences - it’s your choice. You don’t get anything for nothing in this world.
Cash is King and is without a doubt the best bargaining tool or “sweetener” out there to get people on-side.
There’s a certain agency owner in Bradford that gives a certain transport manager of a local company a very nice weekly back-hander to ensure that his number is dialled first whenever they need any drivers. And good on him I say. He gets the regular business, the TM’s pocket is kept filled, everyone’s happy. I don’t see the problem, sorry.
So forget about being a good driver, as long as you have cash to throw about to get a job its considered ok…
I believe it’s what they call “capitalism” and the “free market economy”.
I’m with RK on this…its a dog eat dog world, Either eat or get eaten!!
MR VAIN:
HIT MAN?
& HER
willie_mac:
So forget about being a good driver, as long as you have cash to throw about to get a job its considered ok…
At the kind of rates now being paid I am surprised that anybody can afford a bit of ‘baksheesh’. I have been on the management side of transport before and to be honest, I would have wanted a good driver rather than a muppet who had slipped me a few bob. Far less stress that way and I would know the job would be done.
Given the huge mark-ups charged by the Agencies, maybe it is best to be fully self employed, which can have good tax benefits in many ways, and cut out the agency altogether? After all, we are skilled tradesmen just like plumbers and chippys, so why not gain work in the same manner?
Thanks for the tips, I wondered where I was going wrong
Tiger.
willie_mac:
So forget about being a good driver, as long as you have cash to throw about to get a job its considered ok…
Sorry but I don’t get what your point is? 
Are you saying that the amount of money involved directly equates to whether they’re a good driver or a bad one? If so, you’re off your head.
If I was an agency driver and they only had enough work for one person and I had a family to feed and mortgage arrears, I wouldn’t think twice about saying to the agency guy “give me the jobs and I’ll give you a tenner cash in hand for every day you keep me working”. Over the course of a week that’s gonna be at least a full days extra pay in his hand; not something to grumble at when all he’s got to do is pick up the phone and make a 30 second call. He gets an extra £50-60 quid in his hand, I keep the roof over my head and the family’s bellies full - what’s the problem?
Little brown envolopes have been part of this game ever since I have been in it.
The tradition of dropping of “Xmas” cards and a bottle of something is done by every company I have worked for, and some of the Xmas cards seemed a little more bulky than the rest .
“Sweetners” are part of nearly every business, and always have been.
He gets an extra £50-60 quid in his hand, I keep the roof over my head and the family’s bellies full - what’s the problem?
I suppose that the problem, from your point of view, is when the next driver pays £15 a day for a days work.
Where does it end? £15-£20-£25 a day ?
It may be the real world but it can’t be right.
all you owner drivers will soon be woking for nowt anyway to compete with your foreign pals good luck fellas,
Rikki-UK:
The tradition of dropping of “Xmas” cards and a bottle of something is done by every company I have worked for, and some of the Xmas cards seemed a little more bulky than the rest .
funnily enough, a mate of mine is a partner in an engineering company running 6-8 transit sized vans, they have an account with morrisons for diesel, and as such regularly get those £5 grocery vouchers with the fuel points.
These vouchers are saved up till xmas, and used to buy a trolley full of the “bottles” for those who “Help” them out.
I did wonder myself, if a bottle of something for the guy at the agency might help convince him to keep me high on the 1st person to call list
del949:
He gets an extra £50-60 quid in his hand, I keep the roof over my head and the family’s bellies full - what’s the problem?
I suppose that the problem, from your point of view, is when the next driver pays £15 a day for a days work.
Where does it end? £15-£20-£25 a day ?
It may be the real world but it can’t be right.
In all honestly, it ends with me, because everyone else in this country is so wrapped up their do-gooder ways to even consider it as an option and that suits me just fine. You sit at home typing on internet forums moaning about stuff and telling everyone that’ll listen about your “rights” and how unfair everything is while I’m out there working and keeping the wolf from my door for a quid an hour less than I’d like, but at least I’ve actually got some work.
The choice is yours…
You sit at home typing on internet forums moaning about stuff and telling everyone that’ll listen about your “rights” and how unfair everything is
read my posts!
Rob K’s statement does not suprise some off us who sussed him out 3000and more posts ago, in fact there is a song about him, one of the lines being.
“And the pig got up and slowly walked away”