Maybe I’ve been lucky in that I have always worked for firms who let you do the job how you want to as long as it gets done in a reasonable time.
Just recently reading these forums it seems you almost have to ask permission to stop and use the bog on most firms is it realy that bad now or is it been egagerated or are many drivers at the level they just can’t be let loose without someone wet nurseling them.
some of the drivers i encounter, i think they do need to be wet nursed. a lot of drivers seem incapable of making any decisions in life. dp some drivers ever shower? or are they waiting to be told , or shown, when or how to? god help them if they need to work out when to take a break or fuel up
I think the problem is there are quite a few very large fleets I.e stobarts, wincanski, dhl to name 3 that employ a huge number of drivers therefore employ someone especially to make up these ■■■■■■■■ memos and justifying a wage.
As you know, I’m “on loan” to our gravel pit and I’m amazed the difference in attitudes. Quarry staff don’t bicker, have a wind-up that doesn’t result in a disciplinary and nobody cries about dirty cabs, flies on windscreens etc
i was unlucky enough to work for for a firm that said do this, do that, you must ask permission etc etc.
they just got told that i don’t work like that, i get the job done, if they want a muppet then find one somewhere else.
i never got any hassle again.
the job is full of muppets nowadays.
limeyphil:
i was unlucky enough to work for for a firm that said do this, do that, you must ask permission etc etc.
they just got told that i don’t work like that, i get the job done, if they want a muppet then find one somewhere else.
i never got any hassle again.the job is full of muppets nowadays.
to a certain extent that is my relationship with stobarts, a few early on words passed both ways. i appear to be pretty much invisible nowadays . get my jobs, do what i can, if getting ahead, phone in looking for an extra load, or if struggling then forewarn planner, makes my life and his so much easier. i don’t need to put my hand up if i need a pee either.
Whilst I think some people exaggerate it, there are some that get down trodden by operators. We have about 50-60 operators on here, if you’ve got a good one, like me, you’ve cracked it. Get a bad one and you’re paddling up stream. Most drivers suffer the crap from an operator, where as I will voice my concerns about jobs he gives me, then if it goes wrong, no blame comes my way. But to be fair, he doesn’t tell me when and where to park, or question what I tell him. Maybe down trodden drivers come across as though they need their hands held, I don’t know
I’m just left to get on with it, no pressure, no stress, no silly rules. As long as the job gets done, my gaffer is a happy chappy. If I want to take the scenic route, I take the scenic route. If I want to clean the flies off my windscreen, I clean the flies off my windscreen. If I need a ■■■, I have a ■■■.
I do understand why some gaffers treat some drivers like children though; a lot of you are thick as ■■■■ and without constant instruction and over the top rules you wouldn’t know what to do and would probably just sit in the corner rocking back and forth while trying to eat a carrier bag.
SmashedCrabFace:
I’m just left to get on with it, no pressure, no stress, no silly rules. As long as the job gets done, my gaffer is a happy chappy. If I want to take the scenic route, I take the scenic route. If I want to clean the flies off my windscreen, I clean the flies off my windscreen. If I need a ■■■, I have a ■■■.I do understand why some gaffers treat some drivers like children though; a lot of you are thick as [zb] and without constant instruction and over the top rules you wouldn’t know what to do and would probably just sit in the corner rocking back and forth while trying to eat a carrier bag.
I know what you mean about molly coddling and over the top rules. Some people just need their hand holding all the time. I approved this post for you, everything going ok for you now ?
Yes thanks Mike. You are moving up my list of favourite moderators, well done. Don’t get too excited though, you are starting at the bottom.
i can smell agency staff
Boss & Driver:
i can smell agency staff
Did you think of that all by yourself 
I can understand how some drivers get those feelings, planned to the minute, hassled if running late or off route etc.
What I can’t understand is why they put up with it, if anyone asks why you’ve stopped, tell them… I need a number 1, number 2, 15 min kip, whatever, just tell them.
My current job (for how long I’ll be there) is a weird one, I do some collections that the day multi drop drivers can’t manage, then I do some warehouse / lorry loading (parcels - keeping me fit) because the guys employed to do that can’t manage, then I do a trunk to Derby and then a trunk to near Leicester (don’t want to be too specific…), there’s a truck waiting at Derby that then takes some stuff that I’ve got on to another depot, then there’s a truck waiting near Leicester for some of my other stuff and with stuff for me to bring back to Manc land, then there’s guys waiting back in Manc land to load the day trucks up with the stuff on my truck + trailer so they can go home.
So, a lot of people waiting on me, but if I need to stop, guess what, they’re waiting longer. I’ll try not to stop, my bladder isn’t a childs, so I’m ok there, and can normally manage a little run like that with no probs, but on Mon, I was feeling a bit blurry eyed, so stopped and went for a little jog before carrying on, probably 5 or 10 mins at most, better to get it there 10 mins later than not at all though eh 
Mike C 1 - Smashedcrabface 0 
newmercman:
Mike C 1 - Smashedcrabface 0
Very subtle I like his style. Although I like smashedcrabfaces posts I do think he has been treated a bit harshly in here.
kr79:
newmercman:
Mike C 1 - Smashedcrabface 0Very subtle I like his style. Although I like smashedcrabfaces posts I do think he has been treated a bit harshly in here.
I agree, I like what I see, but that’s the point, we only get to see the stuff that doesn’t ■■■■ off the mods, so crabbychops, chill the ■■■■ out dude, you’re depriving us of your better posts when you start playing up
SmashedCrabFace:
I’m just left to get on with it, no pressure, no stress, no silly rules. As long as the job gets done, my gaffer is a happy chappy. If I want to take the scenic route, I take the scenic route. If I want to clean the flies off my windscreen, I clean the flies off my windscreen. If I need a ■■■, I have a ■■■.I do understand why some gaffers treat some drivers like children though; a lot of you are thick as [zb] and without constant instruction and over the top rules you wouldn’t know what to do and would probably just sit in the corner rocking back and forth while trying to eat a carrier bag.
+1
My boss has instructed our ‘general bod in the office’ to phone each ship every morning to see if all is well.
Why? … If we had any problems we could not sort ourselves we would then be on the phone pronto. All they would do is then contact someone else and relay the matter. I can do that mesen thanks. They are slowly getting the message.
But its a lot better than the Irish company I worked for where they had to be contacted four times daily during the office hours.
.
I think it’s all down to companies like DHhell & wancanton who’ve ruined the job with stupid technology like trackers etc. there’s far too much red tape in this game so yes the job is now that bad as a result. I happened to be in a transport office & an agency driver was ‘debriefing’ after a run, fat lady behind the desk starts quizzing the driver about why he stopped somewhere for exactly 12 or so minutes & why he went 3 minutes over his break & I’m thinking WTF…■■? In the good old days I’d have chucked the keys @ her, told her to lose some weight & do the ■■■■■■■ job herself…!
Our company in the late 80’s was one of the 1st to install cab phones and our TM loved them, … where are you, where are you…
Just outside Glasgow… WTF are you doing there your supposed to be tipping in Swindon !.. Oh sorry i got confused… Oh f## off ant tell me when you are tipped… Ok then cheers… he soon got fed up phoning every half hour