Is this unreasonable

UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUMS THE UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUM (INTERACTIVE)
61

Due to a couple of problems on Monday, my plan of loading in Winsford and tipping Paris today was put on hold, instead i collected a loaded trailer from Calais for Glenrothes. I had to deliver at 11am tomorrow, Wednesday. However due to the ferry running backwards I realised I wasnt going to do it in time.

So we arranged to do a change over in our yard. I got there at 8pm tonight, there is a French driver sat in the yard ready to leave at 3am. I dont see a difference except the French guy has no choice. He may have thought he was loading for home, but that is transport.

62

You want to work for Gist mate. I did 7 years of them sort of times. All the stores are on a rota, 1 week at one store then move down to the next store and do that for a week and so on. One week might be 2am starts and the following week might be afternoons. You can legally do this as you get enough weekly rest in between.

It’s only a one off, just crack on and do it. You might even enjoy having the roads mainly to yourself.

63

No I will need all my energy to sign on tomorrow. I have already told them to go whistle…

Ah, good to see the great British work ethic is alive and well … next he’ll be moaning about “all the foreigners coming over here taking our jobs…”

Aren’t you all glad you pay your taxes and NI!

64

I’m a day man and I don’t think it’s unreasonable to start at 2am,after all,in the current climate,it’s pounds in the bank,but yes,you have to watch the wtd regs,as you are effectively a night worker by starting at 2am.

If you knew about the shift before the weekend,then I can’t see the problem,and I think you’re being unreasonable,not your boss.

Ken.

65

At first i thought that it was reasonable, but having read the posts where it says that they have night drivers I am not so sure.
I guess it comes down to where you work and the circumstances.

I would be fairly happy to do it every now and then, but wouldn’t want it to get to where i felt I was being taken advantage of.

66

Smee,
Did your office ask you to do this Carlisle, or did they tell you to do it.?
Did you talk to them, expressing your displeasure? or did you say nothing? therefore letting them think you had no problem with it?
Does this type of thing happen often? All these transport companies are trying to earn a living, in order to keep you, and me and countless others in work.
I really don’t think they’re out to get you. :exclamation:

Tell me what you think of this then please.

On thursday last week, when I phoned in for my next mission, our bloke asked me if I’d like friday off.
Now, that is enough to set alarm bells ringing, so I asked why?
He said he’d like me to go to Scotland on sunday, cos he’d got an 8am Saltcoats, which had to go on a flat trailer, as it was crane off. Only having six flats, mine being the first one back in, I got the job ! However, he did say that if I didn’t want to work sunday he’d swap about and give it to our kid.
Now I didn’t really relish the thought of a sunday run, which meant missing my kids for yet another day, but given the current economic climate, I agreed to go.
He could have told me to go, but in actual fact he asked me.
It doesn’t happen all that often, and the next time it won’t be my turn.
The ironic thing is, when I got to Saltcoats on monday morning, I got turned away as it was a restricted access site, as artics cannot get in.

So, a favour warrants a favour…
Today my daughter had an accident in her car. Now fortunately I’m in the midlands, and rang TM to ask if i could go home asap to assist my daughter.
He says No problem, pull out of where you are without loading, and I’ll cover your job. Take the truck and run.

Swings and roundabouts ?, Back-scratching ? I think so.
Good luck in whatever you decide, but in answer to your original question - eventually -. No i don’t think it your office was being unreasonable.

67

kjw21:
I drive for the same firm as Smee (on nights) and TBH I dont know why they didnt get his or any other nightman in to do it by reducing the nightman’s rest and letting him finish Thurs/Fri night instead of Fri/Sat. It would make more sense to me and would cause the least disruption to sleep patterns etc.

Maybe I’m thick but If Smee has a night man he would normally be finished as Smee starts, around 5 or 6 am?
Well if thats the case, why is it ok to expect the nightman to work until lunchtime, ie a very late finish, but not ok to ask a day man to start early?
Have I missed something?

68

Did you get to Carlisle on time ■■?
Hope not mate., every time your lot gets there late its yet another black mark for Maersk, for not sending the box up on the train to Manchester.
Thats assuming i’m correct in thinking you were going to EWM.

Anyway, no need to worry about getting out of bed early and feeling too tired to drive, just pull over and get some sleep !!!
You wont get that job again

69

There are some misguided souls here who know that 1.00am in an awful time to start work but bottom lip over top lip they will call you all sorts for not doing it becase it is ‘the job’ to do it in their eyes. This thread is three pages long. Ask yourself how many other people posting here started work at 1.00am on this day? Well there you are. No wonder they all sit apart from each other when they’re eating i.e they all eat, but not together.

70

Mike-C:

Smee:
And you didn’t lose your temper with an Irishman, he’s in the North, he’s British !! :wink:

you sir, are an idiot.

71

beattun:

Mike-C:

Smee:
And you didn’t lose your temper with an Irishman, he’s in the North, he’s British !! :wink:

you sir, are an idiot.

i’m well known for it. It doesn’t change the fact that the north is british though, unless i missed a trick. What do i know i’m just a bean!

72

No Mike C, he’s Northern Irish, look on the front of your passport, it says The United Kingdom of Great Britain & Northern Ireland.

And the original poster, look mate there are firms going under left, right & center, I know it’s a pain in the bollox getting up at that time & it’ll put the kybosh on your Sunday evening but it’s a big bad world out there, sometimes you have to take the rough with the smooth, there are too many big girls blouses in the job today & look at the state of the industry, any connection :question: :unamused: :frowning: :confused:

73

As has now been pointed out, look at the front of a British passport.

One side of the ‘divide’ across the water like to claim that they’re British, but the bottom line is that they aren’t! Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom, but not of Britain, so technically they’re not British!!

<<runs for his flak jacket and hard hat>>

74

I’ve been listening to ■■■■■■■■ like this for years,(a fair few as shop steward) and to be honest all it takes to resolve is to be grown up about it. If the employer does not give you adequate notice then tell him politely to Foxtrot Oscar as you have long standing plans that can’t be rearranged at short notice. If he gives adequate notice, tell him you’ll do it but that you expect the other day men to do their turn before your asked again. Yes its true times are hard in the current crisis but that doesn’t mean that we just bend over for a reaming when ever the gaffer demands it, just be a Man stand by your convictions and never ever lose your temper, coz if you do your shafted.

75

Kate:

kjw21:
I drive for the same firm as Smee (on nights) and TBH I dont know why they didnt get his or any other nightman in to do it by reducing the nightman’s rest and letting him finish Thurs/Fri night instead of Fri/Sat. It would make more sense to me and would cause the least disruption to sleep patterns etc.

Maybe I’m thick but If Smee has a night man he would normally be finished as Smee starts, around 5 or 6 am?
Well if thats the case, why is it ok to expect the nightman to work until lunchtime, ie a very late finish, but not ok to ask a day man to start early?
Have I missed something?

No - I just said it was an option, as its not unusual for us on nights to start that late, if we have a late tip out.

76

Supatramp:
Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom, but not of Britain, so technically they’re not British!!

Geographically NI isn’t part of Great Britain, however when it comes to nationality the term British is legally used for anyone frm the UK.

77

David H:
There are some misguided souls here who know that 1.00am in an awful time to start work but bottom lip over top lip they will call you all sorts for not doing it becase it is ‘the job’ to do it in their eyes. This thread is three pages long. Ask yourself how many other people posting here started work at 1.00am on this day? Well there you are. No wonder they all sit apart from each other when they’re eating i.e they all eat, but not together.

I was a 02.00 starter on Monday aswell, in bed for 19.50, up at 00.30, at work for 01.45 [it takes me 30 mins to get to this particular customer], on the road for 02.00.

At first booking for 03.40, tipped and clear 04.40, at next collection 05.20, loaded and on my way by 07.05, first bit of shut eye was on Tibshelf NB at 08.30.

A nice relaxed 30 mins, and off again, not really an issue IMHO :open_mouth: :open_mouth:

But then again, I am self-employed, it does make a difference on the attitude front, or so I am told by my customers :smiley: :smiley: :smiley:

For the record, I still took my good lady out for some snap on sunday, no ale on my part though :sunglasses: :sunglasses: :sunglasses:

78

So by my calculations Stan you did 6 and a half hours work then had half hour break ? mmmmmmmmm

79

lefkasman:
So by my calculations Stan you did 6 and a half hours work then had half hour break ? mmmmmmmmm

I got 30 mins in while waiting for the weighbridge to open, 05.30 - 06.00.

and another 30 mins of kip time @ 08.30, all well within my 4.5 hours driving limit.

Sorry, I forgot to mention the Weighbridge break, I did`nt have any shut eye on the bridge, just a leak and a cuppa :smiley: :open_mouth: :unamused:

80

Never knew waiting for the weighbridge was classed as a break . Ya learn summat on here every day dont ya!