That moment when you pull into the yard and there’s an agency bloke waiting to take your (companies) truck out
I’m usually out from 05:00 on Monday to 19:00 on Friday (tramping) but Tonight I’ve got a rare midweek trip home.
The company I work for very rarely uses agency drivers and each truck is assigned to an individual driver. I know it’s not mine, i’m just the custodian of it while i’m at work. Like most drivers, it’s got all my stuff in it and i like to keep it immaculately clean inside and out. I’m a grumpy bu@@er whenever anyone moves my seat or moves stuff around. So the sight of an agency bloke with a rollie in his gob doesn’t fill me with joy. I’ll not be a happy bunny if it stinks of smoke in the morning.
I’ve got nothing against agency drivers though, i was one for a short time a few years back.
goshow:
That moment when you pull into the yard and there’s an agency bloke waiting to take your (companies) truck out
I’m usually out from 05:00 on Monday to 19:00 on Friday (tramping) but Tonight I’ve got a rare midweek trip home.
The company I work for very rarely uses agency drivers and each truck is assigned to an individual driver. I know it’s not mine, i’m just the custodian of it while i’m at work. Like most drivers, it’s got all my stuff in it and i like to keep it immaculately clean inside and out. I’m a grumpy bu@@er whenever anyone moves my seat or moves stuff around. So the sight of an agency bloke with a rollie in his gob doesn’t fill me with joy. I’ll not be a happy bunny if it stinks of smoke in the morning.
I’ve got nothing against agency drivers though, i was one for a short time a few years back.
Anyone else have these fears??
As an agency driver in the past, going to some of the companies I had the pleasure of working at, replacing their own drivers, I was very often a bit wary of what I may find when I opened the door of the regular driver’s wagon that used it day in day out. Quite a few times I would spend time clearing out “their sh:t” because I didn’t want to have to spend the next 3 days, listening to coke cans rolling around the foot-well, or have to put up with the smell of empty sandwich/takeaway wrappers.
Just I thought I would put it from a different view point
I had a truck assigned to me for the last 2 years, and I can show you round every single ■■■■, dent, and scratch, both internal and external, done by other drivers. We don’t use agency, but its the same thing, its someone who isn’t you, driving your truck (regardless of who “owns it”.
I can then show you the 2 things I did that damaged it, one was a thread pull on the cover on the bunk, the other was a blob of tar 3mm in diameter on the drivers seat, transferred from my ample derrier on a very hot day.
The 2 things I did, though minor, bugged the ■■■■ out of me, every single time I looked at them. The damage that others did, I started off mad, but soon realised it was inevitable, so everytime I went away, I it came back without another scratch, it was a bonus!
I have a truck assigned to me. I haven’t paid for it, I don’t pay for its upkeep, it has the Co’s name down the side of it, however, I treat it as if it’s mine bought with my money. I do however appreciate that it’s a tool to earn a living and I also appreciate that someone who is not me may drive it from time to time, but certain aspects of this ■■■■ me right off.
Friday afternoon I was asked to run in as early as I could Saturday morning as they were struggling to get a shunter. I duly arrived back at the yard just after 6am, did the usual fuel, wash etc, struggled to find a ■■■■■■■■■■■■ because of all the units parked on site, handed my keys in and jumped in a Terberg. At 0730 I spots Stanislav disappearing out of the gate in “my” unit . I then tore into the office to find out exactly what the obsession with sending trampers motors out (there are only 8 of us) and failed to receive a suitable answer. I’ve left it with my shop steward.
the maoster:
I have a truck assigned to me. I haven’t paid for it, I don’t pay for its upkeep, it has the Co’s name down the side of it, however, I treat it as if it’s mine bought with my money. I do however appreciate that it’s a tool to earn a living and I also appreciate that someone who is not me may drive it from time to time, but certain aspects of this ■■■■ me right off.
Friday afternoon I was asked to run in as early as I could Saturday morning as they were struggling to get a shunter. I duly arrived back at the yard just after 6am, did the usual fuel, wash etc, struggled to find a ■■■■■■■■■■■■ because of all the units parked on site, handed my keys in and jumped in a Terberg. At 0730 I spots Stanislav disappearing out of the gate in “my” unit . I then tore into the office to find out exactly what the obsession with sending trampers motors out (there are only 8 of us) and failed to receive a suitable answer. I’ve left it with my shop steward.
I’m with you all the way mate. We have a tractor unit that is used on day runs and several drivers use it. It was in the yard when i got back so why the agency lad hasn’t used that is beyond me. Maybe a 2nd driver is coming in later, who knows?
If I’d removed all my stuff then it would have taken a good hour and then another hour in the morning, so it wasn’t a viable option. I juts hope he respects that it’s where I live for 4 or 5 days and nights each week.
From tomorrow I’m out till Saturday. If I get in and it’s in a cr@p state then I’m going nowhere till I’ve got it back to how I like it. If it’s obvious that it’s been smoked in then I’m removing all the fabric furnishings and going to the launderette.
You wouldn’t walk into someones house and strike up a tab so why do it in another persons weekly home?
The lorry I drive is referred to as mine by the boss man. It’s not paid for by me but I treat it like it is.
I had a week holiday and came back to it parked like Ray Charles had parked the thing, 6 broken buckles on the trailer (trailer also ‘mine’), the curtain ripped and the side bars dented in. There were also 3 broken ratchets which is some pretty serious going. I took photographs and informed the boss man who hadn’t a clue about these, Mr Limp obviously going with the tried and tested agency method of ‘break everything, admit nothing’. The inside of the can was cleanish, so not the worst agency limping goonbag out there.
pierrot 14:
As an agency driver in the past, going to some of the companies I had the pleasure of working at, replacing their own drivers, I was very often a bit wary of what I may find when I opened the door of the regular driver’s wagon that used it day in day out. Quite a few times I would spend time clearing out “their sh:t” because I didn’t want to have to spend the next 3 days, listening to coke cans rolling around the foot-well, or have to put up with the smell of empty sandwich/takeaway wrappers.
Just I thought I would put it from a different view point
I get where you’re coming from but it all depends if it’s a regular driver who’s decided to leave his truck in that state or if it’s a truck that numerous people drive and nobody gives a monkey’s about it.
If it’s the latter then I’m in total agreement with you, if it’s the former then I’d have to wonder what gives you the right to temporarily go into another man or woman’s home and start tidying up?
Remember, as I said in my OP; I was once an agency driver and have been in some vehicles that would be too untidy for Stig of the dump.
Im an O/D so dont have that problem and am totally ocd with it, its always spotless and shining but what does bother me is when its in for maintenance, i got it back a few weeks ago after a service by the usual outfit in Spain also used by the company i sub for that have all their trucks done there so yes, always a fair deal but find dirty handprints all over the the inside door panel and a greasy steering wheel. Theyre usually extremely good but it was a new guy they had took on who obviously wasnt so careful…
I actually think this obsession with ones own designated vehicle my be a medical condition, it would need further investigation, but it does appear to bring out some irrational beliefs and thus behaviour in some.
pierrot 14:
As an agency driver in the past, going to some of the companies I had the pleasure of working at, replacing their own drivers, I was very often a bit wary of what I may find when I opened the door of the regular driver’s wagon that used it day in day out. Quite a few times I would spend time clearing out “their sh:t” because I didn’t want to have to spend the next 3 days, listening to coke cans rolling around the foot-well, or have to put up with the smell of empty sandwich/takeaway wrappers.
Just I thought I would put it from a different view point
I get where you’re coming from but it all depends if it’s a regular driver who’s decided to leave his truck in that state or if it’s a truck that numerous people drive and nobody gives a monkey’s about it.
If it’s the latter then I’m in total agreement with you, if it’s the former then I’d have to wonder what gives you the right to temporarily go into another man or woman’s home and start tidying up
Remember, as I said in my OP; I was once an agency driver and have been in some vehicles that would be too untidy for Stig of the dump.
Yeah I’ve been there, having the same unit from the day it arrived, looking after it, getting back on Saturday morning from a trip to Italy, feeling Blox’d, but still giving it a total wash and I mean total. Had rows during the week in the yard with “company” day drivers that have been in it and left all sorts of cr§p in the cab and they only had it for 8 hours or so. My comment was yes there are a lot of agency drivers that don’t give a t0ss about another drivers vehicle ( “HOME” if they are a tramper ), but there are loads of employed drivers who don’t give a 4X about the condition of THEIR cab and they are in it day in day out. I’ve jumped in a wagon and felt physically sick by the smell and it wasn’t as you say a spare motor, this was an allocated truck
AndrewG:
Im an O/D so dont have that problem and am totally ocd with it, its always spotless and shining but what does bother me is when its in for maintenance, i got it back a few weeks ago after a service by the usual outfit in Spain also used by the company i sub for that have all their trucks done there so yes, always a fair deal but find dirty handprints all over the the inside door panel and a greasy steering wheel. Theyre usually extremely good but it was a new guy they had took on who obviously wasnt so careful…
Even worse when you’re taken off your wagon and someone else is given it for whatever reason, thus you have to do/drive something worse. My boss has no work for himself today so he’s going to use mine (and have a nice easy day) whilst I have my internal organs blended up, driving our Isusu.
Funny really when people say they keep the motor clean etc
The number of times I have heard that from Drivers over the years when I was driving,it all depends on what standards an individual driver regards as clean and tidy.
I have been in motors that some Drivers classed as clean and tidy and to be honest they where sh–holes,if I had to use it permanent I would spend 2-3 hours cleaning it first.With all honesty when ever I was off Drivers Agency or Permanent used to say it was a pleasure to have “my” motor to drive.
The interior was cleaned polished and brushed out and with a very few exceptions was left the same for me when I started back.
goshow:
. So the sight of an agency bloke with a rollie in his gob doesn’t fill me with joy. I’ll not be a happy bunny if it stinks of smoke in the morning.
?
It is actually against the law to smoke in a shared company vehicle, from the government website :-
Fines and penalties
Businesses can be fined up to £2,500 if they don’t stop people smoking in the workplace or up to £1,000 if they don’t display ‘no smoking’ signs.
In Scotland, there is a fixed penalty fine of £200, which can go up to £2,500 if the fine isn’t paid.
Smoking in work vehicles
Smoking isn’t allowed in any work vehicle that more than one person uses, eg:
taxis
buses
vans
goods vehicles used by more than one driver
company cars used by more than one employee
A worker can smoke in a company car that only they use if their employer agrees.
Was my reply to one of Eddies telling me where he kept the cab polish and dusters.
‘Did you know you have a bald tyre on the drive axle?’ to a driver who had just spent ten minutes explaining how to drive and how much he loved his precious baby of a Volvo.
If it’s clean and tidy when I get in it, it’ll be clean and tidy when I leave it.
dreamcatchers aka dustcatchers, football flags, ‘keep on truckin’ badges, phone holders, frilly lacey hello kitty pelmets all go on the bunk to be replaced at the regular drivers convenience
lolipop:
Funny really when people say they keep the motor clean etc
The number of times I have heard that from Drivers over the years when I was driving,it all depends on what standards an individual driver regards as clean and tidy.
I have been in motors that some Drivers classed as clean and tidy and to be honest they where sh–holes,if I had to use it permanent I would spend 2-3 hours cleaning it first.With all honesty when ever I was off Drivers Agency or Permanent used to say it was a pleasure to have “my” motor to drive.
The interior was cleaned polished and brushed out and with a very few exceptions was left the same for me when I started back.
Some jobs a clean vehicle should be mandatory (food, retail etc) but a tipper is a different thing altogether. The blacktop boys invariably have cleaner motors in comparison to the muck shifters. Clean to me is a quick wipe with a cloth, making sure the windows are clean. A sweep out of the cab floor if needed and a check that there’s nothing stuck in the body.
Even less when driving plant.
goshow:
I’ve got nothing against agency drivers though, i was one for a short time a few years back.
So assuming that you didn’t do the stuff you’re worried about when you were on agency why do you think that this guy is going to? Could it be because you’ve got FSCC, the fulltimer superiority cockend complex?
As for full timers being saints, last night I decided to check the screenwash before I went out. Good job I did because the pump timed out twice filling it so it was well empty. There’s not been any agency in on nights for a week so that is probably why it ran out. Seems to be a similar situation with adblue as well and there’s a lot of the fulltimers who seem to forget how to use the truck wash on a Friday afternoon so you get a lovely wagon with mirrors you can’t see out of at this time of year.
att:
I actually think this obsession with ones own designated vehicle my be a medical condition, it would need further investigation, but it does appear to bring out some irrational beliefs and thus behaviour in some.
I’m a day man, which I appreciate is a different ball game, but I would always refuse an offer of an allocated unit for fear of developing this medical condition myself. The idea of it is nice, but in reality it’d just be something else to get ■■■■■■ off about, it’s bad enough having the same unit for a few days on the bounce and finding the night man’s undone your tidying up overnight.
Much less stressful having a different unit everyday and leaving it as you found it, or better.
The question is ,Do you go to a pub toilet and think someones used "my Corner"in the ■■■■ tray .
I worked with "Skilled "Cable tie fitters in the Jag who owned the cables .
Perhaps your destined to own your own truck
. I then tore into the office to find out exactly what the obsession with sending trampers motors out (there are only 8 of us) and failed to receive a suitable answer. I’ve left it with my shop steward.
