Just ask the ODs in Bankfield at Clitheroe about Laughmyarsetarmac!!! One load a day if their lucky,weigh bridge men holding trucks in the yard JUST 
in case some work comes on, then if a truck manages to stray out of the area 
think VERY VERY hard before signing up 
3k last month on of the ODs turned over BEFORE fuel HP on the truck etc etc. and oooops forgot he didn’t, draw a wage that month so that’s £00:00 per hour
tarmactipper:
Just ask the ODs in Bankfield at Clitheroe about Laughmyarsetarmac!!! One load a day if their lucky,weigh bridge men holding trucks in the yard JUST
Must be very different to Mountsorrel up there then
To be honest, the subbies moving aggregates from the quarries are on a far better screw than the franchised hauliers. They may be on longer payment terms (normally 90 days, instead of 30 for franchisees), but they have the option of going elsewhere when it’s quiet, or even (perish the thought) have a network to source local backloads.
If you want to do this work, seriously consider doing it as a proper subbie!! 
tarmactipper:
Just ask the ODs in Bankfield at Clitheroe about Laughmyarsetarmac!!! One load a day if their lucky,weigh bridge men holding trucks in the yard JUST
For those of you thinking of going into this venture just have a look at “for the young ones” thread on this forum…
Your thoughts■■?
Glad I started this thread, had a lot of info and some messages which have all helped! Current thought is get a job in trucking then go from there instead of jumping into a potential long term contracted job with little earnings and high outgoings!
Still the guy I was talking to said he was earning good money, I’ll take his word for it for now til I know more about the industry!
Thanks for the advice people!
IME the subbies and OD that brag about money are not earning the most but stick loads of cral on their trucks.
Those Breedon drivers may look a bit down but not when they get bank balance.
As with any business, it’s not what you know it’s who you know. Many years ago I drove for a franchisee and he eventually gave up simply because there were others who always got the cream work and he just ended up with the dregs. As everyone is saying, do your homework…
tallyman:
As with any business, it’s not what you know it’s who you know. Many years ago I drove for a franchisee and he eventually gave up simply because there were others who always got the cream work and he just ended up with the dregs. As everyone is saying, do your homework…
I had a mixer on contract to Tarmac many years ago, (90s) it was a nightmare. I don’t suppose it will have improved. Think very carefully, you are committing yourself to a very one-sided contract for a big chunk of your working life. Good luck. Regards Kev.
tallyman:
As with any business, it’s not what you know it’s who you know. Many years ago I drove for a franchisee and he eventually gave up simply because there were others who always got the cream work and he just ended up with the dregs. As everyone is saying, do your homework…
This post has a lot of substance. Ive been an O/D for 20+ years and could write a book on the subject. Ive been lucky, picked the right work and have made a profit every year ive been in business and the current work have subbing for a company in Spain has been the best of the lot, workwise and pay. However ive known dozens over the years who have jacked in owing thousands and a couple losing their homes as well. Do intense research of your own (do not listen to heresay), think long and hard any loan/PCP youre thinking of taking out, maintenance/tyres/ general consumables/ insurances ect before committing…
fuse:
Those Breedon drivers may look a bit down but not when they get bank balance.
Breedons are the one big firm I’ve heard good stuff about. I’ve read that they help new ODs source a decent used truck and from what I’ve seen, they’re all nice and tidy.
Muckaway:
In Trucking last year they featured Breedons who used those swap bodies for tipper and mixer work and it mentioned something like them being little used.
Bear in mind if they’re based on a Roro chassis the tare weight will be higher so the tipper will carry less tonnage and the mixer less volume.
I did a day’s tipping a couple of years ago for a company in Surrey that uses RORO chassis. The tipper was a Hino 32T, and its payload was just 12T! It hardly seemed worth it. I was doing runs up to a site in Reading and back down to a tip near Farnham. Of course, the truck gets other uses, but it seemed like an awful waste of energy.
IndigoJo:
I did a day’s tipping a couple of years ago for a company in Surrey that uses RORO chassis. The tipper was a Hino 32T, and its payload was just 12T! It hardly seemed worth it. I was doing runs up to a site in Reading and back down to a tip near Farnham. Of course, the truck gets other uses, but it seemed like an awful waste of energy.
We get work from a local builder who used to use us for small loads and 8w loads but had his muck away done by a skip firms’ roros. They use our grab now when they realised we carry nearly as much on it and it’s a lot lot cheaper.
Yes Muckaway I think they sound a good company to those that work for them including the owner drivers.