Limpets/Limpers

[james_the_cat]

Agency man starts a post crying he doesn’t like the Micky taking.
Agency man then tells us agency drivers have made a lifestyle choice
Agency man calls full timers paid people on benefits street
Agency man asserts agency drivers are far better as they have action man driving skills, can sit in alsorts of different automatic lorries and can put more than one address into a Tom Tom

High priest of all agency limp… Sorry men then comes on and insults somebody with dyslexia

In the middle Robroy and nightline start arguing about a helicopter

And the OP is wondering why he didn’t just get a love fest

[stanley_knife]

yorkielee:

dieseldog999:

Stanley Knife:

yorkielee:
I was on agency as I couldn’t get a full time job with a real wage working regular hours. Now finally I have n hopefully the agencies will all get closed down and abolish 0 hours contracts.

Hypocritical statement: It was okay for you to use an agency until you got a full time job but now you have one all agencies should be closed down so no-one else can follow the same path.

if they were closed down then there would only be real jobs on offer…job done.

+1 my mates work for a large high street company in there warehouse as flt drivers. There on £9.50 ish a hour and they have worked there over 10 years. New lads starting now are on agency and getting £7.50, after this 13 weeks thing you would expect that they get paid the same. They don’t as the agency gives them a contract at £7.50 so they never become a full timer. When I left school 15 years ago I could walk out one full time job on a Friday and start a new full time one on the Monday. Since the agency started and the eastern Europeions got free movement of people it’s all gone to pot.

My initial point was that you used an agency when you couldn’t get a full time job, but now believe all agencies should be closed down. That’s where I perceive the hypocrisy to be. I understand that a great deal of drivers would prefer a full time employed job, and will use agencies to fill in any time where they aren’t employed. But closing down all agencies will take all the slack out of the system. Who will the company use to fill the seat when a driver is on holiday, sick, or leaves before a new employee is found?

I agree that there are some appalling agencies with dire working practices who should be out of business. But why can’t the drivers who work for these agencies see that? As Robroy says why are drivers not prepared to tell agencies what they want and what they won’t do, but will allow the agency to dictate the terms to them? If drivers walked away from these bad agencies the agency would be no longer, but they don’t, they take the crap that these agencies give and go back for more.

yorkielee, the situation you describe with the FLT driver is where the government fails, but as they are in no rush to solve the problem it has to be assumed that they are happy with the situation. This kind of practice must end, but with a never ending supply of workers walking through the doors of agencies willing to screw the worker, more or less with the governments backing, I can’t see it ever ending.

My point is that agencies do perform a need in today’s working environment, but that unscrupulous agencies only survive because of the way they are used by workers and companies, with no desire to interfere by the government. A good agency is as needed as a good company, a bad agency is as unwanted as a bad company.

[juddian]

Stanley Knife, this situation you speak of won’t change because our economy is fast heading to a low wage one, its what our government wants, and massive immigration is the key to it.
Presumably the electorate, us that is, also want it because we keep voting turkey like for Christmas at general elections yet complaining bitterly that its Dec 25th again.

We’ve made a start by voting Brexit, that was the first battle in the war for this country which will be long and devious and twisted, if we allow our votes to be bought with our own money again by whichever liberal leftie scoundrel happens to want to hold the reins of power then we will lose the war and we’ll be punished severely for daring to not do as we were told in June.

[evil8beezle]

Juddian:
Stanley Knife, this situation you speak of won’t change because our economy is fast heading to a low wage one, its what our government wants, and massive immigration is the key to it.
Presumably the electorate, us that is, also want it because we keep voting turkey like for Christmas at general elections yet complaining bitterly that its Dec 25th again.

We’ve made a start by voting Brexit, that was the first battle in the war for this country which will be long and devious and twisted, if we allow our votes to be bought with our own money again by whichever liberal leftie scoundrel happens to want to hold the reins of power then we will lose the war and we’ll be punished severely for daring to not do as we were told in June.

Depressing but true mate!

We can whine and ■■■■■ as much as we like about agencies, but only the government, or rather us can force change. The real problem we have is that every political party seems to be as bad as each other, and only when all industries are suffering the effects of agencies and bollox zero hour contracts, will a real political party exist for us to vote for…

[mikey_d]

I fear this thread is partly down to me and my auto correct
I must apologise to all the limpets , I didn’t mean to mix all you lovely sea dwelling creatures up with the other bottom dwellers of the lorry driving world

[toby1234abc]

Sea dwelling monster, that is Vanessa Feltz a different thread about Radio Two and Steve Wright singing over and tunes and " Love the show Steve " .

[eagerbeaver]

" As for fear, nah, wrong again IM AFRAID " Quote of the thread from Bitchmeister!

Lol, good one mate

[robroy]

eagerbeaver:
" As for fear, nah, wrong again IM AFRAID " Quote of the thread from Bitchmeister!

Lol, good one mate

Well spotted mate full marks, I’m good aint I

Ok I admit it, I did not realise it and it was a pure accident

[nsmith1180]

James the cat:
Agency man calls full timers paid people on benefits street

No, Agency man called ONE full time the Transport equivalent of Benefits Street because the entire case for full time is how you got this out of the boss and that out of the boss. There was no argument about driver quality, no argument about quality of life and no apparent recognition of the fact that no matter how you chose to work, the relationship between boss and driver is just that, a relationship. It requires give and take, not just take.

That comment was aimed solely at you. It is you I find reprehensible, not the honest, hardworking full timers who are forced to associate with you.

Mikey D:
I fear this thread is partly down to me and my auto correct
I must apologise to all the limpets , I didn’t mean to mix all you lovely sea dwelling creatures up with the other bottom dwellers of the lorry driving world

On behalf of all sea dwelling truckers, apology accepted.

[james_the_cat]

nsmith1180:
No, Agency man called ONE full time the Transport equivalent of Benefits Street because the entire case for full time is how you got this out of the boss and that out of the boss.
.

In which line did I type this then nsmith?

Since when has alluding to decent pay and a pension been something that is akin to abuse and taking this and that off the boss? I suspect you wish the same, unless you carry a lidl bag for a hobby. So why do you think people work full time rather than agency? For the love? Am I unique then?

A sensitive flower posting about hurt little feelings over an industry ribbing. It doesn’t take someone more than a sensible discussion point to get you angry does it? Why am I not honest? How do you know I am not hard working? Is it because I don’t have to work as hard to drag my foot across the gravel car park? Or is it because I don’t have the added skill of finding D in an Iveco box the day after finding it in an FH?

Why am I reprehensible? I’ve not crapped on your gammy leg or stomped on your milk bottle glasses, or snapped your blue tooth headset in front of you?

[contraflow]

James the cat:
How do you know I am not hard working? Is it because I don’t have to work as hard to drag my foot across the gravel car park?

[mick81]

Here’s a thought, the limpers (sorry agency) who work apparently for the same firm I do, pull the same loads, back onto the same bays but when it comes to loading/unloading, they claim they are drivers only, not interested in doing a bit of graft, and they on better pay!! who’s the fool?? me or them, but at least I earn my coin and hold my head up high, lazy comes to mind. Sorry if that don’t sit well with the grafters on the agency but a lot of them I wouldn’t ■■■■ on if they were on fire

[james_the_cat]

Mick81:
Here’s a thought, the limpers (sorry agency) who work apparently for the same firm I do, pull the same loads, back onto the same bays but when it comes to loading/unloading, they claim they are drivers only, not interested in doing a bit of graft, and they on better pay!! who’s the fool?? me or them, but at least I earn my coin and hold my head up high, lazy comes to mind. Sorry if that don’t sit well with the grafters on the agency but a lot of them I wouldn’t ■■■■ on if they were on fire

Careful. Apparantly enjoying this as a full timer makes one reprehensible and work shy within the circles of the “clown footed - milk bottle goggled - slowly mobile gentleman’s evening club”

James the cat:
We have employment laws, for years terms and conditions have been argued over, we can still obtain employer pensions (under attack), we still have paid holiday in this country.

[yourhavingalarf]

Mick81:
but when it comes to loading/unloading, they claim they are drivers only, not interested in doing a bit of graft, and they on better pay!! who’s the fool?? me or them,

Mmmm…

Lemme think… less work more money or more work for less money?..mmmm…errrr…

Yep, you’re definately the fool.

well you did actually ask the question

[fatboy_slimslow]

SEDriver:
It is amazing how times have changed but the full timers are either too stupid to realise or just jealous which is why they resort to insults to make themselves feel better.

For the last 3 years, I have been able to pick and choose my work ALL YEAR ROUND. There appears to be no more “January Dead Period”.

Everywhere I go, I am on a lot more than the full timers, most of the cab happy full timers are either on job and knock or on stupid amounts of “Basic Hours”. I work for a very good rate, get time and a half after 8 or on Saturdays and Double Bubble Sundays.

If I want a week off over Christmas, I take it. I laughed when I saw posters up in a transport office stating “Holiday Ban from November to January - If not booked, you can’t have them”.

If I don’t want to start 9 hours after I finish, I don’t (and never do!). None of this “For the needs of the company BS”. I have seen drivers finishing a shift at midnight, debrief until half past and be told to come in at 9AM and they say “OK”!!! What the funk? I am in a position where I can tell them to go and [ZB] themselves.

If I don’t want to start at 0100 in the morning, I don’t. As above, too many people are told to come in at stupid times, and they do… because their contract says so.

If I want to work 3 days a week over the weekend, I can, and when I do, I still clear more than the full time trampers do that end up with 65+ hours on their time card.

If I am not happy with the truck, it get’s VOR’d, I can only assume the reason so many vehicles are not VOR’d is because the cab happy driver doesn’t want his baby off the road or doesn’t want to seem awkward. (EDIT) Also, of course, some drivers on job and knock would rather run with an illegal tyre because he isn’t getting paid for the 2 hours it would take to change it. Even if I was on a job rate, I would rather lose 2 hours of my life getting a tyre changed than risk a stop and fine/3pts or even worse, risk a serious accident.

I won’t take my break in a DC or while unloading, yet, many full timers do. I get deducted my break, I take it where and when I deem necessary.

I can jump into any truck on the road, and drive it. A lot of the full time fanny’s have to be inducted/“Familiarised” with the vehicle before they are allowed on the road with them. I spent 5 minutes laughing when a full timer was given a new Renault and couldn’t reverse it, I stopped laughing after 5 minutes and showed him how to engage reverse gear

I also did a few other qualifications too, including ADR, just to give me flexibility of choice between customers.

I cracked on and did my DCPC - in fact I am done until 2024 now, yet the full timers were saying “We aren’t doing that [zb]”. I increased my rates by £1 per hour when the DCPC came into force, I also noticed a number of the “Aged” drivers seem to have left the industry. I feel the DCPC was a good thing becuase it either proved the liars “We are not doing that” wrong and also reduced the number of “Freelance” drivers, hence the January quiet period has gone and the demand for drivers have gone up.

(To be continued)

what a load of bollox, limper!

[mick81]

Or just a more hardworking willing employee, you want the easy ride, good luck progressing pal

[fatboy_slimslow]

nsmith1180:

James the cat:

nsmith1180:

James the cat:
All this wanting to work hours you want any old time, self employed business is corrosive to working conditions in the longer term. Short sighted. I don’t have a great opinion of long term “lifestyle” limpers.

Why don’t you have a great opinion of those of us who don’t tie into the company line just for a quiet and easy life? Why are we the subject of your scorn because we are willing to take the more difficult route to achieve the work/life balance we want?

I explained why in my first sentence. Your misguided interpretation of not towing the company line is undermining the long term survival of working conditions.

We have employment laws, for years terms and conditions have been argued over, we can still obtain employer pensions (under attack), we still have paid holiday in this country. Yet some people see fit to bypass all this for their short term gain using IR35 dodging self employment, umbrella schemes and various other dubious methods of hiding what should be employment.

When we’re eventually forced into sitting on self employment counting our receipts and idly mulling over the latest HMRC letter demanding a return whilst waiting for the phone to ring, excuse me if I don’t buy the lifer limpers a pint. I probably won’t be able to afford it.

So let me get this straight. Somehow, by not competing with you for your nice secure job, I am making your job less secure? Perhaps I should go back into full time and show you up for what you are, you are the paid worker version of benefits street! In your arguments so far you have cited the way I put at risk your company pension and your 5.6 weeks Annual Leave. You have accused me, falsely I might add, of tax evasion.

You have shown that the only drive you possess comes from the beating heart of whatever fleet spec FM, R460, Premium or CF75 your loving boss deems happy to inflict on you. As for your claim that employer pensions are under attack, you are wrong. More people are being provided with employer pensions now because of auto-enrollment and if the defined benefit pensions are dying out, that is only because they are unsustainable. More people are now living longer which means that the money saved away to pay for pensions has to go further and it cant, thats why your cushy company pension is erroding, not because I have ambition.

On to the tax thing. If I had done 48 hours a week, (full time contract) for 48 weeks last year at £10 per hour on a full time contract I would have paid £2,779 in combined tax and NI payments. Instead I created £9k of VAT, which under the flat rate scheme I was required to pay £4.5k to the exchequer. I didn’t pay income tax last year because my earnings didn’t reach the threshold required. I didn’t need the money so I left it in the business. Because of asset purchases last year the government gave the company Corporation Tax relief which equaled the amount of tax owed.

Had I not had plans to buy assets in the future, to build a business and in time, give someone, almost like you but with a better attitude a full time job, then I would have taken a dividend, payed tax on that and contributed yet more to the exchequer than you could even hope of doing.

SEDriver - Thanks for the support but I don’t think your argument is going to carry much weight with this idiot. All he seems to care about is the fact that our choices put in jeopardy his god given right to ground rabbit droppings, disguised as coffee for 20p a cup.

you do realise limpers/ limpets started in 1983? everyone should have a full time job, with proper 40 hour weeks with 31/ 44 hours overtime at double time IN THE WEEK. double on sats and treble on sundays like it used to be at Kelloggs. Limpers are a drain on society/ dole dossers really topped up by working tax credits. Ironic that you’re EARNING THIS TAX, to pay for all your mates ( who sit at home NOT WORKING! ) going to the pub supping Stella all day and smoking weed at the front door. Limper

[contraflow]

Mick, you’re not doing a very good job of fighting the employed drivers corner.

[mick81]

Ok contraflow fight that good fight and show me how it’s done?

[contraflow]

Love to, but I’m busy trying to get rid of this bottle of gin. No work tomorrow you see… and not in an agency kind of way.