daveb0789:
When I drive coaches I get £60 a day. A day could be 12 hours. I also have to make sure the the vehicle is fuelled and cleaned in and out (by hand) Seatbelts fastened, rubbish cleared etc. I’m grateful for my job.
Coach work has always been a bit funny with the wages, 2hrs drive, 10hrs sat around, 2hrs drive, still equals a 14hr day though + cleaning and that bog
Tips used to make it up, but that was wavering and getting worse whilst I was a coach driver
I never worked as low as £60 per day, I was on £80 per day in my hand to do standby work, £60 per day would be an insult and I wouldn’t even carry a map for that money
Yes I drive Electrostars and overtime is plentiful but I keep the jobs separate. The coaching industry couldn’t survive without part timers like me who have a main job. The pay I get driving coaches is what all the other full time coach drivers get and they are happy enough. I’m guess I’m just trying to say there are people out there happy on a low basic wage.
lesleyanne:
Thanks for your comments. I did go on the defensive but now understand that there are a few genuine people on this site.
Our Drivers are happy working for us or they would leave. We have on average 6 calls a week from Class 1 Drivers asking for positions within the Company do you think they would call if we were that bad an Employer. I work 60 hours a week in the Office then work in Licensed premises in the evenings, not because the wages are bad but because I want to. There are too many people out there that want things handed to them on a plate, if people are willing to work then they will be rewarded. How many employers have paid for their Drivers Digi Cards or CPC Training not many I know. If Drivers are self employed they would have to pay for their Medicals. Maybe its my generation but I always use “Only” in all conversations whether it be “only” £5000 for a car for example. The trucks are mostly cherished number plates so definately not dating back to 1901. I think the age of the truck is irrelevant they are all paid for and maintained to the correct requirements. The cost of living against the wages earned are enough to see my drivers through they are not forced to stay here but do so because they enjoy the work and have self respect rather than Whinging and signing on the dole or working for Agencies that promise the earth then give you two days a week of work.
Two questions.
Can I ask you how many hours per week you work?
And, would you work the hours a driver does for the wages you are offering?
I’m based in the north and frankly, I find your hourly rate offensive. You obviously have found drivers with no balls and certainly no sense. Why would you work as a driver for such poor money - especially in the SE?! Your rates are a ■■■■ take and show how little respect you have for your drivers.
I’ll bet you daren’t tell us all what hourly rate the companies pay to you…
No company in there right mind would put on a forum what rates they get
They wouldn’t - I agree. If the drivers knew, the management would be lynched…
limeyphil:
am i the only person that understands what lesleyanne is saying without actually saying it?
Well I’m sure we are thinking along the same line’s and can understand why she is not giving the whole story but just wanted her to admit is was a poor rate. And I do understand the reasons why some employer’s do this coz I’ve worked with this system for 2.5 yrs and actually was earning a good wedge for 7.5 ton work.
Right ive been following this for a while,
Correct me if im wrong:
£6.20 x 60 hrs = £372
After tax about £290
Lesley ann if thats correct and your drivers take home around the £400 mark, that means over £100 in bonuses that the driver does not pay tax on .
So am i right in saying that if they didnt get the bonuses / night out etc that their wage would be around the £8-9 mark.
Sorry if i seem a bit thick in having to write all this out to get it straight in my head.
I can understand why people have jumped to put it down but to be honest guys look at the likes of some people on here who go on about tax credits bumping up the wages when they dont earn so much. There are a few that i know of who refuse to do anything extra as it will ruin their payments. I know that doesnt help a lot of people though, and certainly doesnt help me
Honestly i wouldnt work for it i was earning more as a waitress when i was in 6th form (without any tips) around 7-8 years ago.
Oh and just to cheer you all up im not on mega money now… I take home roughly the same as CVT drivers with no overtime rate no night out money and no bonuses but it’ll do me
If a company will not pay for breaks that the law say’s you must take the truck is not your’s while you are parked up say at a services so you go for a walk and leave it with the keys in and someone nicks it will it still be insured and will the company still employ you afterwards
ref paid breaks, my current employer does not pay me while im on a break, so while im on a break i wont leift a finger be it answer the phone, do paperwork, pull curtains etc.
And as to the above sums by oddzpop, i think ur right there, the bonuses etc make up the short fall and is better as u pay less tax, however what would happen during your/our holiday pays?!!
Two companies in my area work on the basis of a low basic, topped up with 'bonuses - usually ‘cash in hand’, but I can’t imagine a larger haulier like this one would be able to get away with putting too much, if any, outside of the books, and they are unlikely to admit to it on an open forum anyway.
I suspect the drivers that work there at the moment probably appreciate that the company is run as a family business and they are not just a number. Having worked for companies like that in the past, it does make up a lot for lower wages, and if the drivers are of the mindset that a 50/60 hour week is standard then looking at the bottom line on their payslip they can probably ignore the basic hourly rate. If they start losing drivers and cannot get people in, then they will have to increase the basic, but until then they will continue with the same offer and they will get drivers.
We do not expect our Drivers to do any work whilst they are on Break. A break is an essential part of the day where time is their own to do as they please. We do not pay any Cash in Hand all payments are strictly through the books. Our Drivers take pride in the Trucks and would never walk away from them leaving the keys in the ignition, only an idiot would do that and still expect to be insured/employed. They treat their Trucks that are allocated specifically to them on the commencement of employment, the same as they would their own private cars. I would like to add that none of our Drivers claim benefits and the majority own their own property. So all is not as bad as Dave tries to make out for them.
We have held two O Licenses for a very long time with no blemishes against our record. We have permits for all EU Countries unfortunately in this day and age with the flip flop brigade we do not use them. The Drivers do not sign their contracts in blood or saying till death us do part.
There is no disrepect to our Drivers from us the Company but the disrespect seems to be coming from some of their fellow Truckers who appear to be happy to defame our Drivers characters etc. Good luck to all who have high Wages and super dooper trucks stroll on and live the high life. I hope that you succeed the rest of your life with the standards that you have come to expect. BUT PLEASE LEAVE MY DRIVERS ALONE.
Rikki-UK:
I and others at RTM are watching this thread with a lot of interest- all credit to Lesly Anne who has had the bottle to come and defend their company stance.
However … I looked up on the job centre for Dover jobs- ( go see for yourself) and found that a driver trusted with a Truck+trailer+load= possibly in excess of £200K is paid less than a kitchen porter per hour, who is in charge of cleaning plates and not breaking many.
The hourly rate does not reflect in any way the responsibilty that drivers have - for the public, for safety & for productivity or how they are also responsible for keeping the operators “O” licence clean.
I live in the North East of England, if you think Dover is a struggle you havent seen nothing until you come up here. and that hourly wage would be an insult even here.- I pay my baby sitter more than that per hour !!!
If any decent driver has any experience and self respect - then they would not even pick the phone up for those hourly rates .
I admire Combe Valleys courage for coming here and stating their case, I doubt wether any true drivers will be taking up the job offer- in my mind its beyond a joke and bordering on the obscene.
Its a buyers market at the moment- and at this time the buyers can set the rate. I will tell you know that rate doesnt buy 30+ years experience- it gets you someone you have to nursemaid. It is offensive to those guys who are good at the job and take pride in what they do, and expect their employer to respect that in their renumeration- the rates quoted do not go anywhere near that- that shows a huge disrespect to the talent and abilities of your drivers-
How can a driver do as they please when having a break if he is in a layby he has to stay with the truck so should be paid.You are saying that you want them to look after your truck in there free time.
We do not expect our Drivers to babysit their trucks on a break our Vehicles are Insured. Break time whether in a Layby or Services is still their own time.
mac12:
How can a driver do as they please when having a break if he is in a layby he has to stay with the truck so should be paid.You are saying that you want them to look after your truck in there free time.
No offence taken but they are happy with their take home pay which is legitamely paid and no cash in hand. Overtime is paid after 8 hours at time and a half Sunday double time Saturday time and a half again, reload supplement, Nights out paid in line with H M R & C Guidelines.
They even have the benefit of making me Coffee when they return to base. We are a happy bunch and all enjoy the banter of day to day working in a nice atmosphere.
JJ192:
I meant no offence in what i asked just curious as to how money is “topped up” per week
mac12:
If a company will not pay for breaks that the law say’s you must take the truck is not your’s while you are parked up say at a services so you go for a walk and leave it with the keys in and someone nicks it will it still be insured and will the company still employ you afterwards
mac12:
How can a driver do as they please when having a break if he is in a layby he has to stay with the truck so should be paid.You are saying that you want them to look after your truck in there free time.
Dude, seriously, are you daft or just trying to make yourself look daft?
If i worked for a firm who says they will not pay me to have a break that the law say’s i must have then it’s up to them to look after there truck during that time,thats why i get paid from when i go in the yard to when i leave.The next thing will be firms saying they will not pay you because you are sat at some rdc for 4 hours waiting to unload or no night out money because you are only sleeping.
