I am indeed in a union who are like a chocolate teapot.The main point of my post was to question why a large company would introduce this policy at the same time as trying to reduce wages to minimum wage,a coincidence? Or am I cynical?
Minger:
I am indeed in a union who are like a chocolate teapot.The main point of my post was to question why a large company would introduce this policy at the same time as trying to reduce wages to minimum wage,a coincidence? Or am I cynical?
Doesn’t sound like a coincidence to me and you are obviously cynical for a reason Minger 
cav551:
Delete your name and address, add the Company’s O licence number (on the disc in the windscreen) and post the letter to DVSA enforcement or the Traffic Commissioner for your area.
That is an excellent suggestion.
Make sure you keep the original letter though, and any more evidence of pressure to work harder/faster that turns up, useful hand grenade should you ever have need of an industrial tribunal.
Funny isn’t it, looking at all the opinions here, a firm would say we are ALL being difficult and problem employees! 
Strange how it’s different when a firm chooses to be a problem… 
Sounds like a right load of ■■■■■■■■.
As a driver it’s my responsibility to move goods from A-B in the safest & most efficient, timely manner possible. I will work to delivery times to the best of my ability.
If I am taking longer to do the job than they think I should & thus arriving late at drops it is either because a) I have been delayed or b) haven’t been allowed enough time to complete the job. Neither of which are my problem. If it’s because I have been tossing the job off, it up to them to prove so otherwise they don’t have a leg to stand on.
The problem with this ‘scheme’ is that the target turnaround times/journey times generally take into account form, so the heroes who tear arse around and tip on breaks end up making the sensible ones look like they are crap at their job…
As for taking part loads back, refusing to wait because of a delay at an rdc (perish the thought) , that’s just people thinking you can act like f88888g rambo. Ringing up every few minutes to ask what to do about the hold up/traffic/accident delays etc, should really let 'em know what the f88k is going on in the real world, but you all have to do it.
If the company are giving you targets of 95% or above then they need to be giving you ongoing training on how to achieve said targets ( lol doubt it tho).
Yes it sounds ■■■■■■■■ but if they expect 95% then they should have a plan in place on how too reach targets. Bet they won’t tho because roads,traffic tipping points are unpredictable.
Management skills. Naw some office ■■■■ saying it’s always the drivers fault targets are not met.
Pondering upon what may be behind this diktat, it might be that the company ‘management’ does not know what is going on because their traffic office bods are too lazy to check on the tracker information. They are perhaps expecting drivers to phone in with progress reports - as has been hinted at in other replies.To some extent that is a fair enough request, but IMO there is a difference in the distraction level between receiving a cab phone call and having to make one. To make one and go through the hassle of getting through to the relevant person is distracting enough to require stopping briefly. Additionally once at an RDC the cab phone is useless if the driver is banned from the cab. Expecting the driver to use his personal mobile phone to report a delay in tipping is unacceptable. If the traffic office are that concerned that the scheduled departure time from an RDC has been exceeded, then the telephone is beside the right hand and at the other end of the line is the goods-in clerk of the RDC.
We get this style of management.
We are not allowed to deliver early no matter what unless it suits them (ie extras)
We were allowed to deliver late but now under no circumstances are we to deliver late.
I said this is stupid you cannot help being late.
I’m glad I’m leaving that place soon
They sound like a right bunch of Modern management team complete useless incompetent arse wipes.
I agree with a lot of what has been said on here, but looking at it I would be asking them how much control over how long to get tipped at an rdc do they think the driver actually has.
Are they stupid enough to think you can just go in there demanding, and say ‘‘My management team think you are taking too long, I need you to get your sct together pdq’’
Just imagine the reaction you would get.
■■■■ ends in suits, who know ■■■■ all about the job, but who are employed to run it…yet again.
And this is what happens when everythings dumbed down to a price, you get the big 4 logistics box ticking mentality across the board.
End up with ever more layers of fast breeding sharp suited fools who get given management style titles, who know the square root of bugger all about the real job.
I wouldn’t fancy their chances in court should it come to that.
How the hell can a driver be blamed for delays in tipping.
I bet the drivers start racing round like idiots too instead of questioning the scheme
Unless the company has tracking data that suggests some drivers are simply tossing the job of and it is those who they are actually targeting…
Or those drivers who don’t communicate delays to the office so they adjust the plan…
mac12:
Minger:
Mac12,the warning is a written one to say targets aren’t met and improvement required,my point being that times can only be a guide and not a given,and putting pressure to get somewhere in a loaded artic is not a good idea,we are not office bods and anything can cause delays on the roafSo when your time is up according to the computer ring the office and ask them if you should pull out with load still on. When they say to stay and unload put it on your paperwork, turn it all round onto the office staff get the other drivers to do the same and you will get no more letters
Plus one on this. Spot on.
If your sheet says depart at 11am and your not tipped, phone up and say do you want me to pull out and if they say no your to wait, then tell them to make sure they make a note on the system to say you’ve been instructed to not pull out on time. When you get back in to the office then check they’ve done it. If all drivers do that then they’ll soon get fed up and think of something else to entertain themselves!
This, as DonutUK says is just a way of getting those who toss the job off up to speed.
As a driver, if you keep the planners informed it isn’t your problem anymore?
Why drivers can’t keep in touch with the planners when there are delays is beyond me… that way everyone is happy…
- Are drivers getting to their delivery slots on time ?
- Are drivers not keeping in touch with the office when there are delays?
Maybe its not so unusual, as timed deliveries are of course important,. but if there are delays loading, call the office, if your stuck in traffic…call the office, if theres a delay in tipping…call the office, that way at least you are telling them its not your fault, and the ball is then in their court…dont wait until you arrive at the destination 2 hours late, then after waiting 2 hours to tip, then call them…call them every step of the way. We had a similar situation where i used to work…so it was a call when we left the loading point…another call when we arrived…and another when we were tipped…unless there was a delay of more than an hour…that way the office can make calls, and also keeps them up to date as to where you are. after all…its a two way system unless your told otherwise.
truckyboy:
- Are drivers getting to their delivery slots on time ?
- Are drivers not keeping in touch with the office when there are delays?
Maybe its not so unusual, as timed deliveries are of course important,. but if there are delays loading, call the office, if your stuck in traffic…call the office, if theres a delay in tipping…call the office, that way at least you are telling them its not your fault, and the ball is then in their court…dont wait until you arrive at the destination 2 hours late, then after waiting 2 hours to tip, then call them…call them every step of the way. We had a similar situation where i used to work…so it was a call when we left the loading point…another call when we arrived…and another when we were tipped…unless there was a delay of more than an hour…that way the office can make calls, and also keeps them up to date as to where you are. after all…its a two way system unless your told otherwise.
Spot on. Most orifice bods only ever drive on a Motorway to get to the airport once or twice a year. They have no idea what they’re usually like. Plus they’ve probably never had to do a trunk run in a truck. Keep them informed and cover your own backside. No industry has trust in it’s employees anymore.
truckyboy:
- Are drivers getting to their delivery slots on time ?
- Are drivers not keeping in touch with the office when there are delays?
Maybe its not so unusual, as timed deliveries are of course important,. but if there are delays loading, call the office, if your stuck in traffic…call the office, if theres a delay in tipping…call the office, that way at least you are telling them its not your fault, and the ball is then in their court…dont wait until you arrive at the destination 2 hours late, then after waiting 2 hours to tip, then call them…call them every step of the way. We had a similar situation where i used to work…so it was a call when we left the loading point…another call when we arrived…and another when we were tipped…unless there was a delay of more than an hour…that way the office can make calls, and also keeps them up to date as to where you are. after all…its a two way system unless your told otherwise.
When I worked for VOS, if the truck was stopped for half an hour you would get an automatic txt on your dash computer saying ‘vertraging?’ (delay?) so you would answer and explain, and have to give an update every 30 to 45 mins…one of the many reasons I jacked
robroy:
truckyboy:
- Are drivers getting to their delivery slots on time ?
- Are drivers not keeping in touch with the office when there are delays?
Maybe its not so unusual, as timed deliveries are of course important,. but if there are delays loading, call the office, if your stuck in traffic…call the office, if theres a delay in tipping…call the office, that way at least you are telling them its not your fault, and the ball is then in their court…dont wait until you arrive at the destination 2 hours late, then after waiting 2 hours to tip, then call them…call them every step of the way. We had a similar situation where i used to work…so it was a call when we left the loading point…another call when we arrived…and another when we were tipped…unless there was a delay of more than an hour…that way the office can make calls, and also keeps them up to date as to where you are. after all…its a two way system unless your told otherwise.
When I worked for VOS, if the truck was stopped for half an hour you would get an automatic txt on your dash computer saying ‘vertraging?’ (delay?) so you would answer and explain, and have to give an update every 30 to 45 mins…one of the many reasons I jacked
Because the office expected you to keep them informed of your delay so they could amend their planning and possibly advise subsequent customers that you might be delayed?
How unreasonable of them.