Has anybody out there told them to poke it with their helping to break down the load so you get away quicker ? Do they sulk and keep you waiting for hours if you refuse ?
Pretty much, yes. If you show willing and muck in, they normally let you go after 1 or 2 pallets, in my experience anyway.
Yeah I hear what your saying it’s that I’m off to Sittingbourne tomorrow which is a 4 hr drive and will prefer to put my feet whilst tipping that’s all but I don’t want them keeping me there all weekend.
Sittingbourne is the one I’ve most experience of, it’s up to you but I’ve always said I would help and I doubt they have ever kept me there more than 10 minutes before saying “Here, driver, give up your bit of paper”, which they then sign to say you can go. It seems to be an Attitude Test as much as anything.
Yeah you’re right I suppose, I’ll put me feet up after I’m tipped.
I encountered this the first time last week. The thing that bothered me is it wasn’t explained to me, and the phrase ‘Drop and drive’… what does it mean?
Basically, you don’t get your paperwork back. They check the load later and return it with a driver from the same firm arriving later. You may be given paperwork from a previous delivery. You are required to help break down mixed pallets.
Sittingbourne is not too bad. If you break down any more than 3 or 4 pallets though then say something as sometimes they will quite happily let you carry on.
Harry Monk:
Sittingbourne is the one I’ve most experience of, it’s up to you but I’ve always said I would help and I doubt they have ever kept me there more than 10 minutes before saying “Here, driver, give up your bit of paper”, which they then .sign to say you can go. It seems to be an Attitude Test as much as anything.
Spot on Harry ,sittingbourne is about the best,but Wakefield to be avoided.never any problem sitting in your cab at acc-co-op,Thurrock ,lea green,& did Andover last week a pleasant change
The attitude sort of works both ways though,as once I was in Wakefield and the guy was a right grumpy sod with a huge attitude problem so I told him to poke it up his arse,told me I would have to wait,not a problem so got on the bunk and had a kip.
3hrs 30mins later I was on my way. 
Just parked outside cos my time was up.Saved me doing anything else that day. 
I don’t get it though, they’ve drivers faffing about in the warehouse getting in their own blokes way, what if someone clouts you with MHE or you start thieving the stuff you or someone else has delivered? They ordered the stuff, here it is, end of, you want it on seperate pallets then request that and it’s cool + X % £.
I helped break down the load slowly untill I saw the bay door come down and then I was out of there before you could say drop n drive.
I went into the Droitwich chilled place a few years ago, and the girl behind the desk asked me if I was going in to help strip the load. I told her that I’m a driver not a warehouse man, and she said that XXXX drivers help to strip the load, to which I replied that I’m not an XXXX driver, but an agency driver, and while they are salaried, I’m paid by the hour, so take as long as you want.
The plus side was, I used their canteen as well.
Ken.
Quinny:
I went into the Droitwich chilled place a few years ago, and the girl behind the desk asked me if I was going in to help strip the load. I told her that I’m a driver not a warehouse man, and she said that XXXX drivers help to strip the load, to which I replied that I’m not an XXXX driver, but an agency driver, and while they are salaried, I’m paid by the hour, so take as long as you want.The plus side was, I used their canteen as well.
Ken.
And a nice little canteen it was too.