Has anyone got any info on the company? Can never get hold of the drivers to ask. Have been told they’re looking for drivers on a 4on/4off system.Would like to know what they’re like before applying.Thanks in advance.
I’ll tell you a story.
Once upon a time there used to be a haulier called Canvin International that ran out of abbatoirs in Bridlington and Cardington. They had a good fleet and people were happy to work for them. The job was nice and everyone was happy.
One day, they came into work to find that they’d been bought out by N.R.Evans. Slowly as time went on the job got worse. Corners were being cut. The vehicle maintenance went down the pan and a long line of VOR trailers started to appear at Cardington. Quite a number of the former Canvins drivers left. The traffic office staff at Cardington were slowly replaced by morons without a clue.
Jump forward a few years. One sunny evening, there was this agency driver from Driffield who went into Bridlington to do a night trunk run. He was looking forward to it as it was a job he used to do quite regularly and he’d not been for four years. He jumped into the wagon and headed off down to Cardington. On the way down, he noticed how the 2 year old FH12 seemed to be a bit of a shed even though it looked nice and shiny from the outside. It certainly didn’t seem to run as well as the 1,100,000km R reg MAN that he used to drive for them years previously.
When he got to Cardington though, he couldn’t believe what he saw. The office had gone and there was a pokey little hut the demoralised shunter sat in. Walking in, there was a momentary glint in the shunters eye as he recognised the agency driver from “the good old days”. They had a chat over a coffee and the shunter was telling of his impending retirement and how he couldn’t wait to get out. Back outside, the agency driver looked at the long line of abandoned trailers and what looked like abandoned units (although still in use) round the back and looking at the yard, he wondered why the environmental health hadn’t shut the site down. It had truly gone down the pan. He vowed never to buy any pork or lamb products from M&S, Tesco, Safeways and Asda.
He trundled back up the A1 to Bridlington with a heavy heart wondering how such a good outfit could have gone so wrong. To date, he’s not been back.
The end.
Conor,I’m so sorry to hear that. It’s a shame it has gone that way,I hope you’ve got something better now. Thanks for the message,I am however,stuck between a rock and a hard place,in that,given that I had a heart attack few companies aren’t prepared to take the risk,even though I have my licence back. Given the current climate and diminishing savings,I might go for it until something better comes along. Thanks again for the “heads up”. Best wishes,Matt. 
Never worked for them, but know a few who have - not generally impressed. They’re nearly always looking for drivers.
PM sent
Hexenhammer:
Conor,I’m so sorry to hear that. It’s a shame it has gone that way,I hope you’ve got something better now. Thanks for the message,I am however,stuck between a rock and a hard place,in that,given that I had a heart attack few companies aren’t prepared to take the risk,even though I have my licence back. Given the current climate and diminishing savings,I might go for it until something better comes along. Thanks again for the “heads up”. Best wishes,Matt.
Have you thought about trying S&K, can’t be that far from you.
have you tried TDW and Owens?? dont bother with John Raymond at the moment as we have just had several drivers laid off.
had a mate that worked for them for a month, he was paid monthly and they sent hm trailer changes to rugby truckstop every night. when he handed all his chits in after the third wee as he was told, the gaffer told him they didnt pay for parking. that was the day he handed his notice in and had a crate of chilled chicken portions out ofthe trailer to compensate for the parking 
What Gardun said. They’re always advertising locally; one of my mates did a few weeks for them couple of years ago, same thing about parking, also wage queries and generally being sold short.
Avoid.
One of our new guys came from there, and all of the above is true. But if you’re limited with your options for work, there’s no harm in trying it for a couple of weeks is there ?
Thanks to ALL who replied. Will try it out,if only for a few weeks,(got to pay the mortgage,somehow). If I get the job I’ll let you know how things are going. I’ll 'phone them on Monday and see what transpires. Have a good weekend.Matt
Best of luck Matt.
Hexenhammer:
Thanks to ALL who replied. Will try it out,if only for a few weeks,(got to pay the mortgage,somehow). If I get the job I’ll let you know how things are going. I’ll 'phone them on Monday and see what transpires. Have a good weekend.Matt
TBH, Matt, I’d do the same as you in your position. Just making you aware that the motors tend to be shiny but not the best and you’ll need a strong stomach for some of the places they send you to load. I hope you’re not too bothered by blood and seeing cows skulls as a lot of the work is out of abbatoirs with the jetwashes conveniently located to where all the waste comes out whilst the fuel pumps are inevitably where all the fluffy little lambs are held in pens before they go in for slaughter.
Oh, and do not under any circumstances use the toilets at Cardington. The place is staffed mostly by our Muslim friends who seem to have very little idea of sanitation or the fact what you do is supposed to go in the toilet, not all over it, and you flush the loo after use.
That description sounds a bit like Evans yard at Hilton Conor 
Conor:
One day, they came into work to find that they’d been bought out by N.R.Evans.
Sorry Conor, but as someone who not only lived 5 miles from the yard in question, but also had numerous friends work for them, but also my father.
What happened to Dawn Meats who owned them after Canvins and before N R Evans■■?
SWraith:
Conor:
One day, they came into work to find that they’d been bought out by N.R.Evans.Sorry Conor, but as someone who not only lived 5 miles from the yard in question, but also had numerous friends work for them, but also my father.
What happened to Dawn Meats who owned them after Canvins and before N R Evans■■?
Dawn meats have just opened a brand-new, state of the art factory in Cross Hands; most of the haulage is done by Evans.
Conor, I’m just glad I settled in Carmarthen and not Llanybydder; I come across some fairly ripe odours on farms, but nothing compared to Oriel Jones’ place on a hot day! Smells even worse now they’ve been taken over.
SWraith:
Conor:
One day, they came into work to find that they’d been bought out by N.R.Evans.Sorry Conor, but as someone who not only lived 5 miles from the yard in question, but also had numerous friends work for them, but also my father.
What happened to Dawn Meats who owned them after Canvins and before N R Evans■■?
They never did own them AFAIK. The wagons were in Dawn Foods livery but the paperwork was NR Evans. Not saying that’s 100% right as it could’ve been in the few years I didn’t go there but all the transport paperwork I ever remember filling in was Canvins and Evans.
Well myself and 4 others (1 being Hexenhammer) have just completed 2 days rather intensive training at N.R.Evans in Crosshands and i’ve got to admit im rather surprised (pleasantly that is) by the attention to detail of the training.
We covered the hours and driving rules and regs, tacho’s (the main emphasis being the Digital heads) and even watched videos on Fuel efficiency and also the Scania opticruise.
We had tests on our knowledge of the various rules and regs and also roadsigns.
We were supplied with starter packs including a 1st aid kit a folder a stapler a spare digi head roll of paper and various laminated A4 sheets with info about the job covering drivers hours, digi printouts and symbols, reefer operation and fault codes and even a mock up of a time sheet filled out the way they like for reference.
Also we were supplied with full P.P.E and uniform which comprised of a hardhat, hi viz vest, hi viz bomber jacket, safety boots(or £20 if you buy your own and show them the receipt) gloves, 2 pairs of blue combats, 3 polo shirts (mine are on order as they didn’t have my size) and a fleece jacket too. All apart from the hardhat, gloves and hi viz vest have the company name and logo and look rather smart i must say.
We were all taken on a field trip to our main customer (across the road ) just to familiarise ourselves and shown around a reefer trl (closest i’d ever been to one) and how that all worked also shown how to split couple (not that i didn’t know but its nice to know how a particular company likes it done)
So basically an informative and educational 2 days and also we had a good laugh too. And i must say that Paul the trainer was a top bloke and very helpful, patient and pleasent.
I know there have been some horror stories about this firm in the past but it appears that they have had a major kick up the arse at some point and it now appears to be commited to obiding by the letter of the law and training and informing new drivers to do the same.
Time will tell out there in the real world once my shift rota starts what they’re really like to work for but i’ve got to admit im more than happy with what i’ve seen so far and im actually looking forward to getting stuck in on Sunday.
Keep us informed Reef, I have been tempted in the past to apply to Evans, used to tip in Dawn Pack a few years back, in the old place and the new when in first opened.
Do they have a base north of the border ? Think one of our new guys said he ran hanging meat for them out of somewhere in Ayrshire. I could be wrong though.
Wayne:
Keep us informed Reef, I have been tempted in the past to apply to Evans, used to tip in Dawn Pack a few years back, in the old place and the new when in first opened.
Will do mate