DrewHughes:
Some interesting opinions, some of which il take with a pinch of salt.
Williams9881:
I got my license 6 years ago when i was 17, didnt use it until july last year though got a job with gba international and drove around europe for my first 7 months. Then for 8 weeks was in and out of diff jobs ab produce and nyk logistics both them jobs were with blue arrow and there the worst agency ive ever worked. Up at arla now doin dairy work mainly store deliveries to asda. Good money but no longer enjoy all the handballing empties seriously f me off! 16 months on though at 22 years old and on a nice wage things could be worse and i could in the dole que with my mates, long hours do my head in but im on hourly anyway so when they make me work a weekend ill just drag my feet .
I heard Arla take on new passers! You at the Ashby depot? I live near Coavlille and see the Arla lorries about quite regular! You’ve made it sound like a decent company to work for tbh!
Arla work is always available because it’s a PITA and no-one else wants to do it. Same with food distribution companies like Brakes, 3663 etc. As a newbie it’s good work to cut your teeth on but it can be pretty hard graft and frustrating. No doubt Switchlogic will be along in a minute to tell me I’m “clueless” about that as well and the work is every driver’s favourite kind to do…
What does PITA mean? Hard graft in what way?
Pain in the Arse. Hard graft trying to move very heavy cages of milk about that often have wonky or jammed wheels. Trying to find level ground to unload otherwise you either have 26 tonne of milk rolling towards you at a rapidly increasing rate of knots or you’re trying to pull half a tonne of wonky-wheeled cage uphill. Then you’ve got to balance it all on the small tail lift and lower it to the ground without it rolling away or falling off. Then once you’ve done all that and lost 1 stone in sweat you’ve got to load all the empty cages back on and secure them, then unstrap them all and move them all out of the way again when you get to your next delivery. Food service work (3663, Brakes) is much of the same, although you also have to deal with busy high streets, traffic wardens, pub and hotel staff with attitude issues that expect you to hump the stock up 18 flights of stairs and put it all away for them in the chillers and freezers. You get the idea I’m sure…
Oh Rob now I’m not lashing out at you I’m just challenging your assumptions about me. You think you know all about me yet in reality know very little. You seem to think I’ve spent my entire career at Virginia living in a lorry just because I do now. Your make massive incorrect assumptions. The chances are I’ve had more jobs than you. Virginia is my 19th or 20th job. That’s without mentioning all the different companies I worked for during several years on agency, while I had a house, a relationship, bills, dog, etc! You just need to read posts better. I’ve been stressed about my personal life in the past but that never overflowed into my job. As for generalisations, well your the king of them. Ironic post is ironic (did you get that off a 12 year old on a gaming forum). I love my life, all of it. I can make these comments as I’ve done very hard jobs and had massive commitments. Just because I don’t now doesn’t mean I can’t comment. If that were the case maybe you shouldn’t be here since you don’t drive trucks anymore. At least some of us still do. So stop picking on me, you make yourself look silly. Your better than that.
So anyway the point I was making be fore Rob jumped in and made an arse of himself is this job is as stressful or as chilled as you make it. I’ve done these hard jobs despite Rob telling me I haven’t. I’ve had big commitments. I can comment on this subject, I have a lot of experience of it. I’ve done Arla, Foodservice companies, parcels, as well as something Rob probably hasn’t which is run across Europe day and night non stop and you know what? I’ve never found the job stressful. Hard work sometimes yes but I didn’t get stressed. But then unlike Rob I’m generally laid back. My advice is know where your job begins and ends, your a driver, you drive. Problems are for planners to sort out. This job requires very little thinking. Drive from a to b to c to the best of your abilities and if your late, if you can’t make that drop before closing, then It’ll just have to get delivered some other time. No one holds a gun to your head forcing you to do this job. if you want 9 to 5 go elsewhere, if you want variety and can cope with the fact sometimes things go wrong and you’ll late home from time to time then this is a good enjoyable job,
The drivers who get stressed are the ones who think to much and try to second guess what the planners will do. Don’t, because half the time they don’t know themselves. Sit back, listen to the radio, drive on and enjoy.
switchlogic:
Oh Rob now I’m not lashing out at you I’m just challenging your assumptions about me. You think you know all about me yet in reality know very little. You seem to think I’ve spent my entire career at Virginia living in a lorry just because I do now.
I don’t “seem to think” any such thing. My comments are based on the present, not what you did years ago.
Your make massive incorrect assumptions. The chances are I’ve had more jobs than you. Virginia is my 19th or 20th job.
I will bet a very large amount of money that you are wrong.
That’s without mentioning all the different companies I worked for during several years on agency, while I had a house, a relationship, bills, dog, etc! You just need to read posts better. I’ve been stressed about my personal life in the past but that never overflowed into my job. As for generalisations, well your the king of them. Ironic post is ironic (did you get that off a 12 year old on a gaming forum).
I did as it happens and liked it so much that I decided to put it to good - and appropriate - use.
I love my life, all of it. I can make these comments as I’ve done very hard jobs and had massive commitments. Just because I don’t now doesn’t mean I can’t comment. If that were the case maybe you shouldn’t be here since you don’t drive trucks anymore. At least some of us still do.
Ironic post is ironic again. So you lash out at me for allegedly making incorrect statements about your life but yet here you are making a bunch of your own. Maybe it should be hypocritical post is hypocritical? I do not drive trucks for a living as my main source of income but I do as and when required if it doesn’t conflict with my primary line of work. I’ve done around 9 weeks LGV driving work thus far this year covering for holidays and sickness and in fact it’s looking likely that I’ll be out driving next week as it happens.
So stop picking on me, you make yourself look silly. Your better than that.
switchlogic:
So anyway the point I was making be fore Rob jumped in and made an arse of himself is this job is as stressful or as chilled as you make it. I’ve done these hard jobs despite Rob telling me I haven’t. I’ve had big commitments. I can comment on this subject, I have a lot of experience of it. I’ve done Arla, Foodservice companies, parcels, as well as something Rob probably hasn’t which is run across Europe day and night non stop and you know what? I’ve never found the job stressful. Hard work sometimes yes but I didn’t get stressed. But then unlike Rob I’m generally laid back. My advice is know where your job begins and ends, your a driver, you drive. Problems are for planners to sort out. This job requires very little thinking. Drive from a to b to c to the best of your abilities and if your late, if you can’t make that drop before closing, then It’ll just have to get delivered some other time. No one holds a gun to your head forcing you to do this job. if you want 9 to 5 go elsewhere, if you want variety and can cope with the fact sometimes things go wrong and you’ll late home from time to time then this is a good enjoyable job,
The drivers who get stressed are the ones who think to much and try to second guess what the planners will do. Don’t, because half the time they don’t know themselves. Sit back, listen to the radio, drive on and enjoy.
switchlogic:
I don’t look back fondly on the days of rushing around stressed out of my head trying to find a customer at 4.30 on a friday afternoon before they close for the weekend.
Rob basically most people on here think your an idiot. I was one of the few that didn’t. I actually had you down as being fairly intelligent. But the more you get into arguments with me the more clear it becomes you are not as half as intelligent as you seem to think you are. Your posts contain so many inaccuracies and bad information mostly because you simply still don’t read posts properly. You seem to have a massive chip on your shoulder and an axe to grind. I’m rapidly putting you into the Happy Keith/Carryfast category. Which is a shame as you can be good when you try. It’s just with me you never do and end up looking foolish. Shame really.
So basically your saying that because my experience of having commitments and a hard job is not recent then I can’t comment. From the man who hardly ever drives trucks and works 30 hours a week.
Just thought I’d pop that last bit in as an example of your poor addled mind. You’ve been on forums too long I think.
switchlogic:
Ah you know the old man is getting desperate when he trawls thousands of posts to find one that suits his argument. Poor old man.
Yeah, but the “poor old man” was right though!
I’ll tell you what, there’s some amount of ■■■■■■■■ written by you and the rest of your “laid back” pals on this thread!
Oh. My. God! Someone sticking up for Rob. Great stuff. Thought I’d never see that happen.
It’s got nothing to do with sticking up for anybody. And I hasten to add that he (Rob K) doesn’t need sticking up for.
There are a multitude of different types of driving jobs in this industry. There are a multitude of companies throughout the land who “do things their way” - legally and illegally. There are thousands of drivers within this industry - they’re not all like you (“generally laid back”), regardless of the kind of work they do.
For you or anyone else, to tell someone who’s not even got their licence yet that the jobs basically a doddle, is just laughable.
So I fancy driving a truck as I’ve always fancied it, I enjoy my own company and it would make a change for me always being rushed off my feet to just having a nice chilled out life. I don’t mind long hours and weekends as I’ve always always done it. But I would like some time at home as Im looking to start a family. Also I know wages have fell in recent years but Im not a greedy person, I just want to live comfortably but have a home life. Now I know your guna say trucking is long hours blah blah, I realise this but for me it wont be as long as being away from home for 8-9 months of year. A couple of nights out a week aint gunna phase me or the other half.
Total - but understandable - naivety.
My apologies if I appear rude, but get your licence first, then do the actual job before you start making silly assumptions.
switchlogic:
Rob basically most people on here think your an idiot. I was one of the few that didn’t. I actually had you down as being fairly intelligent. But the more you get into arguments with me the more clear it becomes you are not as half as intelligent as you seem to think you are. Your posts contain so many inaccuracies and bad information mostly because you simply still don’t read posts properly. You seem to have a massive chip on your shoulder and an axe to grind. I’m rapidly putting you into the Happy Keith/Carryfast category. Which is a shame as you can be good when you try. It’s just with me you never do and end up looking foolish. Shame really.
So basically your sang that because my experience of having commitments and a hard job is not recent then I can’t comment. From the man who hardly ever drives trucks and works 30 hours a week.
Just thought I’d pop that last bit in as an example of your poor addled mind. You’ve been on forums too long I think.
I never have and never will give a ■■■■ what you or anyone else “thinks” of me. That is your/their issue, not mine. If you open your eyes and take a look around the forums here you will see that the vast majority of members on this site with some intelligence generally agree with what I say. It would seem that you are not in that group.
The perceived issue you seem to think I possess in not being able to read posts is nothing more than a figment of your imagination, however it would make my life easier if one could finally learn the difference between “your” and “you’re”. Thankfully my level of English language comprehension is at such a level where it does not cause me a problem, but I do feel for others that are also on the receiving end of your “learn to read posts properly” accusations…
I really should consider a new career in mind reading actually. I could’ve nearly predicted your post above word for word as it follows the same pattern as many other members on here :
Make stupid comment or ridiculous sweeping generalisation
Rob: sees it and challenges it with a well reasoned response including facts and sources
Hmm, that’s quite a good reply actually, but GODDAMNIT! RobK has challenged one of my posts in his usual blunt and to-the-point fashion and I can’t have that!!! Add some additional stuff to try and back up my argument but it’s pretty weak… fingers crossed!!!
Rob: sees it and further quoshes the argument with more facts and evidence
OMG!!! I’m out of ideas, he’s got me!!! What now■■? I know!! I’ll call him a load of names and write a load of insults because I’m ■■■■■■ off and angry now!!! “Rob K you’re an idiot/[zb]” etc etc
Rob: …
GRRRR!!! He’s not biting, damnit! Time to get all my forum pals to write he’s a [zb] too. Yay that’ll work
Rob: …
On rare occasions there are those capable of constructive debate that will mutually agree to disagree with me if we are unable to find common ground, but the majority usually resort to insults.
If people don’t want their ill thought out or blatantly wrong comments challenged then they should think twice before writing them…
Cammack:
Hi all. I’ve been driving 10 months now, got my artic license doing bulk tipper work.
I used to work with BMW, shop floor manager in a factory running an area. Basically I got fed of the idiots and decided with help from a mate (offered me a job) so I’m now driving!
So far I love it, easy work, decent pay, every now and get you get an awkward a hole, or a dodgy tip but all in all, the radio keeps me company!
So… If you fancy it then give it a go. Having the license is also very handy as before long I anticipate a shortage of drivers die to grandfather law now not in effect and older drivers not interested in driver cpc
Don’t hold your breath on that score. The gaffers will just import some more migrants. Whilst we’re in the EU the working man can only look forward to a regular application of vaseline!
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WTF This is a