New job dilemma - which one

UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUMS THE UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUM (INTERACTIVE)
1

Animal feed deliveries to farms (range of vehicles) or superstore deliveries in an artic.

I have been doing the former for the past few weeks, and I still don’t know if I like or hate it some days, the shifts are long and quite intense. There is a danger from livestock and driving into a slurry pit by mistake, but perhaps the added danger makes you feel more alive?

I have been offered another job, that being delivering milk trolleys to major superstores. Early starts which suit me, but you have to go through the rigmarole of being a floater until you get your own run. Less hours per day, similar money per hour.

My wife is advising, ‘better the devil you know’. Financially we are ok. It’s rare to find fixed runs though, and I am looking for more predictability. Albeit I may have to wait a long time to get my own run.

I just don’t know what to do.

Any thoughts?

2

I’d go for the farm deliveries as there’s less bs, protocol and jobsworths.

3

Having your own run will eventually become boring going the same places day after day,get out of the farm work though before winter :smiley:
Personally I’d go for the supermarket work

4

Only you know the answer mate, people on here will argue 'till the cows come home (pun intended) which is better but the reality is it has to be yours and to a certain extent your other halfs decision.

Personally I’d find supermarket work somewhat akin to hell on earth, but on the other hand having half a tonne of something I’d rather be eating standing on my feet or ■■■■■■■■ on my overalls also to not be in my top ten ways to spend my day!

Good luck either way.

5

Make sure you make the right decision, because it’s no use crying over spilled milk afterwards…

6

axletramp:
I’d go for the farm deliveries as there’s less bs, protocol and jobsworths.

+1

I would rather wade through bs than be forced to listen to it.

7

Farm deliveries all day long would suit me down to the ground, in the countryside fresh air, the chance of maybe ending up working on a farm, working with animals, instead of working for animals, :grimacing: :grimacing: being your own boss for the day, the load gets there when it gets there, whats not to like ■■
or the milk run, sat in a wagon bored as hell knowing you’ve got the same bloody run next day… next day … next day :unamused: :unamused:

8

Personally I’d prefer the farm work, but I can see the attraction of the Supermarket work, with it’s regularity and fewer hours.

From my experience farmers can be a funny bunch to deal with, but normally ok when you get know them, but then there’s the jobsworth goods in staff who has been given a little bit of power, but still more than they can handle, and this awesome responsibility gores to their head.
How you’re treated by your employer, fellow workers and customers makes a difference to how you feel about going to work.
What do you know of working for the company doing the supermarket work, are they a decent employer?
Are your present employers a decent bunch who let you get on with the job, but support you when needed?

So although a few of us might give you something to think about, you’re the one that knows the jobs and what might suit you best.

9

Not even close. I’ve done both. Farm work. Hardest part of farm work is finding them!

10

Done the milk job for Unigate /Dairy Crest chasing your tail.
You wont have jumped up Managers who think they are gods gift to supermarkets nagging at you that if they dont have the milk in place ready for Joe Public they might go somewhere else.
Take the farm job.

11

cheersdrive:
Animal feed deliveries to farms (range of vehicles) or superstore deliveries in an artic.

I have been doing the former for the past few weeks, and I still don’t know if I like or hate it some days, the shifts are long and quite intense. There is a danger from livestock and driving into a slurry pit by mistake, but perhaps the added danger makes you feel more alive?

I have been offered another job, that being delivering milk trolleys to major superstores. Early starts which suit me, but you have to go through the rigmarole of being a floater until you get your own run. Less hours per day, similar money per hour.

My wife is advising, ‘better the devil you know’. Financially we are ok. It’s rare to find fixed runs though, and I am looking for more predictability. Albeit I may have to wait a long time to get my own run.

I just don’t know what to do.

Any thoughts?

I think you do know mate by the biased way you set out your choices. :bulb:

I personally hate early starts anymore, so I don’t do them, but if the money is better AND for shorter hours, I reckon that would compensate.

I do farm deliveries which are more varied I reckon.
Most farmers are easy going, no h&s or hi viz ■■■■■■■■ either to contend with.

As for the ‘‘danger’’ I’ve never had any probs with livestock as you say,… and have certainly never nearly came close to driving into a slurry pit. :open_mouth: :smiley:
The only potential "danger’’ is access for a 44 tonner, in to some more tighter farms, and being able to turn back around to get back out of the farm yard again.
So I always ring ahead for info before I get there. (although some farmers are a bit truth economical, and not up on space awareness :unamused: )

Despite all that I would rather do a month of farm deliveries than a week of supermarket work.

12

Thanks all for the replies.

I know its tough to compare as the two jobs are quite different. I have not had any problems so far finding places. I do sometimes have to nudge (with my body, not the lorry) a few cows out of the way so I can access the feed inlet pipe. I quite like the rally driving aspect, although I did shudder the other day at having to drive really close to a newly dug (and full) slurry pit to get to the feed bin. There are other hazards, for example power lines that stretch across the farm buildings, they are fine until the body is tipped, but then I am normally aware that they are close by. The farmers I have found to be generous of their time.

I will still be trying to analyse the pro and cons tomorrow, unless my wife kills me by then! I don’t want to miss an opportunity if it means a better work life balance, however I may just accept my lot and be happier for it in the long run.

13

cheersdrive:
Thanks all for the replies.

I know its tough to compare as the two jobs are quite different. I have not had any problems so far finding places. I do sometimes have to nudge (with my body, not the lorry) a few cows out of the way so I can access the feed inlet pipe. I quite like the rally driving aspect, although I did shudder the other day at having to drive really close to a newly dug (and full) slurry pit to get to the feed bin.

.

I see your point now about the livestock and slurry pit :smiley: . I deliver farm buildings and fabricarion materials, not feed, so I’m well away from the slurry pits. :smiley:

14

Delivering milk to supermarkets is a different job to actually working for them, or delivering to RDCs.

I have done a lot of supermarket deliveries and for the most part, the back door staff are fine - just people doing a fairly boring job like the rest of us. Add to that, you are mostly working in the dry and there is also the occasional bonus that some of them (the females as far as I am concerned, but whatever takes your fancy) are right crackers. Some of the larger ones would let me get a subsidised lunch in their canteens too, although that may have changed now. I used to see the milk guys in trucks painted to look like Friesians delivering and they seemed to get some kind of priority if there was a queue.

The thought of farm deliveries in the dark and peeing rain, or with a foot of snow on a narrow farm entrance with deep ditches both sides, would put me right off.

15

axletramp:
I’d go for the farm deliveries as there’s less bs, protocol and jobsworths.

Thats the one Id go for

16

relief/ cover/ pool/ floater the more you can do the more use you are in that role and the more likely those that can only manage to remember a couple of runs without throwing their toys out of the pram will get fixed runs before you, unless of course you are proficient at one of the worst runs that nobody else wants/ is willing to do making it a no brainer for it to be offered to you

Your age and health plays a part, no idea how physical playing with feed can be, but do know that trolleys full of milk that have to be pushed over uneven ground/ up slopes can be very wearing. Did it for a very short period 10/11 years ago, certainly wouldn’t consider it these days.

17

Two things I have never done, farm deliveries and car transporters. I would quite fancy either of those. I find supermarket work mind numbing

18

ANIMAL FEED ANIMAL FEED!

Never done it myself but have done lots of supermarket work and I’ll let you in on a secret - it is mostly mind-numbingly boring.

19

I’ve done milk deliveries to supermarkets for Muller, a lot of the Class 1 drivers who have their own runs have been there for donkeys years. It’s a routine you don’t really get anywhere else as a driver; you know what time your finishing everyday, where you can have your breaks, cadge a free brew etc. plus banter with the backdoor staff you get on first name terms with.

Some guys stay as floaters because they like the variety.

Not for everybody but a good job in my opinion if you don’t mind the silly start times & weekends.

20

I have been doing supermarket work for the last 6 months. Its all nights and its all weekends. The moneys great( as it should be for those shifts). It is just about the easiest job I have had since I stopped doing European work for TNT.

I hope I never have a “proper” driving job ever again.

BUT you have to be able to go in pick up your paper work and trailer do your deliveries hand in your paperwork and keys and go home. There is no real thought needed and the biggest problem you will ever have is ringing someone up to say " I have gone off route" because the motorway is closed.

I love it.