I have read all of the answers to the ops post, all are quite sensible answers…however i do agree with the op that we are employed as drivers, not warehouse personnel…the first time i had a tip at Lidl ( crayford ) i sat in my truck for over an hour…till the boss phoned to ask how i was getting on…i told him they hadnt started yet…once he told me to offload it myself…i politely asked him…how much ? i agreed £30…
My point is : Companies advertise for Class 1 drivers…that is DRIVERS…and unless its explained to me that i would be required to unload myself at some places, they will be treated the same…one company i applied for told me i must not, under any circumstances get into the trailer…it was fridges, the staff would put in and take out the restraining bars…
Too many companies are on our backs, trying to speed us up.in order to create more work…too many are making drivers self tip, this is told to customers in order to get the work…at our expense…but sadly not al tell their drivers, as i for one would not self tip…if told at interview, or if advertised i wouldnt apply…each to their own i suppose… Lidl and Aldi are overtaking our own supermarkets…why…because they keep their overheads down, our RDC`s employ loaders/unloaders…those two do not.
Olog Hai:
dieseldog999:
which you didnt want r needed as your a driver,not a warehouse worker,so the question is…who do you sue?I can see why drivers do not want to unload their trailer, but using one of those electric pallet trucks is hardly a challenging exercise given how simple they are to use. I can also see the argument about liability if you use one and a pallet goes over, however.
As for the oft-posted ‘I am a lorry driver not a warehouse worker’ point, all of the contracts of employment I have ever seen include the wording ‘or any other reasonable task that the employer may require’, or similar. If a driver did refuse to use one repeatedly to the point that he or she got sacked, I doubt an employment tribunal would regard using an electric pallet truck to unload a trailer as an unreasonable instruction, for the simple reason that as long as you have been shown how to use one, it is not.
ok. 
what would happen " if said driver, took out the racking and killed a WAREHOUSE worker? " 
who’s liable to drive the DRIVERS lorry back 200 plus miles if the driver breaks his leg in the warehouse? They couldn’t! It’s all BS but your GAFFER gets paid an extra £5, for you to tip the load. 
WOW
truckyboy:
I have read all of the answers to the ops post, all are quite sensible answers…however i do agree with the op that we are employed as drivers, not warehouse personnel…the first time i had a tip at Lidl ( crayford ) i sat in my truck for over an hour…till the boss phoned to ask how i was getting on…i told him they hadnt started yet…once he told me to offload it myself…i politely asked him…how much ? i agreed £30…
My point is : Companies advertise for Class 1 drivers…that is DRIVERS…and unless its explained to me that i would be required to unload myself at some places, they will be treated the same…one company i applied for told me i must not, under any circumstances get into the trailer…it was fridges, the staff would put in and take out the restraining bars…
Too many companies are on our backs, trying to speed us up.in order to create more work…too many are making drivers self tip, this is told to customers in order to get the work…at our expense…but sadly not al tell their drivers, as i for one would not self tip…if told at interview, or if advertised i wouldnt apply…each to their own i suppose… Lidl and Aldi are overtaking our own supermarkets…why…because they keep their overheads down, our RDC`s employ loaders/unloaders…those two do not.
yes, correct!
I had the pleasure of doing an Aldi for the first time today. I wasn’t told what to do, I had to ask how things worked, but the guy was very kind when I told him I haven’t self-tipped before and he showed me the buttons. I particularly liked the little red ‘crawler’ button for the novice. 
I managed to damage a couple of pallets with the long forks, accidentally positioning the wheels on top of the wooden slats on the bottom of the pallets so they split apart when raised. Still, no real harm done and I improved after that.
I did note that the pump truck had a sticker on saying to ask for assistance/training if you don’t know how to use it. I suspect that is their legal get out clause - the onus is on you to assess your capability and seek help if you require it. Should you choose not to, and it turns out your self-assessment was wrong, you have only yourself to blame.
eagerbeaver:
I will have a look next time Switch.From memory though, all I do is report in and they tell me which door number. Then once I am docked on I go back in and swap my keys for a PPT key (long or short forks, I always go for the short). I am sure I don’t write ‘No’ on anything mate.
It’s over a year since I did a Lidl but all that I’ve done, even the ones I’ve done in Germany and Czech Republic have a sign in sheet where you put your name, reg, number of pallets and yes/no questions about safety boots and pallet trucks.
Its not about tipping the load we all do that if it gets you away quicker its the waiting for paper work, no way would I tip a load and then wait 3 or 4 hours for paper work, not even for 30 quid, rather sit all day and wait then I would not feel like a fool, they may be nice people there but the lidl and aldi of this world have no respect for drivers and there workings ■■■■ artists is what there are.
Lot of comment in this thread, much waiting room bull, lets set aside the rumour and look at the facts. a while ago We looked into this ( I think it was for CM)
Self tip:
Are you insured? - YES by your employer- he took on the load knowing it was self tip therefore takes on the insurance responsibilty for you
Are people around you insured if you make a mistake: Yes your employers public liability covers this
Can you use electric pump trucks?.
NO unless you have been trained, when you arrive you will be asked to sign that you have been trained to use an electric pump truck- if you sign yes and you haven’t YOU and your Boss are liable.
IF you haven’t been trained then you will get a manual pump truck
what is the RDC liability towards you unloading- Virtualy none - your boss took on the load and you agreed to carry it on your bosses conditions- Including self tip, it is up to your boss to ensure you have adequate training- legaly you have no where to go if you refuse to self tip if your boss has provided this. If he hasn’t then you may have a case, but it all depends on the weight of the goods and wether you have had any manual handling (pallet truck) training.
I personally don’t agree with self tip under these circumstances, the RDCs are saving money at the hauliers and drivers expense- but the LAW not hearsay says that it is legal and 90% of the responsibility is down the haulage company not the RDC.
These companies are not stupid and can afford better lawyers to make sure there are few loopholes than most hauliers.
Olog Hai:
dieseldog999:
which you didnt want r needed as your a driver,not a warehouse worker,so the question is…who do you sue?I can see why drivers do not want to unload their trailer, but using one of those electric pallet trucks is hardly a challenging exercise given how simple they are to use. I can also see the argument about liability if you use one and a pallet goes over, however.
As for the oft-posted ‘I am a lorry driver not a warehouse worker’ point, all of the contracts of employment I have ever seen include the wording ‘or any other reasonable task that the employer may require’, or similar. If a driver did refuse to use one repeatedly to the point that he or she got sacked, I doubt an employment tribunal would regard using an electric pallet truck to unload a trailer as an unreasonable instruction, for the simple reason that as long as you have been shown how to use one, it is not.
ok,so by that logic,then why dont you go into the back of a container and handball the load off then?
i just think lidl like to remind us that they dont take too kindly to losing the war…twice…
ive been to several places that theres nothing to sign and your just expected to belt about in a electric barrow to load or tip yourself…mulrines orange juice in ballybofey springs to mind,
Is this what they’ve been giving you at Lidl Diesel?
James the cat:
Is this what they’ve been giving you at Lidl Diesel?
Nice paint job. Lovely Lamborghini yellow, set off by the ■■■■■■■■■ stack on the back. Can I have one please? I`ll take a paycut if I can have one of them.
All the people who love this have no respect for themselves that’s why the job gets no respect when you have people tipping themselves without any choice AMATEUR’s there glad that someone will let them drive a truck, they will be sweeping the floor after they finish next,
It takes a full day to train and practice what you are taught then you get a cert, look it up, and this ball about the hauler been reckonable is a load of crap, you have a accident on there property THEY are reckonable you would not go on any site if they were not reckonable, and don’t mind this we are not reckonable on a notice its a load of bull, they are reckonable and any solicitor will tell you this.
I wonder what your approach would be if, as a “normal driver” working for a “normal transport company” you were allocated a trailer with a tail lift of a type that you’d never seen before, or a truck with a transmission or other controls that were completely new to you. Would you get on with the job and work it out for yourself, refuse to take it out/demand a different trailer/unit or simply ask to be shown how to operate it? Would you worry for a moment about who was going to sue/get sued if something went wrong?
Rikki-UK:
what is the RDC liability towards you unloading- Virtualy none - your boss took on the load and you agreed to carry it on your bosses conditions- Including self tip, it is up to your boss to ensure you have adequate training- legaly you have no where to go if you .
Fiction. If you have an industrial accident on site it will be investigated by the HSE if serious. If the site on which you’re on had any part to play in the accident such as sineage, lighting, faulty equipment, blocked pathways then they will be held responsible for their part by the HSE. They hold normal amounts of legal liability as a workplace for people carrying out trained or untrained duties.
Roymondo:
I wonder what your approach would be if, as a “normal driver” working for a “normal transport company” you were allocated a trailer with a tail lift of a type that you’d never seen before, or a truck with a transmission or other controls that were completely new to you. Would you get on with the job and work it out for yourself, refuse to take it out/demand a different trailer/unit or simply ask to be shown how to operate it? Would you worry for a moment about who was going to sue/get sued if something went wrong?
A different question read the post
nightline:
All the people who love this have no respect for themselves that’s why the job gets no respect when you have people tipping themselves without any choice AMATEUR’s there glad that someone will let them drive a truck, they will be sweeping the floor after they finish next,
It takes a full day to train and practice what you are taught then you get a cert, look it up, and this ball about the hauler been reckonable is a load of crap, you have a accident on there property THEY are reckonable you would not go on any site if they were not reckonable, and don’t mind this we are not reckonable on a notice its a load of bull, they are reckonable and any solicitor will tell you this.
‘Reckonable’ is that a legal term? 
Rest of post pretty standard Nightline though, lots of bs telling us we’re amateurs because we get the job done with minimum of fuss. Your idea of self respect is being a pain in the arse everywhere you go so you can convince yourself you’re getting one over ‘the man’. Seen your type in Every. Job. I’ve. Ever. Had…
nightline:
Roymondo:
I wonder what your approach would be if, as a “normal driver” working for a “normal transport company” you were allocated a trailer with a tail lift of a type that you’d never seen before, or a truck with a transmission or other controls that were completely new to you. Would you get on with the job and work it out for yourself, refuse to take it out/demand a different trailer/unit or simply ask to be shown how to operate it? Would you worry for a moment about who was going to sue/get sued if something went wrong?A different question read the post
It’s called “discussion” - Look it up if you like. In the context of the various questions posed by the OP (and his subsequent posts), I think it’s a reasonable comment.
switchlogic:
nightline:
All the people who love this have no respect for themselves that’s why the job gets no respect when you have people tipping themselves without any choice AMATEUR’s there glad that someone will let them drive a truck, they will be sweeping the floor after they finish next,
It takes a full day to train and practice what you are taught then you get a cert, look it up, and this ball about the hauler been reckonable is a load of crap, you have a accident on there property THEY are reckonable you would not go on any site if they were not reckonable, and don’t mind this we are not reckonable on a notice its a load of bull, they are reckonable and any solicitor will tell you this.‘Reckonable’ is that a legal term?
Rest of post pretty standard Nightline though, lots of bs telling us we’re amateurs because we get the job done with minimum of fuss. Your idea of self respect is being a pain in the arse everywhere you go so you can convince yourself you’re getting one over ‘the man’. Seen your type in Every. Job. I’ve. Ever. Had…
I like the way you picked out the people who have no respect for themselves and ignored the rest did I hit a vain there bub, by the way how many jobs have you had that might explain the way you answer a reply because you might be one of them who gets made a fool of themselves more than once a week, have you sweep the floor yet, when you do don’t forget to post it here so we can discuss it and debate it
Hmmmm, is English not your first language?
Edit: I managed to decipher at least one question so it’s only right I answer it. 21, I’ve had 21 jobs, without counting all the different companies during 3 years on agency. Tho only 2 jobs in last 10 years. If being paid large amounts of money to do 7/8 hours work a day driving a new FH16 is me being made a fool of then Christ the boss can make as big a fool of me as his likes!
switchlogic:
Hmmmm, is English not your first language?
Are we back to that again, when someone gets as good as given they resort to insults
nightline:
switchlogic:
Hmmmm, is English not your first language?Are we back to that again, when someone gets as good as given they resort to insults
To be fair your English is absolutely terrible. But hey, after some thought I deciphered some and answered, see above
switchlogic:
nightline:
switchlogic:
Hmmmm, is English not your first language?Are we back to that again, when someone gets as good as given they resort to insults
To be fair your English is absolutely terrible. But hey, after some thought I deciphered some and answered, see above
Well I’m not from England I’m from Ireland and I cant speak Irish so what I am typing is English so maybe you have the reading problem, I mean it looks fine to me are you sure your reading the right post, commas might be off and full stops but its plan English to me,
but saying that its mostly English over here where’s over there its a free for all so I don’t blame you getting confused about understanding English.