I used to do Palletforce for Viamaster about a decade ago and it was a cushy little job with about 4-5 hours sleep opportunity. No-one gave a toss about straps back then, it was just window dressing and you only really bothered on pallets that looked a bit dodgy and might move. Then they opened the second hub across the road at Burton and it all went to crap. Drivers driving up and down the roads with the curtains wide open and all the pallets exposed because they couldn’t be arsed buttoning up again to drive 800 yards down the road 
and opportunity for sleep basically reduced to nothing after all the [zb]ing about. Then the icing on the cake was all the strapping ■■■■■■■■ which just added extra time on for nothing. Job became more hassle than it was worth and refused to work anywhere running curtain-siders after that. Life is much easier with a box trailer where the hardest part is opening the roller door and pressing a couple of buttons to raise and lower the deck. I’ll leave the curtain DD pallet work to all the heroes.
^^^ the only work I’ll do now or in the future is hard sided. Be it fridge, box van, container, tanker or tipper. CBA with all that load security malarkey. I understand the need for it obviously, but personally I’m oot.
These places would have no trouble at all getting drivers if they paid a decent hourly rate, that is all there is to it, very easy to solve the problem £14/£15 an hour you will have drivers banging on your door 
DCPCFML:
Pallet network class 2 work is what you do as a newbie to earn your stripes. Once you’ve got them you’re straight out of the door if you’ve any sense and into the better work, ie. where you don’t have collections to do or ■■■■ about collecting cages on store delivery work.
I’ve worked for Gregory’s for over twenty years now and we’ve had good and bad times, I went from class 2 to 1 and now back to 2 just because the work is more interesting and we’ve got electric pallet trucks.
The workload went mad for a few months but we’re on top of it now and the wages got put up by 12%, we just need some new drivers now to get the fleet numbers back up but I think everyone is in the same boat.
gavv8 can I ask wat grigiry depot yard u worked out from mayte ?
Why’ve you gone all spellcheck Toby? Are all your posts from today gonna resemble this? Please say no as it’s tedious mate.
Tarmaceater:
gavv8 can I ask wat grigiry depot yard u worked out from mayte ?
I work at Cullompton
Nice trailer wash at culumpton but no likey north tawton too tight 4 me
Tarmaceater:
Nice trailer wash at culumpton but no likey north tawton too tight 4 me
Yeah when it’s working 
The washes at NT are more set up for the milk tanker operation I think.
i didnt realise this is a national thing but i guess thinking about the obvious reasons for the problem given the start date of it it must be.
at my tard over a 1/3 of the drivers have either left or are on holliday due to the management telling them they have to use all thier holliday accruedover the last two years due to being furlowed by the end of the month or loose it. the remaining drivers are compleatly overwhellmed with less than 1/2 the pallets going out that are comming in and some customers that should get daily deliverys not getting any for over a week.
I think this is an issue in other sectors that have used the same source of cheap labour that has now dried up for various reasons.
cooper1203:
i didnt realise this is a national thing but i guess thinking about the obvious reasons for the problem given the start date of it it must be.at my tard over a 1/3 of the drivers have either left or are on holliday due to the management telling them they have to use all thier holliday accruedover the last two years due to being furlowed by the end of the month or loose it. the remaining drivers are compleatly overwhellmed with less than 1/2 the pallets going out that are comming in and some customers that should get daily deliverys not getting any for over a week.
I think this is an issue in other sectors that have used the same source of cheap labour that has now dried up for various reasons.
Anyone with a clean up to date license with experience is highly sought after now, drivers prepared to ■■■■ it up and stay put could do well out of this situation.
I know for myself I have a clean class one with 21 years experience, a recent medical and ADR so I’m felling pretty secure
Gavv8:
cooper1203:
i didnt realise this is a national thing but i guess thinking about the obvious reasons for the problem given the start date of it it must be.at my tard over a 1/3 of the drivers have either left or are on holliday due to the management telling them they have to use all thier holliday accruedover the last two years due to being furlowed by the end of the month or loose it. the remaining drivers are compleatly overwhellmed with less than 1/2 the pallets going out that are comming in and some customers that should get daily deliverys not getting any for over a week.
I think this is an issue in other sectors that have used the same source of cheap labour that has now dried up for various reasons.
Anyone with a clean up to date license with experience is highly sought after now, drivers prepared to ■■■■ it up and stay put could do well out of this situation.
I know for myself I have a clean class one with 21 years experience, a recent medical and ADR so I’m felling pretty secure
I`d say very secure, especially with your gaffer doing his level best to take over the pallet network business when you look at his latest move in Scotland, very very clever business on his part IMO 
Stanley Mitchell:
Gavv8:
cooper1203:
i didnt realise this is a national thing but i guess thinking about the obvious reasons for the problem given the start date of it it must be.at my tard over a 1/3 of the drivers have either left or are on holliday due to the management telling them they have to use all thier holliday accruedover the last two years due to being furlowed by the end of the month or loose it. the remaining drivers are compleatly overwhellmed with less than 1/2 the pallets going out that are comming in and some customers that should get daily deliverys not getting any for over a week.
I think this is an issue in other sectors that have used the same source of cheap labour that has now dried up for various reasons.
Anyone with a clean up to date license with experience is highly sought after now, drivers prepared to ■■■■ it up and stay put could do well out of this situation.
I know for myself I have a clean class one with 21 years experience, a recent medical and ADR so I’m felling pretty secureI`d say very secure, especially with your gaffer doing his level best to take over the pallet network business when you look at his latest move in Scotland, very very clever business on his part IMO
His middle management are doing their best to screw it up though
Gavv8:
Stanley Mitchell:
Gavv8:
cooper1203:
i didnt realise this is a national thing but i guess thinking about the obvious reasons for the problem given the start date of it it must be.at my tard over a 1/3 of the drivers have either left or are on holliday due to the management telling them they have to use all thier holliday accruedover the last two years due to being furlowed by the end of the month or loose it. the remaining drivers are compleatly overwhellmed with less than 1/2 the pallets going out that are comming in and some customers that should get daily deliverys not getting any for over a week.
I think this is an issue in other sectors that have used the same source of cheap labour that has now dried up for various reasons.
Anyone with a clean up to date license with experience is highly sought after now, drivers prepared to ■■■■ it up and stay put could do well out of this situation.
I know for myself I have a clean class one with 21 years experience, a recent medical and ADR so I’m felling pretty secureI`d say very secure, especially with your gaffer doing his level best to take over the pallet network business when you look at his latest move in Scotland, very very clever business on his part IMO
His middle management are doing their best to screw it up though
Ain`t that the truth EVERYWHERE 
How these clowns get where they are makes you wonder 
Ive got some knowledge on a rival outfit whos m/m are doing their best to sink the ship 
DCPCFML:
I used to do Palletforce for Viamaster about a decade ago and it was a cushy little job with about 4-5 hours sleep opportunity. No-one gave a toss about straps back then, it was just window dressing and you only really bothered on pallets that looked a bit dodgy and might move. Then they opened the second hub across the road at Burton and it all went to crap. Drivers driving up and down the roads with the curtains wide open and all the pallets exposed because they couldn’t be arsed buttoning up again to drive 800 yards down the road
Why try put people down and calling them heroes for doing a job that probably A: suits their lifestyle B: they like :and C or you obviously couldn’t handle. That type of work wouldn’t be for me for various reasons but they get my respect for doing it
Stanley Mitchell:
How these clowns get where they are makes you wonder
We had one who’s been through all the big corps in transport. They were next to useless, just did basically bugger all daily and turned the office into a ghost town feel. Now moved in again no doubt to do the same. Guessing they didn’t even need a reference as higher ups got taken by surprise when they gave notice.
As for the pallet networks, its just getting stupid now. 13H days are becoming norm on nights (no sleeping) which just results in more people leaving, making it worse and worse. Our lot are about to get a rude awakening letter laying out whats going on and if they don’t take notice (as expected) then bye bye. They lose their more experienced ops.
trevHCS:
Stanley Mitchell:
How these clowns get where they are makes you wonderWe had one who’s been through all the big corps in transport. They were next to useless, just did basically bugger all daily and turned the office into a ghost town feel. Now moved in again no doubt to do the same. Guessing they didn’t even need a reference as higher ups got taken by surprise when they gave notice.
As for the pallet networks, its just getting stupid now. 13H days are becoming norm on nights (no sleeping) which just results in more people leaving, making it worse and worse. Our lot are about to get a rude awakening letter laying out whats going on and if they don’t take notice (as expected) then bye bye. They lose their more experienced ops.
I went past the PalletForce gaff yesterday in all its glory and it got me thinking…how soon will it be before they start employing shunters to actually load the trailers, while you get the required rest ect ?
From an H&S perspective, Its got legs [IMO] 
Stanley Mitchell:
trevHCS:
Stanley Mitchell:
How these clowns get where they are makes you wonderWe had one who’s been through all the big corps in transport. They were next to useless, just did basically bugger all daily and turned the office into a ghost town feel. Now moved in again no doubt to do the same. Guessing they didn’t even need a reference as higher ups got taken by surprise when they gave notice.
As for the pallet networks, its just getting stupid now. 13H days are becoming norm on nights (no sleeping) which just results in more people leaving, making it worse and worse. Our lot are about to get a rude awakening letter laying out whats going on and if they don’t take notice (as expected) then bye bye. They lose their more experienced ops.
I went past the PalletForce gaff yesterday in all its glory and it got me thinking…how soon will it be before they start employing shunters to actually load the trailers, while you get the required rest ect ?
From an H&S perspective, Its got legs [IMO]
Being familiar with Palletforce operation, I don’t see how using shunters would make the operation any quicker. I can’t see the shunters unstrapping and restrapping the pallets - even having them open and close the curtains is unlikely. There’s also not enough space for everyone to drop off their trailer, not to mention the extra time it would take as the yard gets completely blocked by Bogdan taking 30 shunts to complete a simple reverse into a bay (happens regularly at TNT Lount). It’s surely quicker for the driver to sort out the curtains and straps and sit with it inside the shed whilst un/loading and then they are ready to move out the second they are finished to allow the next truck in 
DCPCFML:
Stanley Mitchell:
trevHCS:
Stanley Mitchell:
How these clowns get where they are makes you wonderWe had one who’s been through all the big corps in transport. They were next to useless, just did basically bugger all daily and turned the office into a ghost town feel. Now moved in again no doubt to do the same. Guessing they didn’t even need a reference as higher ups got taken by surprise when they gave notice.
As for the pallet networks, its just getting stupid now. 13H days are becoming norm on nights (no sleeping) which just results in more people leaving, making it worse and worse. Our lot are about to get a rude awakening letter laying out whats going on and if they don’t take notice (as expected) then bye bye. They lose their more experienced ops.
I went past the PalletForce gaff yesterday in all its glory and it got me thinking…how soon will it be before they start employing shunters to actually load the trailers, while you get the required rest ect ?
From an H&S perspective, Its got legs [IMO]
Being familiar with Palletforce operation, I don’t see how using shunters would make the operation any quicker. I can’t see the shunters unstrapping and restrapping the pallets - even having them open and close the curtains is unlikely. There’s also not enough space for everyone to drop off their trailer, not to mention the extra time it would take as the yard gets completely blocked by Bogdan taking 30 shunts to complete a simple reverse into a bay (happens regularly at TNT Lount). It’s surely quicker for the driver to sort out the curtains and straps and sit with it inside the shed whilst un/loading and then they are ready to move out the second they are finished to allow the next truck in
Its quicker to leave the driver doing what he is paid to do i agree, but most of the complaints are about the driver having to do more & more for his money and not getting a crafty kip in ect… 
blue estate:
From what I can gather from this thread is the pallet networks have tried to be like the parcel networks and it’s bitten them in the rear [emoji23][emoji23]as you can’t move and sort pallets as quick as parcelsNew pastures
You can’t play football with pallets either… 