Spardo:
So what was all that business with the A1 depot of Stobbuts some years ago when the whole operation was nearly closed down by the ministry?
Salut, David.
I remember that same story David, Wasn’t it Geoffrey Sims who closed it down as one of his first jobs as TC for the Eastern area. Just after he had closed his own haulage company 
- All Irlam drivers were gay, or lots of them, at least.
So should this information be in the urban myths post or should it be taken as fact? 
Irlams Drivers do not have a sense of humour! Mate 
marcustandy:
David,
When you say the “A1 depot” I assume you mean near Stamford i.e. Woolfox Depot?
That is where I worked out of nearly every weekend and another six weeks or so during each year. That depot became surplus to requirements for one main reason only; the petfoods contract that was based at Wisbech moved to Hams Hall (Coventry area) and so Stobarts opened there to service that contract. Woolfox Depot was a main ‘staging post’ for Wisbech but once Wisbech was gone there was no need for Woolfox Depot.
There were also some Mirror Group contract motors based there but the whole thing was easily moved over to Crick. All the drivers were given first refusal for the vacancies created at the other depots and quite a few took Stobarts up on their offer. In all the time I was there, I never heard of any 'Ministry’involvement and it was quite a ‘close knit community’ where nothing stayed too secret for too long!
What I will say, while we’re kinda on the subject, is that during my time with both Irlams and Stobarts, I used to hear some absolute {zb} by way of rumours and driver-talk. I have also experienced the cold-shoulder attitude from other drivers, had abuse on the CB when on the road and like I already said, listened to some real crap & lies. I could never understand why other drivers directed their abuse etc at the Irlams/Stobarts drivers; it wasn’t they who had been undercutting the rates etc etc, they were just trying to feed the families and pay the wages. (Not me though, I was single then and just going through a phase!! LOL)
Some of the rumours I have heard over the years but have never seen any evidence of include:
-
Irlams & Stobarts were the same company; Irlam drivers were paid with Stobart wage slips.
-
Both always ran bent. Except what I said above.
-
All Irlam drivers were gay, or lots of them, at least.
-
And to be honest, lots of other crap that I can’t remember!!
Don’t get me wrong, there things that weren’t so good; Irlams didn’t pay parking; both were always on the two-way every 30 mins or less (although Stobarts weren’t so bad and never called you during the weekend!), wanting to know how you were getting on; regularly you’d ask to be home on a Friday but find yourself heading in the opposite direction on Friday tea-time; wages weren’t so good (£6 per hour flat rate) although there was always plenty of hours available and I didn’t mind waiting at an RDC for hours at a time - still getting paid for kipping; and other usual driver winges!! LOL
In summary, I’ve heard so much crap over the years about both companies that I usually ‘take it with a pinch of salt’. Some of the rumours I can personally vouch for as being total crap.
You can’t beat drivers chat for ‘imagination’, eh?? 
well said thanks, i work for stobarts on european work and DONT run bent, i also dont have to carry a bible, wear a tie,kiss the ground when william stobart walks past or any other absolute ■■■■ that some drivers believe 
I also regularly hear tales of how stobarts are the source of all evil, i keep looking for weapons of mass destruction in carlisle but havent found any yet
Had a drink/curry with an Irlam driver this week…
Runs out of Stoke and claims it’s about the best job he’s ever had, no rush, transport ASK if it can be done, breaks are not allowed to be taken on tip, 9 hours rests are rare and can be refused, if running out of time a fresh unit is sent pronto, and management wouldn’t dare ask him to do anything dodgy
But he did say he wouldn’t give most of the other Irlam drivers the time of day
as a new driver passed c1 may 18th this year ,glad i decided to read this topic . well i have just recently done some work for …well least said for now the better until i have been paid that is he was always on the phone saying where are you etc etc im on my 45 min break after driving for 4 hrs 30 … bloody hell you could have taken your break while you was tipping not me mate im working so that aint a break. well on my way to a job my hrs driving was running short so i phoned up and said no way can i make it on time im pulling over my 15 hrs working day was up just get to the tip take your tacho out i will sort your hrs etc etc was his reply i said can i have that in writing in front of me with your signature on the the paper ,how can i do that was his reply well then i still aint doing it som i got to a laybye got my kip he couldnt get me booked in for the next day so i came back home ,
did i do the right thing in my eyes yes if i had have done what he suggested it is my liscence not his that is taken into account he would have denied all knowledge of me tipping over my working hours …
you’ve done exactly the right thing, if this fella has planned a days work for the wagon that takes you up to or over your fifteen hour max then he shouldn’t be doing the job! as for taking breaks while tipping, theres a lot of firms who used to expect this as the norm and a lot of drivers that went along with it simply because they didn’t get paid while on a break but with the advent of the wtd and poa’s what would be the point?
“when you get to the tip take the tacho out” so your going to spend the night on the loading bay? if not moving the wagon with no chart in is so obviouse to someone who knows what they’re looking at it’s just asking for trouble.
Tramper:
:roll: Why are you all slagging O/D’s off? My drivers and I make a reasonable living from my vehicles and we don’t break the rules. It is very hard work, and I never envisage being rich, but we’re not struggling too badly. So, to those who have tried it and failed, or those who don’t have the nerve to give it a go, stop ripping into those of us who are out at the sharp end. Thanks
I presume you meant that I had tried and failed. I took a decision to put my talents into something else, it is everyones choice, to try and make a living. I write a lot of stuff on this forum, some of it may be true, some is designed to assist people, some to argue my point!
As the site has around 30.000 hits per month, (I Think) there are many people who come on here to learn about road transport, some have no idea, some are after reassurance, some are just after ideas.
I admire that your able to run legally with a reasonable living for you and your drivers, unfortunately not everyone does, and not everyone earns a reasonable living.
My posts on Trucknet UK are there for all to see, it is an open forum, The reality is that there is not enough profit from general haulage to make it worthwhile for the majority of people, who have families to feed and offer a stable upbringing with all the things that is normal for many families.
A lot of friends who run their own business constantly tell me that if they could get out they would, & settle for a secure job as an employee.
The other side of the coin!
Thanks
Wheel Nut:
Tramper:
:roll: Why are you all slagging O/D’s off? My drivers and I make a reasonable living from my vehicles and we don’t break the rules. It is very hard work, and I never envisage being rich, but we’re not struggling too badly. So, to those who have tried it and failed, or those who don’t have the nerve to give it a go, stop ripping into those of us who are out at the sharp end. Thanks
I presume you meant that I had tried and failed. I took a decision to put my talents into something else, it is everyones choice, to try and make a living. I write a lot of stuff on this forum, some of it may be true, some is designed to assist people, some to argue my point!
As the site has around 30.000 hits per month, (I Think) there are many people who come on here to learn about road transport, some have no idea, some are after reassurance, some are just after ideas.
I admire that your able to run legally with a reasonable living for you and your drivers, unfortunately not everyone does, and not everyone earns a reasonable living.
My posts on Trucknet UK are there for all to see, it is an open forum, The reality is that there is not enough profit from general haulage to make it worthwhile for the majority of people, who have families to feed and offer a stable upbringing with all the things that is normal for many families.
A lot of friends who run their own business constantly tell me that if they could get out they would, & settle for a secure job as an employee.
The other side of the coin!
Thanks
My statement was not aimed at any indiviual, the clue being in the first sentence! I am just sick of people running others down for doing what, if you read the amount of posts of “How do I become an O/D” and the like, a lot of peolpe aaspire to. The UK haulage industry woukld do well to see off some more of the chaff thats currently out there and retain some of the wheat. Too many trucks chasing too little work, not necessarily all O/D’s!