Saying "No" to RDC security

UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUMS THE UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUM (INTERACTIVE)
81

I find the best way at RDC`s is to carry a few spare empty bags…Tesco…Asda…Sainsburys…then whatever site your delivering to…make sure that bag is on show…drives them mad…ha ha

Seriously, Sainsbury sites have a policy that they are allowed to search, and drug test, I know because I was caught on one, I pulled up at the barrier when it was up, went to the gate house to book in, when I came out the ■■■■ had lowered the barrier, but I didn’t notice that the barrier was below my grille, i pulled away, and knock it off its mount ( quick release bolts ) so I politely put the barrier to one side, and was about to pull away, when all hell broke loose, security bods, their boss, and a manager was called…i wanted to get on a bay because I was due a 45 anyway, so after arguing with them, I told them I was taking my break at the gate house…i had to fill in accident forms, and take a alcohol test, the doctor had to travel from 100 miles away for that one but they kept telling me I had to take a DNA test which I refused, even my boss was informed, and he insisted, i still refused, security said I would not be allowed to move my truck or get in it on site until I agreed, but after a few arguments and me mentioning the DNA test which security had mentioned, it transpired that they had given me the wrong information, and that a doctor had been called to give me a urine test for drugs or alcohol…it did get resolved in the end but, they are allowed to test drivers on their sites for drugs or alcohol, don’t know if its random, but I had all that grief over a poxy barrier

82

truckyboy:
Seriously, Sainsbury sites have a policy that they are allowed to search, and drug test,

I was told that by someone who did some agency work there that a driver was drug-tested at a Sainsbury’s RDC because the rollers on the truck wash pulled his nearside mirror off. They didn’t have the facilities for some reason to check for alcohol so they told him he would have to drive to another RDC 60 miles away for an alcohol test. He said “I’m not doing that, I might be ■■■■■■■■ :stuck_out_tongue:

83

Having your cab searched at government or military premises is completely different to being searched at a distribution centre. For one, government buildings or military bases have to protect themselves against major threats, such as terrorism, prison escapes, smuggling, etc, or serious theft, such as at the Royal Mint.

Yes, distribution centres have to protect themselves against theft, and I’ve been to places where warehouse workers are searched going out, but vehicles are not, so it could be a slim possibility that a warehouse worker could slip a driver a few iPads or iPhones to hide them in their cab, and meet-up on the other side to sell them and share the profit. But, it would need to be at a very specific place, i.e a distribution centre with high-value items, with specific blindspots in their security, and specific, organised people carrying-out the theft, therefore, in general, the chance of this sort of theft happening is extremely unlikely.

Still, for some fat, middle-aged munter with their SIA licence that they got free in their box of cereal to demand that they search your cab, your home for the week, in the off-chance of finding a few bags of midget gems you don’t have the receipt for, I would find a waste of time and resources. If they have good reason to believe that a driver’s been on the thieve, call the police, the relevant authority, let them deal with it, don’t waste everybody’s time by treating them all like common criminals.

It’s like the “guilty until proven innocent” rhetoric, and you can draw parallels with the discussion a few weeks ago about breathalyser tests for drivers. If they have good reason to believe a driver’s been doing wrong, call the police, don’t search and breathalyse everyone in the hope of catching someone. Some would happily roll over and have their cab searched or be breathalysed before a shift to prove themselves a professional, after all “if you’re not doing anything wrong, then you’ve got nothing to hide”, but I on the other hand, believe that free will is what separates man from beast, and I will do a professional job of my own accord. Trust my professionalism, and I’ll respect you.

84

ha ha …trust you harry !

85

Born Idle:
I am (with my company’s blessing) going to get a small box and put in it a pair of latex gloves, a pair of coverall plastic shoe protectors, a latex hair net and a bottle of alcohol skin rub. The next time a security guard says he has the right to enter my cab I will accede as long as he cleans himself in front of me with the rub, and then dons the protective items. If he wishes to sit down on any surface within the cab, I will require him to provide his own paper cover for my seat or any other surface he comes into contact with.

I am also going to need him to sign (and print his name) a polite notice agreeing that he will not move, or interfere with anything that is not covered by his company’s insurance policy, or anything that is my personal property.

How prophetic is this 4 years later!!!

86

We do bits to prisons. Food for.prisoners.
Some places go though cab with fine tooth comb once more less ended up emptying my cab.
Others juts say usual stuff satnav mobile.phones etc.

Since.covid started they don’t go in your cab

Which is how it should.be

The stand.on the step have a quick look inside that’s it

These days no one should.be getting in your cab unless really

87

Harry Monk:

truckyboy:
Seriously, Sainsbury sites have a policy that they are allowed to search, and drug test,

I was told that by someone who did some agency work there that a driver was drug-tested at a Sainsbury’s RDC because the rollers on the truck wash pulled his nearside mirror off. They didn’t have the facilities for some reason to check for alcohol so they told him he would have to drive to another RDC 60 miles away for an alcohol test. He said “I’m not doing that, I might be ■■■■■■■■ :stuck_out_tongue:

As a former Sainsburys agency driver…

It was pretty common for blokes with ‘seniority’ (they were full time and had been there long enough to not be easily sacked - and usually had union backing) - to teach office people a lesson when they tried playing silly games.

Around Xmas time it wasn’t unusual to have a yard full of cages. Spin the trailer around might mean a few said cages moved. No damage. No harm no foul. But some back door staff took this as their chance to be powerful (most were sound but there were a few like this). The driver would then get a call from the office saying they needed to be D&A’d. Sainsbury’s would actually send someone out… All the Sainsburys DC’s have pool cars and people trained… So they’d never send a driver out to get it done, I’m not 100% sure about what you have heard. But it might be a couple of hours before that person got to the store.

The smart drivers would dutifully listen to the office idiot. And then explain they knew it was important. But simply refuse to move from the middle of the yard until tested. Blocking milk deliveries, bread deliveries, and other store deliveries. Hell in many stores you’d even get the whammy of stopping the home delivery vans if you did a decent job of blocking the yard. Office types ALWAYS backed down and said a D&A test was not needed.

I’m no fan of drink or drug drivers. But honest hard-working men and women shouldn’t be demeaned and treated like junkies - so I wholeheartedly applauded their stance. Ironically that Sainsbury’s site was probably the best driving job I ever had… The guys looked after each other. They included even the agency blokes and would do anything to help a driver. The grasses and the office gossips were treated with disdain… But I can honestly say I’d go back and work there tomorrow if I was in the right location.

88

Now I noticed I commented a few yrs back , and now I’m looking back at 40 yrs driving ( I’m on the verge at the moment of having to hand in my licence after a serious injury). As the years have past I have become a grumpy old git that will not put up with petty rules and people , I can’t remember if I posted this . I was hauling grain into a food processor and the pointy hat at the gate tried to get in the passenger door (I twas locked) and he demanded access to my cab , I said the trailer was sealed at the farm and that’s all he should worry about , well I’m banned if he can’t rummage through the cab , it was raining as well . I just said fine and pulled out of line and parked up down the road , informing my office . Well phone call 20 mins later from processor telling me to come back in all a big mistake , I told them pointy hat barred me , never saw the pointy hat again . For gods sake folks stand up to this ■■■■■■■■ james

89

We have a real minger of a driver an absolute pig . Going to a large site where a search is required for entry. The guard has walked around his truck with a mirror under the trailer etc walked up to and opened the passenger door climbed up and jumped down even faster standing there gagging. I pulled up guys standing there with water eyes telling me there’s a bag of crap and a bottle of pee sat on the passenger side floor

90

I’ve never come across one that has gone further than a half bothered look in the trailer doors in terms of searches.

Different to rules… I’ve had a few bark rules at me such as “do your hi viz up drive, its 360 for a reason” to which I normally ask what the reason is and get no real answer. But I’m too old for grief so just go along with it after I’ve made my point.

91

toonsy:
I’ve never come across one that has gone further than a half bothered look in the trailer doors in terms of searches.

Different to rules… I’ve had a few bark rules at me such as “do your hi viz up drive, its 360 for a reason” to which I normally ask what the reason is and get no real answer. But I’m too old for grief so just go along with it after I’ve made my point.

Apart from customs worse I’ve had is stood on top step but I always make it clear that’s as far as they are going before hand

92

Some of the RDC rules are just stupid.I had a right argument with one of the so called pointy shoes.The sign says only 2 drivers in waiting room.There were 4 there already.You have to unhook your trailer put a lock on the airline and hand in the keys .I queried that and all the muppets could not give me an answer.

93

A few years ago at West Ham I sat near an older bloke with Downs Syndrome and his carer who was much younger. It was ■■■■■■■ freezing and the old bill were filming supporters with video cameras (as it was against Cardiff or some other match that it sometimes kicked off in).

3 coppers stormed up the stairs and demanded that the bloke with Down took the scarf off that was around his face to keep the wind off.

His carer was pleading that it was his disabled uncle but of course they didn’t give a ■■■■. It nearly started a mini riot as everyone seemed to know the old boy who got really distressed.

‘If you’ve done nothing wrong you’ve got nothing to worry about’ didn’t seem to apply that day.

94

Whats with the stupid rule you have to close up your hi vis .If you cant see me in a hi viz then you should not be in the yard