I think you both had a lucky escape… You so you don’t hurt yourself, and them so you don’t crash their vehicle 
sammym:
So - yesterday I was working for a new client to me.I got there and was paired up with their new driver. He was a lot older than me and had started the day before. He wanted me to show him how the auto box worked etc as he hadn’t driven for a while and only had driven manuals. No problem. We did the first job and he’d decided the job wasn’t for him. So we went back and he went home. Thing is this should really be a double manned job. You have to move overloaded cages into care home, pubs etc… And one person can’t physically move them sometimes*. I ended up having to break the cages down etc.
*This isn’t me being idle. We are not talking about moving a cage into aldi. It’s more like trying to pull one over kerbs or up gravel. It’s impossible.
I also ended up hurtning myself. Got to one drop and only place to park was on an incline. Took load securing bar off and one of the cages tried to escape. I grabbed it but it pulled my wrist. Not a big deal - but it was a reality check that it could be dangerous lone working with no back up.
Got back last night - and said that I wouldn’t drive tomorrow without a drivers mate. Explained why. The supervisor spoke to a manager and categorically promised me one. Got there this morning - no drivers mate. So I pointed out the promises and then told them I was going home. They were not impressed.
So given that I couldn’t work - because they failed in their duty of care, do the more experienced drivers think I should bill the company for 8 hours? They are telling agency I walked off - but I’ve explained this all to the agency who have taken my side (at least to me, maybe to client they are calling me all sorts).
You work for the agency, not the client. If the agency are backing you up, and you have text messages proving this, don’t worry.
Edit: In future, always ring the agency first before walking. They may be able to sort something, if not it covers your back.
I single handledly move 2-300kg drums all day everyday. Up stairs, down stairs, onto and off of 2ft high bunded crates, down gravel paths, muddy fields…
I do all this with a severe medical condition and my back held together with metal…
I also do this without moaning
Grow a pair and man up a bit.
yt03:
I think you both had a lucky escape… You so you don’t hurt yourself, and them so you don’t crash their vehicle
\ 
That genuinely cracked me up. I wish all the ■■■■ taking was as good as that.
Captain Caveman 76:
You work for the agency, not the client. If the agency are backing you up, and you have text messages proving this, don’t worry.Edit: In future, always ring the agency first before walking. They may be able to sort something, if not it covers your back.
Yeah - good idea I think. Agency are trying to get me an evening shift so it’s all good. I think they have treated me very well.
109LWB:
I single handledly move 2-300kg drums all day everyday. Up stairs, down stairs, onto and off of 2ft high bunded crates, down gravel paths, muddy fields…I do all this with a severe medical condition and my back held together with metal…
I also do this without moaningGrow a pair and man up a bit.
Massive respect for you.
However you either chose or have to do that. I neither chose to do that sort of work, or indeed have to do that sort of work. If I wanted to do the job and was complaining about it then fair enough - but I’d rather stick pins in my eyes that take on that sort of work. I’m a driver - not a skivvy.
Sammy, when you get the phone call from the agency, do they just give you the name and address of the client and you blindly go there thinking it’ll be easy? Or do they tell you before you go what the job entails?
If it’s the former, then why don’t you ask them what you will be doing at the said client?
That way if you get told " it’s just driving, opening curtains, all being done for you ", then go for it. If it’s a case of “you will be manhandling heavy cages to pubs, clubs, restaurants and OPH’s” then give it a miss. That way you haven’t wasted anybody’s time especially yours!!
Surely when you signed up with the agency you filled out a form detailing your qualifications, experience etc;, wasn’t there a section asking you what jobs you were willing to do and those that you would prefer not to do?
pierrot 14:
Sammy, when you get the phone call from the agency, do they just give you the name and address of the client and you blindly go there thinking it’ll be easy? Or do they tell you before you go what the job entails?
If it’s the former, then why don’t you ask them what you will be doing at the said client?
That way if you get told " it’s just driving, opening curtains, all being done for you ", then go for it. If it’s a case of “you will be manhandling heavy cages to pubs, clubs, restaurants and OPH’s” then give it a miss. That way you haven’t wasted anybody’s time especially yours!!
Surely when you signed up with the agency you filled out a form detailing your qualifications, experience etc;, wasn’t there a section asking you what jobs you were willing to do and those that you would prefer not to do?
Fair points. I do usually ask what the job involves - unless I’ve been to the customer before. And if I’m honest I’ll usually suddenly remember I have some sort of appointment if they mention food services etc. However I don’t ask questions if I’ve worked there before.
First time I was at this company went out in a little 7.5t. And I had a fantastic drivers mate with me. Lithuanian guy about my age. Was a rubbish job but working with him was a laugh so I didn’t mind going back. Was also only 4/5 drops with a drivers mate.
Yesterday I understood that they were out of options - as the drivers mate who I was meant to be with (the new employed driver) walked out. However I’d now stepped up to an 18t truck on my own, but had jumped to 10 drops. But I got on with it as it wasn’t their fault.
Which is why I made it abundantly clear I would not turn a wheel today without a drivers mate. And told them if this wasn’t possible to contact the agency for another driver. They assured me I’d have a drivers mate.
Now in terms of wasting peoples time - I feel like both my time and my diesel was wasted going there. They knew the score and obviously either forgot, or more likely thought I’d just take it out and crack on.
sammym:
pierrot 14:
Sammy, when you get the phone call from the agency, do they just give you the name and address of the client and you blindly go there thinking it’ll be easy? Or do they tell you before you go what the job entails?
If it’s the former, then why don’t you ask them what you will be doing at the said client?
That way if you get told " it’s just driving, opening curtains, all being done for you ", then go for it. If it’s a case of “you will be manhandling heavy cages to pubs, clubs, restaurants and OPH’s” then give it a miss. That way you haven’t wasted anybody’s time especially yours!!
Surely when you signed up with the agency you filled out a form detailing your qualifications, experience etc;, wasn’t there a section asking you what jobs you were willing to do and those that you would prefer not to do?Fair points. I do usually ask what the job involves - unless I’ve been to the customer before. And if I’m honest I’ll usually suddenly remember I have some sort of appointment if they mention food services etc. However I don’t ask questions if I’ve worked there before.
First time I was at this company went out in a little 7.5t. And I had a fantastic drivers mate with me. Lithuanian guy about my age. Was a rubbish job but working with him was a laugh so I didn’t mind going back. Was also only 4/5 drops with a drivers mate.
Yesterday I understood that they were out of options - as the drivers mate who I was meant to be with (the new employed driver) walked out. However I’d now stepped up to an 18t truck on my own, but had jumped to 10 drops. But I got on with it as it wasn’t their fault.
Which is why I made it abundantly clear I would not turn a wheel today without a drivers mate. And told them if this wasn’t possible to contact the agency for another driver. They assured me I’d have a drivers mate.
Now in terms of wasting peoples time - I feel like both my time and my diesel was wasted going there. They knew the score and obviously either forgot, or more likely thought I’d just take it out and crack on.
No, you set the precedent by doing it the first day. They broke the terms of the agreement by not sending a mate on the first day, but because you carried on regardless they assumed you’d do it again. And why wouldn’t they?
wouldnt last 5 mins at my place then. just crack on with it.
and yes i deliver overloaded cages up kerbs/gravel areas etc on my own, as do all other drivers at my place. its not about strength, its technique.
but imo yes you should still get paid, you turned up and they broke their “promise” so it was not the terms in which was set for you to work
Your lucky they don’t bill you for all the damage you do
Your turn go on make me laugh oh go on please I beg you lmao
When i did a stint on agencies, turned up at one place they didn’t have a unit available driver was delayed still out in it,I waited for around 2½ hrs
Then asked the company when this unit was going to be back because sat in their cold waiting room was doing my nut in, Got maybe another 1hr or so, i then made a decision and told them that unless it was available in the next 30mins i would be going home, and even if it was, that the 3hrs would be counted in my shift Time came unit didn’t told the guy in the office i was going home and left, still got paid the guaranteed 8hrs IMO it’s no different to when you turn up somewhere and are told that they don’t need you after waiting around for several hours
sammym:
mrginge:
sammym:
You have to move overloaded cages into care home, pubs etc… And one person can’t physically move them sometimes*. I ended up having to break the cages down etc.*This isn’t me being idle. We are not talking about moving a cage into aldi. It’s more like trying to pull one over kerbs or up gravel. It’s impossible.
That is what the sack truck is for.
sammym:
I also ended up hurtning myself. Got to one drop and only place to park was on an incline. Took load securing bar off and one of the cages tried to escape. I grabbed it but it pulled my wrist. Not a big deal - but it was a reality check that it could be dangerous lone working with no back up.The reality check is not parking with the back door’s facing down a hill, if you have to at least use the air suspension to compensate.
No sack truck provided. Just cages. Plus I’m not really sure I’d be up for all that lugging around even if there was one. I signed up to be a driver - not a gofer.
And I don’t know how to use air suspension like that. And I’m not sure if the truck even has it. I know I can raise the truck up and down, and always put it down as it seems safer. But I’m not sure you can adjust individual axles.
Can you explain to me how to use the air suspension like this - as it would be useful to know going forward? Also, do all trucks have this?
Now thats kind of scary, you did your walk around and dont know if the truck had air suspension or not!
I would therefore suggest you get a real driver and volounter for the mates position.
Try working for Iceland,you are expected to pull 2 cages onto a tailift from the back of the lorry which is icy,very heavy cages at times and they tend to slide sometimes when they hit the tailift because of the ice,then you are expected to help the guy taking them off and help him to the back door with them,then they leave you on your own to load the empties,not for me,+ i twisted my knee doing the job and was off for two weeks,others don’t mind but i reckon it’s a sxxt job
Don’t panic the company got him a drivers mate 
Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk
TiredAndEmotional:
This fella hasn’t managed to work out how to move trays of chicken with a sack barrow, impossible apparently.
dhl could not do it with lorrys
109LWB:
I single handledly move 2-300kg drums all day everyday. Up stairs, down stairs, onto and off of 2ft high bunded crates, down gravel paths, muddy fields…I do all this with a severe medical condition and my back held together with metal…
I also do this without moaningGrow a pair and man up a bit.
Bloody hell, that’s some work!
I’ve alre got a pair, they’re just far to small for that kind of work… I’d just find a different job!
109LWB:
I single handledly move 2-300kg drums all day everyday. Up stairs, down stairs, onto and off of 2ft high bunded crates, down gravel paths, muddy fields…I do all this with a severe medical condition and my back held together with metal…
I also do this without moaningGrow a pair and man up a bit.
I’ve got a handball job of 2136 sacks of mail tomorrow morning.
We can be heroes!
sammym:
mrginge:
sammym:
You have to move overloaded cages into care home, pubs etc… And one person can’t physically move them sometimes*. I ended up having to break the cages down etc.*This isn’t me being idle. We are not talking about moving a cage into aldi. It’s more like trying to pull one over kerbs or up gravel. It’s impossible.
That is what the sack truck is for.
sammym:
I also ended up hurtning myself. Got to one drop and only place to park was on an incline. Took load securing bar off and one of the cages tried to escape. I grabbed it but it pulled my wrist. Not a big deal - but it was a reality check that it could be dangerous lone working with no back up.The reality check is not parking with the back door’s facing down a hill, if you have to at least use the air suspension to compensate.
No sack truck provided. Just cages. Plus I’m not really sure I’d be up for all that lugging around even if there was one. I signed up to be a driver - not a gofer.
And I don’t know how to use air suspension like that. And I’m not sure if the truck even has it. I know I can raise the truck up and down, and always put it down as it seems safer. But I’m not sure you can adjust individual axles.
Can you explain to me how to use the air suspension like this - as it would be useful to know going forward? Also, do all trucks have this?
.
I’ve read that correct, and thought, well he is agency, then again maybe never been shown how to, by the driver trainer,
I did opposite the first time I drove a unit with spring suspension all round and asked another driver where the air suspension buttons were.