So, job hunting came to a satisfactory conclusion and I’ll be handing my notice in today. Found the place quite by accident, I saw his trucks in a quiet little yard and popped in to ask the question. He grabbed a set of keys, told me to hook up that trailer and take him for a spin, which I did. We had a little natter on the way round and we seemed to like what each other said so when he offered me the job, I accepted.
So, I’ll be going from a (relatively small contract) large logistics provider to a small family run haulage firm. And I’m looking forward to it already! Being able to speak to the gaffer, non of these bullshine formal procedures yet everything still being done by the book, common sense day to day running. The list is endless. The next two weeks are going to drag by because I cant wait. Proper old school trucking.
Anyway, no real point to this post. Just wanted to tell someone.
Wait until you start to be asked to run bent, you end up running in every Saturday, you get done for not securing your load cos you didn’t have enough ratchet straps to do it, that annoying warning light on your dash is still there three weeks later and your missus is going mental at the amount of your own personal clothing you’re ruining at work and you’re off work with an injury because you hurt yourself doing something that the rose tinted halfwits out there refer to as the good old days.
I’ve spent the last 20 years living with the consequences of how we used to do it in the good old days of “proper old school trucking” and I’ve now got a permanent life restricting reminder of it until the day I die. Stuff working for small family companies. Done it in the past, never again. Much rather work for large companies that have better terms and conditions, decent fleet maintenance, provide workwear so I don’t have to knacker my own clothing and who demonstrate on a regular basis their belief that people don’t go to work to get made ill by their job, get injured or worse.
740MICK:
Well Done mate,i,m of the same thinking,much rather a small family run firm than a faceless logistics provider.
Same here \I know my boss’s name and he knows mine , also he knows how to drive and truck strap a load as he started 35 years ago with a Ford transit and trailer doing jobs big firms wouldn’t do , now has 40 trucks
Conor:
Wait until you start to be asked to run bent, you end up running in every Saturday, you get done for not securing your load cos you didn’t have enough ratchet straps to do it, that annoying warning light on your dash is still there three weeks later and your missus is going mental at the amount of your own personal clothing you’re ruining at work and you’re off work with an injury because you hurt yourself doing something that the rose tinted halfwits out there refer to as the good old days.
I’ve spent the last 20 years living with the consequences of how we used to do it in the good old days of “proper old school trucking” and I’ve now got a permanent life restricting reminder of it until the day I die. Stuff working for small family companies. Done it in the past, never again. Much rather work for large companies that have better terms and conditions, decent fleet maintenance, provide workwear so I don’t have to knacker my own clothing and who demonstrate on a regular basis their belief that people don’t go to work to get made ill by their job, get injured or worse.
Not all small firms are like that now , I have plenty of straps and our trailers have roof mounted 5t ratchet straps so I have at least 30 to do a load up
Conor:
Wait until you start to be asked to run bent, you end up running in every Saturday, you get done for not securing your load cos you didn’t have enough ratchet straps to do it, that annoying warning light on your dash is still there three weeks later and your missus is going mental at the amount of your own personal clothing you’re ruining at work and you’re off work with an injury because you hurt yourself doing something that the rose tinted halfwits out there refer to as the good old days.
I’ve spent the last 20 years living with the consequences of how we used to do it in the good old days of “proper old school trucking” and I’ve now got a permanent life restricting reminder of it until the day I die. Stuff working for small family companies. Done it in the past, never again. Much rather work for large companies that have better terms and conditions, decent fleet maintenance, provide workwear so I don’t have to knacker my own clothing and who demonstrate on a regular basis their belief that people don’t go to work to get made ill by their job, get injured or worse.
Do you know what Conor, your concerns are justified. In fact, they are very similar to what mine were. I remember full well the problems that you, and others, have/had with back injuries due to the job. In fact, that was one of the very things we discussed as he walked me round the yard (not you specifically, obviously, just health and safety in general). His point of view was that one claim could ruin him, cost him his business and home, therefore, he has every motive to do things right and look after his drivers wellbeing. Being caught running bent could well have the same outcome for him and is actively discouraged. All his vehicles are maintained and kept in good running order because a broken down vehicle doeant earn him money and a warning light is a warning that the vehicle may break down.
Basically, he said all the things I needed to hear. Based on what I saw, I have no reason to doubt him. The proof of course, is in the pudding. So, in a months time, I’ll know the truth.
I drive for a small one man outfit who has 3 artics, 1 x 18tonner and a couple of vans.
I started on the agency with him last year, on temp to perm, and he asked me if I wanted a job because a driver had his licence taken off him for heart problems, so I accepted.
Now the job is repetitive, insofar as I go to the same places, daily, on a weekly basis, but know what time I am starting, what time I am finishing, and have a social life outside of work. If we get an extra drop or collection on behalf of the customer we work for, we get a nice little brown envelope by way of a thank you. He bought 2 brand new XFSSC’s in October, of which I got one, which considering I am a day driver, isn’t bad, and it is not shared with anyone else, and stands when I am on holiday, and the equipment wants for nothing, even down to the bells and whistles on the trucks. (He pays for them, and they dont bother me tbh.) We even have decent corporate workwear.
At 55 I see this as a pipe and slippers job, until I retire.
And finally. I average after breaks, 36 hours a week. We are decently salaried, so there is no incentive to do any more hours, nor run bent.
At the end of last year I left what was a family firm that had recently been took over and joined a different family run firm . They are not a small firm but they look after their units and trailers , provide correct ppe and don’t run bent . All the units and trailers are owned not leased and so some of the units are up to 7 years old but those are due to be changed as they replace up to 10 units each year .
The same as all other haulage firms you here good and bad but when you can talk with people who have long service within the company it bodes well .
I much prefer small companies to the big logistics stuff, far easier to get to talk to the boss if there is a problem instead of going through layers of management all trying to cover their arse.
As for running bent and getting asked to work extra shifts,sub-standard kit skimping on maintenance?
I think some of the large companies could be guilty of that, either due to poor management or certain contracts aren’t showing the returns they expected when the accountants shoved the figures through the spreadsheet and the managers have been told by the Board of Directors to cut costs and increase efficiency.
And I know people who run small successful haulage companies, normally specialising in a niche sector, they have the right kit for the job as they know whats needed and they won’t run bent as they risk losing their company and probably a lot more.
I would vote for small family companies but only because that’s who I found best. As long as they are legit and treat drivers fairly and vice versa it generally works well.
Saying that I never really had a problem with other types of employers or agencies but the latter may have changed from what I hear.
Personally I was never one to chop and change all the time. As long as my employer treated me fairly I was happy. My moves were generally because we wanted to move to another area.
I preferred the family run firms I worked for, money wasn’t quite as good but you were left alone and I often sorted my own work out and felt more valued than being just a number with a large company. Tackle was old but still did the job OK. Each to their own of course.
740MICK:
Well Done mate,i,m of the same thinking,much rather a small family run firm than a faceless logistics provider.
Same here \I know my boss’s name and he knows mine , also he knows how to drive and truck strap a load as he started 35 years ago with a Ford transit and trailer doing jobs big firms wouldn’t do , now has 40 trucks
I always work with small companies and family owned, this way you can negotiate a decent amount of payment for what you provide.
In previous employments in different sectors of industry, I have worked for large corporations and they always hide behind the multitude of departments…So the only way you are able to negotiate is by liaising with the client and either insisting on enhanced remuneration or by taking the contract for yourself(which I did).
You yourself is what is most important and if you want a mediocre life earning mediocre wages and to not be noticed and just get on with it with no real involvement, then a large corp is your choice, if you want to be more involved and perhaps be a more lively part of the cog and have a more meaningful occupation, then a family company may be the way forward, we are all different and that is what makes it all interesting.
Nite Owl:
So, job hunting came to a satisfactory conclusion and I’ll be handing my notice in today. Found the place quite by accident, I saw his trucks in a quiet little yard and popped in to ask the question. He grabbed a set of keys, told me to hook up that trailer and take him for a spin, which I did. We had a little natter on the way round and we seemed to like what each other said so when he offered me the job, I accepted.
So, I’ll be going from a (relatively small contract) large logistics provider to a small family run haulage firm. And I’m looking forward to it already! Being able to speak to the gaffer, non of these bullshine formal procedures yet everything still being done by the book, common sense day to day running. The list is endless. The next two weeks are going to drag by because I cant wait. Proper old school trucking.
Anyway, no real point to this post. Just wanted to tell someone.
The difference is if you get sick they will drop you like a ton of bricks you will be scraping the bottom of the barrel
It’s a no brainer work for a company that provides benefits trust me it can be a life saver
Nite Owl:
So, job hunting came to a satisfactory conclusion and I’ll be handing my notice in today. Found the place quite by accident, I saw his trucks in a quiet little yard and popped in to ask the question. He grabbed a set of keys, told me to hook up that trailer and take him for a spin, which I did. We had a little natter on the way round and we seemed to like what each other said so when he offered me the job, I accepted.
So, I’ll be going from a (relatively small contract) large logistics provider to a small family run haulage firm. And I’m looking forward to it already! Being able to speak to the gaffer, non of these bullshine formal procedures yet everything still being done by the book, common sense day to day running. The list is endless. The next two weeks are going to drag by because I cant wait. Proper old school trucking.
Anyway, no real point to this post. Just wanted to tell someone.
The difference is if you get sick they will drop you like a ton of bricks you will be scraping the bottom of the barrel
It’s a no brainer work for a company that provides benefits trust me it can be a life saver
Not all of us need our lives saving, some of us make our own contingency and thus have no need to depend upon others, we usually drive older cars and don`t need the latest tech and are not deemed to be consumers
\I know my boss’s name and he knows mine , also he knows how to drive and truck strap a load as he started 35 years ago with a Ford transit and trailer doing jobs big firms wouldn’t do , now has 40 trucks