So, someone actually sent me out in an artic

NEW AND WANNABE DRIVERS (INTERACTIVE)
41

jackylegs:
I don’t know whether to laugh or cry at you.

The other day you were mad for tarmac, gimme a go in an artic, it’s all I wanna do! I wasted my first ever post on this site on you.

Now I find out you’ve bottled it.

Once again, the “next generation” of “drivers” lets the side down.

All the best with your digital tachograph and the WTD, POA, DCPC ETC. All you’ll ever know is acronyms and timesheets, God be with the days of the 143 the 144 and the 164 doing a day’s work asleep. Honest men doing a dishonest job.

Thanks for your reply, I think.

Without knowing me or having sat in the office listening to the terms and conditions on offer you really have zero right to be drawing such conclusions. The offer was awful for a start, more was said than the key points I posted above. In all the job was not right for me and not the best thing to do for my family. Did you not see the bit about more vacancies than applicants? In this day and age with a driver surplus? Nobody else here smell a rat?

One of the agencies I’m on with has some of this firm’s ex full timers working for him, guys with many years experience, they won’t go back.

Now let’s get onto your “next generation” comment.

I have spent over 20 years on the road driving coaches and prior to taking my Class 1 have done 7.5t general haulage stuff as well. I cut my teeth driving some of the roughest bags of crap you’ve ever seen, I’ve worked vehicles that should really have been at PVS in Barnsley. I’ve taken every kind of passenger from the local W.I. right down to drunken aggressive football fans and the nightclub brigade. On the 7.5s I’ve done general, handballing, delivering sofas and fridges to tower blocks etc. I’ve always been a driver and I’ve taken a lot of crap and logged a hell of a lot of miles.

Being a new HGV licence holder does not mean you should take any job offered, I’ve been around road transport long enough to know a bad deal when I see one. Got into work this morning and told and discussed it with 2 ex truck drivers, both well over 60 and both from the “old school” and both of them told me that they too would have walked away.

All I’ll ever know is timesheets and acronyms eh? :unamused:

42

MikeCunn:
I think that’s a bit harsh. He’s keen to work which is good but he’s got his head screwed on and won’t just take any job driving an artic. I certainly wouldn’t take a job with those terms and conditions, and for no more money than he’s currently on.
If more people turned down lousy offers like that then company’s would have to make their offers better to get and retain drivers.

Thanks Mike, that’s pretty much spot on.

I have a choice here, keep someone up there ^^ happy by taking a job for no more pay than I’m on now that could put me in debt or even risk my licence. I could have the joys of guarding a truck and it’s load in some deserted layby peeing up the wheel and ■■■■■■■■ in a carrier bag or stay with a company and a boss I trust and respect until a more reasonable offer comes my way and stay 100% legal.

Hmmm, I’l give it some thought :wink:

43

I think you made the right decission too. All you gota do is crack a mirror glass when some ■■■■ forces you into a branch at the side of the road and that’l be 60 to 80 quid please!
Not worth the hassle.

44

Gembo:
I think you made the right decission too. All you gota do is crack a mirror glass when some [zb] forces you into a branch at the side of the road and that’l be 60 to 80 quid please!
Not worth the hassle.

Thank you, that’s the way I saw it. Also as Mike put it, if any driver new or otherwise takes any offer no matter how bad the pay and conditions it forces standards down industry wide. If everyone stood thier ground companies wouldn’t be able to get away with treating drivers like crap.

Anyhow, I had 3 good days on the coaches, 1 day job and an overnight in a very nice hotel at Heathrow and earned a good few quid. Drove a rather nice 06 plate B12b/Van Hool Alizee full exec and crewed up with one of my best mates.

Mr agency bod called me an hour ago. Tomorrow at 11a.m. I start on a 12-15 week contract, day work, tenner an hour, newish fleet. Door is still open at my previous employer if I want tour work. I want to work and I work hard but I’m nobody’s fool.