Just been offered a plum monday-friday next week…
I wasn’t getting an itchy bum - honest! 
Put some talc powder on it, could be piles.
I pulled back into the yard today (DHL Bawtry), only to be met at the gatehouse by 1 of the regular drivers (on light duties) asking to inspect my DCPC card.
It seems hes been tasked to inspect (or check that theyre being carried) the DCPC cards of EVERYONE (inc subbies & 3rd party delivery drivers) prior to then entering the site.
He`s not interested in reading the cards, just checking that your carrying your “blue” card
 not interested in reading the cards, just checking that your carrying your “blue” card
In that case I have en expired one I can sell to any of your buddies
peirre:
I pulled back into the yard today (DHL Bawtry), only to be met at the gatehouse by 1 of the regular drivers (on light duties) asking to inspect my DCPC card.
It seems hes been tasked to inspect (or check that theyre being carried) the DCPC cards of EVERYONE (inc subbies & 3rd party delivery drivers) prior to then entering the site.
He`s not interested in reading the cards, just checking that your carrying your “blue” card
I can understand them wanting to check their own drivers, but 3rd party drivers is a bit too much. I occasionally backload from them, and I think I might politely decline if asked.
Well, (and I could be wrong) but i think having CPC is what’s landed me my new job (directly with an employer, not an agency). Newly qualified, zero HGV experience, but i’m being taken on as a tanker driver and being given full training… didn’t even need to do a driving assessment! The feeling I got from them was that some of the old hands are chucking it, and they’re struggling to find enough drivers with CPC… that, and half-decent English communication skills 
Not sure if this has any relevance.
motortransport.co.uk/blog/2014/0 … w-drivers/
Gregory Distribution has launched a recruitment drive for HGV drivers in the south west, particularly young and inexperienced applicants. It wants to recruit around 100 drivers in the next 12 months and will be holding a series of open days at its depots. Head of HR Paul Turner told Motortransport.co.uk that the company wants to attract young blood into the business to help alleviate the problems associated with an ageing driver workforce
Bloke at my dcpc training today said Royal Mail are looking for 180 permanent class 1 drivers. Sure he mentioned £14/hr on days, £18/hr on nights.
TDL102:
Not sure if this has any relevance.motortransport.co.uk/blog/2014/0 … w-drivers/
Gregory Distribution has launched a recruitment drive for HGV drivers in the south west, particularly young and inexperienced applicants. It wants to recruit around 100 drivers in the next 12 months and will be holding a series of open days at its depots. Head of HR Paul Turner told Motortransport.co.uk that the company wants to attract young blood into the business to help alleviate the problems associated with an ageing driver workforce
yes well done Gregory’s but when the youngster’s see they will be getting paid !peanut’s! then they will be after us old monkey’s 
Nothing will happen, all the gobby drivers who said they weren’t doing it will have, apart from the ones near retirement.
Another agency driver here.
I know of 3 “blue chip” companies advertising for permanent drivers, all within the last month or so. One I know personally, cannot get enough agency to cover their runs. This has been going on for months. (not suprised but that is another story).
I’ve been getting hacked off with the job lately, graveyard shift, Can’t get a regular sleep pattern etc. etc. Rang Agency (who are struggling for drivers). I am reducing my nights worked to 3. Well it hit the fan… what about the money was the first one. Not bothered I say. I am happy to earn enough to pay the bills and have a life. We’ll get you shorter shifts. What a load of Bull. Then I dropped in that I am hoping to get out of driving to do other things. The last bombshell dropped was that I was having a week or two off as holiday when the CPC came in.
Started my 3 nights. Long hours again. Ok for three nights. 1st week done. Well rested, social and family life … great. 2nd week. 3 x 8 hour shifts. (they are trying to get me back to 5 nights - no way!). Third week back to normal - long hours.
4th week, phone call from Agency. Rates are going up to 14 quid an hour. 
flat rate. Not just me, across the whole contract. So, I have just worked Sunday to Tuesday night for just over £600. Ltd Co. (Sunday rate 19.75). Downside is, the rate is a “temporary measure”. So, we are back to the “who blinks first” approach. The rate goes down again, this agency bod is walking away.
So is there a driver shortage? In some parts it would seem to be so. Are the some of the blue chips and agencies panicking? Yes, I think they are. Permanent jobs have been a rare thing since the recession. I am actually seeing that agencies and some permanent jobs are taking new passes too. Are rates going up? Around here they seem to be. Not all agencies are putting up their rates but some are.
Will drivers get shafted again (all drivers I mean). Just like we did when the 48 hr week came in. Sadly, I think we will. CPC training is only 35 hours. A week in the classroom and a driver will be ready to work in the UK. My last agency paid for three of my CPC modules so they can afford to pay for the drivers to do it.
So will rates go up. I’d like to think so. But if they go up and are beaten back down again, as before,then this driver is hanging up their keys … permanently.
golfball100:
Another agency driver here.I know of 3 “blue chip” companies advertising for permanent drivers, all within the last month or so. One I know personally, cannot get enough agency to cover their runs. This has been going on for months. (not suprised but that is another story).
I’ve been getting hacked off with the job lately, graveyard shift, Can’t get a regular sleep pattern etc. etc. Rang Agency (who are struggling for drivers). I am reducing my nights worked to 3. Well it hit the fan… what about the money was the first one. Not bothered I say. I am happy to earn enough to pay the bills and have a life. We’ll get you shorter shifts. What a load of Bull. Then I dropped in that I am hoping to get out of driving to do other things. The last bombshell dropped was that I was having a week or two off as holiday when the CPC came in.
Started my 3 nights. Long hours again. Ok for three nights. 1st week done. Well rested, social and family life … great. 2nd week. 3 x 8 hour shifts. (they are trying to get me back to 5 nights - no way!). Third week back to normal - long hours.
4th week, phone call from Agency. Rates are going up to 14 quid an hour.
So is there a driver shortage? In some parts it would seem to be so. Are the some of the blue chips and agencies panicking? Yes, I think they are. Permanent jobs have been a rare thing since the recession. I am actually seeing that agencies and some permanent jobs are taking new passes too. Are rates going up? Around here they seem to be. Not all agencies are putting up their rates but some are.
Will drivers get shafted again (all drivers I mean). Just like we did when the 48 hr week came in. Sadly, I think we will. CPC training is only 35 hours. A week in the classroom and a driver will be ready to work in the UK. My last agency paid for three of my CPC modules so they can afford to pay for the drivers to do it.
So will rates go up. I’d like to think so. But if they go up and are beaten back down again, as before,then this driver is hanging up their keys … permanently.
Dont blame ya mate. The answer is in our own hands though. "Temporary measure"? Ive not heard that one, though if theres any mention of reducing the rates we should move on and tell them why. Ive been guilty of sticking with one agency for too long in the mistaken belief that they would look after me. I was wrong. I got shafted. Ive gone somewhere else for better money and if I can find even better money Im offski.
The dynamics have changed. I can see that every day and for once we have a decent chance to actually do something.
So I urge anyone on agency, and thats quite a lot on here, to shop around while you have a chance to better your earnings.
Conor:
Bloke at my dcpc training today said Royal Mail are looking for 180 permanent class 1 drivers. Sure he mentioned £14/hr on days, £18/hr on nights.
Full time jobs are still being shed in London, so I can’t see RM recruiting actual full timers whilst laying off elsewhere… The MTSF programme is halted, so they’re not letting anyone else go with a payoff - It’s ‘natural wastage only’ atm. but all new starters at RM are on agency to my knowledge (LGV wise)
There are vacancies for full time puddle jumper drivers at Parcel Force though - if that floats your boat. Other courier firms will only take you on as self-employed, but an actual wage is being touted here…
http://rmg.i-grasp.com/fe/tpl_royalmail01.asp?KEY=7744047&C=129833990269&PAGESTAMP=selegsqwnycfqonjxp&nexts=INIT_JOBLISTSTART&nextss=&mode=1&newQuery=yes&searchrefno=&searchpostcode=&searchpostcodedistance=11&searchjobgenerallist3id=793&searchpositiontype=0&searchjobgenerallist1id=0&searchtext=&formsubmit4=Search+and+Apply
I tentatively suggest that Pertemps or Manpower are looking for drivers to go into RM on their standard 5 from 7 contract - and that THEY are therefore looking for “180 drivers” then rather than Royal Mail… 
I think we’d all like to see rates go up and “on the bid” rather than just a local negotiated thing, which of course is like walking on rice paper.
Once the new higher rates are bid by one and all, they become the new “going rate” and we’ll have it for keeps - instead of ‘just the next 3 months and that’s it’. 
On a similar vein…
subbie we use occasionally, let it drag on and didn’t get DCPC done til recently - had to get last 7 hours done this week, paid £120 for it whereas he’d been paying £70 last week.
just fielded yet another call with the offer of a full time position " …thankyou for thinking of me, but I’m fully booked for the foreseeable, thanks"
Winseer:
I think we’d all like to see rates go up and “on the bid” rather than just a local negotiated thing, which of course is like walking on rice paper.Once the new higher rates are bid by one and all, they become the new “going rate” and we’ll have it for keeps - instead of ‘just the next 3 months and that’s it’.
You talk some ■■■■■ you really do. 
Too many thick ■■■■■ that are happy to do 85hrs sleeping in a tin box for £500 and they’d be the ones doing the “bidding”. You might be happy with a 50% pay cut but I won’t be.
Dave the Renegade:
mac12:
bald bloke:
The deadline day will come and go and we won’t notice any difference what so ever.Correct answer
Why would anyone give up working just because they have to pay £50 a year even if retired and only working part time it’s still worth doing.
Quite a lot of hauliers in this area are struggling to find drivers, as several have already finished, with quite a few of the older drivers finishing this week. One smaller operator is cutting his fleet from six vehicles to two, because four of his drivers are finishing.
Maybey they shud have put there drivers thru it then they wud not have the problem
Left hand down!:
Winseer:
I think we’d all like to see rates go up and “on the bid” rather than just a local negotiated thing, which of course is like walking on rice paper.Once the new higher rates are bid by one and all, they become the new “going rate” and we’ll have it for keeps - instead of ‘just the next 3 months and that’s it’.
You talk some [zb] you really do.
You clearly have no understanding of English, Me, or any market - let alone a job’s market.
Anyone that’s actually read my posts over the past couple of years will know that I’ve been banging on against 85 hours, measly wages, and pay cuts.
Even your response above seems not to relate to my post above it in any way.
It looks like your just ranting again, because you don’t find yourself on the same hymnsheet as me on anything
- even when you fail to understand what hymnsheet it is I’m actually singing from!
Fair enough. That’s your right to disagree with me. But you won’t slag me off for it all the time.
If you’re unable to come up with a constructive argument against me in future posts, then try adopting some online remarks against some illiterate body of bigots, guardianistas, or crooks that troll
around these boards baiting those like yourself. They’ll probably be more appreciative of the attention that comes from your bile than I am.
Our TM (who drives as well…) told us to expect to be stopped today. Maybe. So far so good. All quiet out there. Saw a couple of Immigration Enforcement vans though. I am in Tolworth…