I’m with you, count me in… 
I’ve recently refused to agree to a major change at my current employer, putting my job in serious jeopardy.
Worried? Not one little bit.
The useless & clueless middle management ■■■■ that they sent to the branch, to try to bully me & frighten me into towing the line, told me that there’s 50 people waiting outside those gates to fill my drivers seat !
I pointed out to him that 28 of them can’t speaky no Engly, 15 of them passed their LGV yesterday, 5 of them have serious previous convictions, and the remaining 2 would only be swapping from an almost identical job on almost identical pay. Whichever one of those you chose to fill my seat, I’ll just jump into the seat that they’ve just left.
They’ll get rid of me eventually, they have to because these changes are unpopular and my refusal to accept them isn’t going unnoticed by other branches drivers.
This revolution is for the strong, for those not blinded by the past and for those who understand the present to influence and shape the future.
We are the blood that pumps through the very heart and soul of this great land. Rember we are the the very best the world has to offer.Demand respect and never sell yourself short.
The driver revolution my friends is here.Do not try to fight it!
chester1:
Semtex:
I have to admit, in the last few months (since I’ve been on supermarket work) I’ve become more laid back. 40mph on singles etc, not rushing.The funniest thing I heard was at Tesco Widnes where a Stobart guy was winging about the band new Axors they have just got.
"They are threatening to replace the whole fleet with them but they only do 50.
And■■? if it means you take an hour a day extra to do the same job…Eddies given you a £35 - £40 per week payrise…whats the problem?
Unless they decide to triple shift them and you loose four hours.
Not at Stobart “you’ve only done 13 hours” Widnes
waddy640:
Most responsible employers will preach the word, as laid down by VOSA, HSE etc., but hate you if you comply with it.The only reason they do it is to cover their own backsides when it goes wrong and you can be sure it will.
Do you honestly believe that they care if you lose your licence through rushing around to meet their deadlines. There will always be another mug waiting in the wings to take your place.
I couldn’t agree more. Now I’m freelance I work for a few different Companies so have had to go on the Inductions.
A couple of weeks ago I attended a ‘Major Blue Chip Company !’ Induction. Had a driving assessment then spent nearly all day being shown the ‘Way We Work’ and associated H+S Policy. This Company couldn’t stress enough the importance of all the H+S and VOSA compliance they have in place on site, loads of paperwork involving truck/trailer defects, how to load/not to load, do this/don’t do that, walk here/don’t walk there, loads of white lines all over the yard telling you were you can park/can not park etc etc etc.
Went in to work Weds/Thurs night, 100mph winds and told, we’ve scheduled you for 2 15 hour night shifts (which isn’t recommended by VOSA/HSE and even Health Professionals) , but be careful it’s windy !!!
Basically, while your on site we’ll cover OUR arses to the max but once out of the gates ‘YOU’RE ON YOUR OWN’.
It says ERF not RAF:
waddy640:
Most responsible employers will preach the word, as laid down by VOSA, HSE etc., but hate you if you comply with it.The only reason they do it is to cover their own backsides when it goes wrong and you can be sure it will.
Do you honestly believe that they care if you lose your licence through rushing around to meet their deadlines. There will always be another mug waiting in the wings to take your place.
I couldn’t agree more. Now I’m freelance I work for a few different Companies so have had to go on the Inductions.
A couple of weeks ago I attended a ‘Major Blue Chip Company !’ Induction. Had a driving assessment then spent nearly all day being shown the ‘Way We Work’ and associated H+S Policy. This Company couldn’t stress enough the importance of all the H+S and VOSA compliance they have in place on site, loads of paperwork involving truck/trailer defects, how to load/not to load, do this/don’t do that, walk here/don’t walk there, loads of white lines all over the yard telling you were you can park/can not park etc etc etc.
Went in to work Weds/Thurs night, 100mph winds and told, we’ve scheduled you for 2 15 hour night shifts (which isn’t recommended by VOSA/HSE and even Health Professionals) , but be careful it’s windy !!!
Basically, while your on site we’ll cover OUR arses to the max but once out of the gates ‘YOU’RE ON YOUR OWN’.
A couple of points, if you go to some sites at night they have a different set of rules to those they enforce during the daytime. No need to hand keys in, no need for a banksman when reversing, can strap load as it is put on and the list goes on.
I used to deliver and reload at a site where you had to stand on the trailer whilst the double stacked pallets were unloaded to release the straps. Whilst reloading you were not allowed anywhere near the trailer, you sat in cab or waited behind barrier.
fredthered:
brados:
All you have to do is just persuade all the employers to stop employing cheap drivers and your problem is solved, £7.00 per hour to a Romanian is £25 an hour PLUS to us, unless you can stop the employers employing them I think you are on a sticky wicket - or pot!This problem has been raised on here dozens of times, I am about to hang my keys up this year because I will not do the DCPC, I have spent my life in transport and I am sick of being screwed just to do my job, no one will stick together which is the problem nowadays, tell your boss you won’t work for his piddling wage and he will show the door and a list of drivers to replace you so long you won’t believe it.
Good idea in theory but …
The real problem is that if you are working and need to be ‘subsidized’ by the state then the employer is taking the p.
Why should the state (tax payer not including businesses that employ tax evading/avoiding specialists) be subsidizing business to the point of offering low wages to create non jobs? If they can’t compete properly they should be allowed to go to the wall.
It may be a global economy but my wages do nothing (I can’t charge more) yet my (uncontrollable) costs continue to rise. The cheap labour in Asia I can’t compete with 'cause they don’t have my overheads!
Basic economics tells me that its not worth it.
Excellent point.
You often see in the press that a supermarket has ‘created’ 200 new positions. The reality is that a high percentage of these will be part time and under the tax threshold.
Only today I was reading an article in the Telegraph which gave an indication as to when a household becomes a contributor to society. It makes quite sober reading.
telegraph.co.uk/finance/pers … -back.html
Since I had Children I often consider my contribution to society and operating as a Ltd company I often feel a little guilty for trying to limit my tax burden. On the other side though I’m not confident enough in the state to provide for mine or my CHild’s future.
The powers that be are not remotely concerned about you and your family`s wellbeing, damian. Do what you have to do for them, and put any mis-placed guilt to bed! 
■■■■■■■:
The powers that be are not remotely concerned about you and your family`s wellbeing, damian. Do what you have to do for them, and put any mis-placed guilt to bed!
Agree wholeheartedly!
Only this week the DWP informed me that I underpaid £208 in income tax last year and they want it back (I’m PAYE) - I bet the big conglomerates don’t get this hassle! Funny how they neglect to inform me what I can claim back from them ie: uniform cleaning etc!
Chase the little guy - its easier and cheaper.
I have paid them by the way - there is a recession on after all!
nightstar:
This revolution is for the strong, for those not blinded by the past and for those who understand the present to influence and shape the future.
We are the blood that pumps through the very heart and soul of this great land. Rember we are the the very best the world has to offer.Demand respect and never sell yourself short.
The driver revolution my friends is here.Do not try to fight it!
What ■■■■■■■■.
Just to clarify about companies, loyalty and you. A mate of mine has worked at greggs as a night driver for 14 years. He lived in a bubble and because he got a yearly payrise thought everyone else did. He did 4 nights a week and earned 34k. They would never get rid of him, it wpuld cost them too much and he was invaluable to the company. His words. He never went sick, took holidays because they made him etc. Just after xmas all night ataff were told they are being made redundant at that depot…and he’s now gutted and can’t believe they would do that to him after everything he’'s done for them. Loyalty does not exsist towards employees. Look after yaself and your licence.
degsy4wheels:
Just to clarify about companies, loyalty and you. A mate of mine has worked at greggs as a night driver for 14 years. He lived in a bubble and because he got a yearly payrise thought everyone else did. He did 4 nights a week and earned 34k. They would never get rid of him, it wpuld cost them too much and he was invaluable to the company. His words. He never went sick, took holidays because they made him etc. Just after xmas all night ataff were told they are being made redundant at that depot…and he’s now gutted and can’t believe they would do that to him after everything he’'s done for them. Loyalty does not exsist towards employees. Look after yaself and your licence.
Yes, I suppose it does come as a shock to learn that you’re not indispensable!
Sad but that’s the way of the world these days!
And he’s just finding out that as he was getting payrises every year the majority or us weren’t. He now knows he was in a bubble and that he will struggle to get a 34k a year class 2 job for 45 hours a week.
Loyalty died a long, long time ago as I discovered.
Look after number one because no one else will, this applies in most aspects of life now.
■■■■■■■:
The powers that be are not remotely concerned about you and your family`s wellbeing, damian. Do what you have to do for them, and put any mis-placed guilt to bed!
Correct!
When the firm is making money, and you’re making a lot of it for them - then you are indispensable.
Once the firm isn’t making quite as much, and they look at how expensive you are compared to other “6 points OK” cheapo drivers, then guess what? - You’re as dispensable as the “new” TM says you are. … It’ll be a “new” one of course, because a ‘new broom sweeps clean’ and all that…
Does anyone out there have a “great boss” who’s a young person? - are they only “OK” because you can run rings around them?
I’d rather have a “getting on a bit” boss who likes me because he actually knows me…
A para about to be deployed behind enemy lines goes into a fortune teller’s tent, and they offer him his “date of death” if you are interested…
The para has just turned 21.
“You’ll be killed on your 33rd birthday” he gets told.
“Yippee!” says the para. That means I’ll survive this 9 year tour of duty I’m about to head out on…
The logic is that if you know your fate in advance, you are effectively immortal up to that date.