The writing's on the wall

UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUMS THE UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUM (INTERACTIVE)
1

Hi folks, new member, first time post.

I’m currently working at royton depot for that most infamous of firms (now calling itself B**vest Logistics), if you don’t know the one I mean, please PM me, happy to share it with you.

Over the last few years, the (few & far between) memos have concentrated on one thing; saving the firm money. Recently, I’ve noticed a change in emphasis in things like memos- or the lack of them! Now management seem hellbent on busting driver’s ■■■■■■■■ at every opportunity.

Some examples: Tacho imfringements- originally, exceeding 100kph was a disciplinary offence, which I was aware of from the start, reasonable. Now, out of nowhere, that has become 90kph. No memo, no consultation, just notification of an infringement at a review. Given that our Ddeckers regularly run at 42-44T, in my opinion, it’s practically unavoidable.

MDT (handheld terminals) as well as inputting data about your working activities, mgmt now have decreed that they should be used to perform vehicle checks! One big flaw- there is non way to recall your vehicle check in the event VOSA pull you over. Again, no memo, no consultation, silently dropped.

To top it all, (bearing in mind this is November, supposedly quiet time of year) drivers are running out of hours on a daily basis, being picked up from the side of the road. I honestly feel like the firm’s about to go pop!

Now, I’m thinking; do I leave of my own accord, when there are jobs available locally (stobarts, fowler welch heywood) or do I ride the tidal wave of [zb], for a pittance of a payout?

All comments welcome, dive in

2

The defect thing may hold you up at a roadside inspection, the orifice will have to email the data you’ve entered to VOSA before they’re happy enough to let you on your way without an FPN.

Being collected from the side of the road when out of time can be illegal, if you’re out of duty time, the truck stops and you have to stay with it until you’ve had your daily rest period, if you’re under your spreadover, but out of driving time it can be done, but it must be recorded as on duty, not driving, your clock doesn’t stop until you get back to the yard.

Infringements for going over 90kmh, easy that one, don’t! Just drop your cruising speed to 85kmh and do what you’re supposed to do when driving, look at the speedo, when it gets near the 90kmh mark, hit the engine brake/foot brake. It may be a PITA, but if you’re getting disciplined over it, you could soon find yourself getting binned over it.

The best thing to do IMHO is get the [zb] out of Dodge.

Good luck :wink:

3

Is it true theyre closing Hoddesdon■■? we got 2 ex Banbury drivers on with us who lost their jobs when they move pret out of Banbury and theyve both had letter asking them to go back :open_mouth:

4

Aeyorre:
Some examples: Tacho imfringements- originally, exceeding 100kph was a disciplinary offence, which I was aware of from the start, reasonable. Now, out of nowhere, that has become 90kph. No memo, no consultation, just notification of an infringement at a review. Given that our Ddeckers regularly run at 42-44T, in my opinion, it’s practically unavoidable.

All comments welcome, dive in

I’ve been convinced (happily) recently that many company policies won’t/don’t/can’t hold much water when and if it comes to litigation ( Employment Tribunals) Not even the policies that companies (such as my employer :unamused: ) claim “improve” on the law.

And as we all know the statutory national speed limits are 40/50/60

5

Aeyorre:
Hi folks, new member, first time post.

I’m currently working at royton depot for that most infamous of firms (now calling itself B**vest Logistics), if you don’t know the one I mean, please PM me, happy to share it with you.

All comments welcome, dive in

Just make sure you arrive for your designated booking slot. don’t be ever late, in fact you must be On Time :laughing:

And did you know the numbers of the other company spell DMMD if you only press them once :wink:

And what is that dried green leaf they use in Thai cooking?

6

If he’s out of Royton depot,he is on for DMMD :wink:

7

Bigvest :smiley: :smiley:

8

I worked for them out of Scarisbrick,no word of warning and we are shipped off to salford to the biggest comedy depot I’ve worked at,they are hellbent on blaming drivers for anything and everything,including other peoples mistakes like loading and planning,gladly got out the place in June and hearing it’s not changed,the writing is on the wall if your a driver there mate but if you work in the office you could kill someone and get away with murder,they would blame it on the driver :smiley: :smiley: ,sounds like things are gonna get worse,good luck mate but i was glad I got away,each to their own as lads there don’t mind it but I couldn’t put up with some of the goings on. :imp: :imp: :imp: :smiling_imp: :smiling_imp:

9

I heard that they changed the name from DMMD to Big-vest so that when they lose the KFC/BK contract in 3 years or so,they will sell off logistics and it won’t make DMMD look ‘bad’. Then they can have some more empty depots that they are still paying a huge lease on,like Fradley. But i did also hear that they were gonna re-open that n take back all the Subs from the other depots cuz after all, they still got about 11 years to pay on a 15 year lease n its been empty about a year…good business,eh?

10

Washy jnr, it wouldn’t surprise me at all if they closed hodd, you only had to look back at their infatuation with fradley to see that they change their mind at the drop of a hat. Yes, I understand that the ‘needs of the business’ change (sick to death of having that thrown In my face regularly) but there’s no stability, from one working week to the next.
And thanks for sharing DMMD, not heard that before!!

11

If you press each button twice you get ENNE or 3 times it’s FOOF! :smiley:

12

Actrosman, you’ve hit the nail on the head about them losing contracts, it looks like nando’s is going to be first out the door, and the word is that recent spot audits by kfc and pret have not been satisfactory. It doesn’t need a rocket scientist to see the name change was due to the DMMD brand being associated with amateurs! Historically, this isn’t a big suprise, it happened to them back in '98/'99, when hays started up their food logistics arm (loved that job, cushy as a cushy thing)

13

I know it was touch n go if they kept the ‘biggies’ last time or lose it to the ‘yellow peril’ but they got it for 3 more years…i heard if Banbury went, we were shipping out and taking over the site. They could make so much more profit if they didn’t buy a huge plot of land (like Paddock Wood or Cannock) spend £11 million building a massive d/c,sell it to a private company then lease it back from said company…to me,that makes no sence!!

14

It shouldn’t be an infringement rolling over 90km, speed limit is 60mph for trucks on the motorway. They can do this if they want to I suppose but it makes no sense, maybe they are just being overly cautious as too many drivers were rolling over 100km. If they are adamant about this then they should give you trucks with retarders & automatic hill hold like the Scania R series, you can set it at whatever speed you want and it wont roll over this as the retarder kicks in.

15

Hi folks, Since a recent sunday union meeting for management presentation of a new contract (annualised hours), The talk has been solely about jobs elsewhere. In the last fortnight drivers at royton are voting with their feet, 2 class1 lads have given their notice, with 4 others muttering the same thing. Do I stick it out, out of loyalty, and risk being left on the shelf? Or join the red, green and white of stobart?

16

red green and white all day :stuck_out_tongue: