Hi all I’ve been doing multi drop 12 ton truck for about 3 months and started on 7.5 ton for 3 months before that(same company), I’m now considering a change and wanted to know if anyone had or is working for Brakes or Wrens and what it’s like? The main reason for this is the money it’s not great where I’m at at the moment and I’ve seen these 2 advertise for a lot more than I’m on.
Any input would be gratefully received.
Cheers Andy
I occaisionally drive…
For Brakes. I only do trunk work on days so I can’t comment too much on the delivery side of things suffice to say, that the day men all seem to appear back in the yard around 3ish in the afternoon.
There’s a huge amount of paperwork and a ton H&S bull to put up with but, you’re left alone to do what you’ve gotta do. I’ve never coupled up in the years that I’ve driven for them. The shunters put it all together and you just check it over and go if it’s loaded. On return fill up and park/abandon it and go home after you’ve downloaded your card.
Kit is always legit and if you like Mercs with lots of annoying driver aids, you’ll be as happy as a school ■■■■■■■ a date with Justin Bieber.
Being an old ■■■■ with no ambitions it’s a no brainer boredom job but that suits me down to the ground.
I don’t know what the drivers earn but, I didn’t see any S class Merecdes in the drivers car park.
Wren is handballing kitchens into peoples houses and flats. You do it as a team of two.
If you have the money I’d pay for a licence upgrade to C+E and get away from all of that nonsense.
Conor:
Wren is handballing kitchens into peoples houses and flats. You do it as a team of two.If you have the money I’d pay for a licence upgrade to C+E and get away from all of that nonsense.
I’m actually waiting for my c+e training it’s been canceled twice cos of lockdowns that’s what my end aim is just looking at better paid jobs at the moment even though the company who I work for have artics can’t see me getting one as got too many drivers fo them now
If it`s not too terrible where you are, maybe stick it out until you do get your bendy training?
Might look better when you do apply for that first C+E job, rather than have 3 jobs all with just a few months on them. An employer might want someone to stick around longer.
If it is desperate where you are, move, but otherwise?
Where are you based?. and what work are you doing now. brakes can be very physical and when I did it alot of drops racing around all day.
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Theres usually more money for very good reason. Brakes has come up on here many times, but its a lot of handballing stuff up stairs, into kitchens and the likes. Also I believe they are quite early starts.
Did similar for Creed on agency a few times and its alright in some respects especially if you get a regular run, but is hard work and lots of jumping on / off trucks.
As for Wren, unfortunately not everyone has a nice bjg house with a nice big driveway. So likely parking up a street and lugging the stuff inc appliances down roads. If they do granite worktops, that eould be me out.
Sometimes its better to stick at one job. They are obviously happy to upgrade you from 7.5 to 12T which is a good way to do things. If its more than £9.50 hour that’s prob not too far off going rate scarily. Should be more like £10 for 18T, although I only make a little more for class 1 night driving chemicals.
Remember that class C provides scope for everything up to 32 tonner 8 wheelers.
There are decent jobs within that like bulk recycling roro/hook loader work which is where I’d start looking first top of the list.
The problem as usual is an over subscribed face fits pecking order in which doing all the zb thrown at you on four wheelers and 7.5t won’t mean a guaranteed move up the ladder to better quality work.
Ironically that situation only gets worse with class 1.
If you can move up the ladder on rigids getting used to driving an 8 wheeler as though it’s a mini might be useful ‘if’ the industry moves to the drawbar LHV configuration in the longer term.