Yeah, I voted with my feets as well today. I had a run for well-known-drink-distributor-running-white-dafs-with-blue-courtainsiders, and as it was easy (6 tons only) they put another run on my van (3,47 tons). I ended up with over 80 kegs, double stacked, and several pallets of drinks.
I spoke with TM asking if I can do one run, then come back for a second one, as I am not comfortable with throwing down kegs from the height of my head or digging for a box of wine in double stacked pallets (as they don’t put the stuff on the pallet in order, as they do for example in their-competitors-who-has-their-Glasgow-depot-near-Johny-Walker-distilerry-in-Port-Dundas), but he refused. “It’s still well under it’s maximum payload” he said.
This is not the first issue I had with them. Recently I had a sprinter van where the steering was completely ■■■■■■ up: you could feel the wheel wobbling, some knackering sounds from it and you can feel on the steering wheel that everything is loose. The right front tire was worn out unevenly and ■■■■■■■■■■■■ while left one was still pretty well. I went to Ryder, when despite me being there before with the same problem with my former employer’s vans (in that case they took it out of the road instantly) they sent me (as usual) to change the tire and despite no improvement said that it’s all right. That brings up a question: what if I say that vehicle is not roadworthy and the mechanic in the garage says it is? After all it’s me who’s responsible, but what grounds I have to refuse to drive it when the so-called proffesional said it’s safe to? I took this van out, as it was only a few drops, no more than 20 miles from the yard, but I told them I would not drive it again. But now they see me as a trouble maker.
So I called the agency and told them I am not coming back to this place again. I just think that 9,5 ton of handball, including upstairs and downstairs (they said at my first day with them: we don’t do places with stairs!) with picking up the order from double stacked lorry is not worth the hassle for the money agency pays. I am desperate for cash at the moment, but I am not as desperate
I swapped that shifts I had booked with the drinks ones for the wholesale runs - it’s a handball too, but orders are picked and put on separate pallets and you don’t have to throw the kegs arround…
As someone said in this thread: health first. My back is already causing some problems after this car accident two years ago and I don’t want to make it any worse. If not the money problems I have at the moment, I would not touch such jobs with a long stick (as I used to do when times for agency drivers were better).
Ah ,Port Dundas. My first break into the wide world of lorry driving was taking motors down to Port Dundas from Perth.That was all of 12 years ago when class 2 agency guys worked for £8.00 per hour and moaned about it.No, you younger drivers thats not a typo.
alamcculloch:
Ah ,Port Dundas. My first break into the wide world of lorry driving was taking motors down to Port Dundas from Perth.That was all of 12 years ago when class 2 agency guys worked for £8.00 per hour and moaned about it.No, you younger drivers thats not a typo.
Eh, now some agencies pay 6,50 and the drivers are happy that they can grab a shift or two…
I wish my promised job would be on yet… But it’s delayed for another couple of weeks and I am stuck with agencies
I have nothing but respect for you, well done for getting out before something life changing in a bad way happens. If more people followed your lead this could be a good job in the future. I wish you good luck and keep it shiney up.
Right, to hell with it, i’m gone. They don’t know it yet but I won’t be turning up for work on Tuesday.
Contrary to my last post; consider my toys well and truly thrown out of the pram Had a bad day Friday, and tweaked my back for what will be the last time, trying to move 5 foot bales through doorways. (He couldn’t seem to locate any ‘normal’ 4 foot bales this week, so we have been doing 5’s instead. My guess is he has found them cheaper).
There are a million other reasons, some of which are quite new developments but what is the point in even going there. It’s not my concern any more, i’m just tired of the whole thing.
They don’t know yet of course, but i’ll be dropping my phone and exhausted uniform (rugby top with holes in) back through the bosses letterbox either tonight or tomorrow sometime with a very brief note. After i’ve been to the yard to clear my truck out. Wonder how well that truck’s load will be secured on Tuesday, when all my self bought ratchet straps are in the back of the car. Ah well.
This is bound to upset the apple cart slightly, but if I don’t go like this, I can see myself never going. That would be far worse.
Talking to a local company who will hopefully ring back this evening about small curtain sider work, otherwise I will be knocking on doors Tuesday morning. If anyone is interested, i’ll try and post how I get on.
Hope things are good for the rest of you. Good luck to anyone who is also hunting.
WildGoose:
Right, to hell with it, i’m gone. They don’t know it yet but I won’t be turning up for work on Tuesday.
Contrary to my last post; consider my toys well and truly thrown out of the pram Had a bad day Friday, and tweaked my back for what will be the last time, trying to move 5 foot bales through doorways. (He couldn’t seem to locate any ‘normal’ 4 foot bales this week, so we have been doing 5’s instead. My guess is he has found them cheaper).
There are a million other reasons, some of which are quite new developments but what is the point in even going there. It’s not my concern any more, i’m just tired of the whole thing.
They don’t know yet of course, but i’ll be dropping my phone and exhausted uniform (rugby top with holes in) back through the bosses letterbox either tonight or tomorrow sometime with a very brief note. After i’ve been to the yard to clear my truck out. Wonder how well that truck’s load will be secured on Tuesday, when all my self bought ratchet straps are in the back of the car. Ah well.
This is bound to upset the apple cart slightly, but if I don’t go like this, I can see myself never going. That would be far worse.
good for you cos when one door shuts another opens. hope you can now devote proper time to get the new job. good luck an well done for kicking a crap job into touch, def no loss for you
Talking to a local company who will hopefully ring back this evening about small curtain sider work, otherwise I will be knocking on doors Tuesday morning. If anyone is interested, i’ll try and post how I get on.
Hope things are good for the rest of you. Good luck to anyone who is also hunting.
I’ve just read this thread. [zb] that [zb]! You wouldn’t get me doing that for all the money in the world. 250-300kgs a piece and you have to move those on your own?! I know you need an income but that’s beyond taking the ■■■■. I struggle to lift more than around 25kgs these days, never mind 10-15x that.
As you say, they need a 17-26 tonner with either MOL or Moffet. You do right to tell them to [zb] off and be shut of them. I would’ve been on my way home on the same day I started once he’d told me what he wanted me to do. You deserve a medal (and a large one at that) for putting up with that BS for so long. I bet no-one on here would’ve lasted as long.
I sincerely wish you all the luck in the world to find something good that you will be happy with.
Good luck to you. Jobs seems a [zb] take.
Im 18 and left 6th form on thursday. Luckily ive got a job to go to thats full time. Not something that i will really enjoy, or doing what i want to do(i want to drive, im going to be working in a shop) but im hoping its going to pay for the licences and give me somewhere to sit and earn till i can get a decent enough job driving.
Good luck with the job search, im sure most people will be interested in how you get on.
Rob K:
I’ve just read this thread. [zb] that [zb]! You wouldn’t get me doing that for all the money in the world. 250-300kgs a piece and you have to move those on your own?! I know you need an income but that’s beyond taking the ■■■■. I struggle to lift more than around 25kgs these days, never mind 10-15x that.
As you say, they need a 17-26 tonner with either MOL or Moffet. You do right to tell them to [zb] off and be shut of them. I would’ve been on my way home on the same day I started once he’d told me what he wanted me to do. You deserve a medal (and a large one at that) for putting up with that BS for so long. I bet no-one on here would’ve lasted as long.
I sincerely wish you all the luck in the world to find something good that you will be happy with.
WildGoose:
There are a million other reasons, some of which are quite new developments but what is the point in even going there. It’s not my concern any more, i’m just tired of the whole thing.
Wonder how well that truck’s load will be secured on Tuesday, when all my self bought ratchet straps are in the back of the car. Ah well.
This is bound to upset the apple cart slightly, but if I don’t go like this, I can see myself never going. That would be far worse.
Talking to a local company who will hopefully ring back this evening about small curtain sider work, otherwise I will be knocking on doors Tuesday morning. If anyone is interested, i’ll try and post how I get on.
Hope things are good for the rest of you. Good luck to anyone who is also hunting.
Firstly may I say that I totally agree with your decision to leave, I would have been gone after the first week!
Quite right that you should take all your gear including ratchet straps…however just a thought…put a note on the dash saying the load is not secured just in case another driver jumps in and moves the vehicle. I know hes done you no favours but I wouldnt want an injury or worse on my consience…you sound as if youre better than that.
Also dont worry about upsetting the apple cart, when youve done the deed and left a swift call to VOSA or HSE would upset him a bit more.
Finally GOOD LUCK with the job hunting I’m sure you’ll find something soon…
Good Luck mate, I hope you find a job quickly and hopefully with an employer who wont take the ■■■■. You’ve put up with your current one for far too long. I hate grasses but that guy really does need a visit from VOSA
Had a bad day Friday, and tweaked my back for what will be the last time, trying to move 5 foot bales through doorways. (He couldn’t seem to locate any ‘normal’ 4 foot bales this week, so we have been doing 5’s instead. My guess is he has found them cheaper).
[zb] that [zb]! You wouldn’t get me doing that for all the money in the world. 250-300kgs a piece and you have to move those on your own?! I know you need an income but that’s beyond taking the ■■■■. I struggle to lift more than around 25kgs these days, never mind 10-15x that.