Haw haw, nice one OP you’ve got them arguing about money already, this could run & run.
windrush:
alder:
Great post if you are fortunate enough to have a good job where the boss treats you with respect and pays you a decent wage for the hours that you do. You probably have a decent unit and every trailer you pick up is road legal. You probably do the same routes mostly where you know it like the back of your hand and you have a laugh and a bit of banter with the customers you deliver to. Get off your high horse, not many people are as fortunate as you! Stop being so judgemental about other drivers, this is after all a forum and “wages” is an issue for most drivers.For your information I finished driving 12 years ago, and yes I did have good gaffer’s, I wouldn’t have worked for a bad one would I and nobody else should with all the driving jobs available these days?
Didn’t have a unit either as it was class 2 work and the truck was several years old and I helped maintain it myself, each day was different and yes, I had some fun with the customers as they kept me employed! Money was OK, there were probably others on more doing similar work but I was content which, and correct me if I am wrong, many it seems are not? Not getting on any High Horse, as I said if money is the only reason that you are driving and it isn’t enough then find a job that does pay you what you want even if doesn’t involve a truck!
Pete.
" I finished driving 12 years ago, and yes I did have good gaffer’s" and that says it all for me. The money is a big issue for drivers who are trying to raise families and pay mortgages or rent. You can’t just dismiss wages like that and say “well don’t do it then” a lot of people have no choice. I mentioned the dog walking that you obviously picked up on in another post because I work voluntarily for a dog rescue and so I am already involved in that area. The main issues for me are not money and quibbling over a quid extra per hour but more the driving within the law and all the cr*p drivers have to put up with from Agencies, Haulage bosses, Suppliers, Security Guards, Shunters, Police, VOSA, other drivers and car drivers that I would like an improvement on. Doesn’t help that on a frigging lorry forum we get a retired “I’m alright jack” I was a driver years ago bod telling us wages are not an issue!
Fair enough Alder. 
Pete.
So I get the point that some people have jobs that suits their needs,also its beneficial for people who don’t have travelling expenses different parts of the U.K. are on different rates,ect ect,the point is this when I am applying for jobs I am being told that my expectations are too high,that if they paid everyone what I was expecting they wouldn’t make any money.Aye right if profits are that bad you shouldn’t be in business and to add insult both employers and agency’s expect the driver to work for “WORKING POOR WAGES”,so they can make even more money.I think I herd a statement that the U.K. has 17 new billionaires,also half of England is owned by a handful of people.
Please if you think I’m being unrealistic then that’s a matter of opinion I am trying to make this post FACTUAL.As for the people who are happy working for less I ask you this if you could earn £11 p.h. then surely that makes your job even sweeter.Perhaps you could have more family time or do a hobby.
This is not a post to wind people up this is a post to say I am getting hacked off as a driver and things have got to change.One other fact that we are being told is that there is a huge driver shortage but the wages are going backwards.If that’s the case who is driving wages down against market forces.We are?.Thank you Mickey Mouse for reading into the original post.
windrush:
Fair enough Alder.Pete.
Looks back over lifetime of driving lorries, remembers all the thousands of things said by drivers regarding all aspects of the job, smiles to himself while slowly shaking his head. Decides to make dignified reply. I would have done the same myself mate
Well done Pete, see you later in the " old timers " forum. 
Regards. John.
The-Snowman:
I have a sneaky feeling you are already a member on here and youve joined under a different guise and looking to start yet another agency bashing thread. To come out with “congratulate myself on being the only driver to refuse to work for less than £11” is a bold and silly comment.
It aint me pal,im on £10.81
■■■■ I’ve got customer’s so nice, I actually buy them a box of biscuits or cheap bottle of wine come Christmas. I do this because the are a good cracking, helpful, stay late occasionally, let me tip outside a closed gate if need be.
If your job is that ■■■■ you are counting the pennies you are paid on your hourly rate, then I would suggest a change of job for you.
Not working for less than £11 pound an hour doesn’t make you an industry hero. Just a bit picky. Your right I suppose, just like it’s my right to choose a job I like over what I get paid. That being said my wage willy is not small, but I’m a grower, not a show-er 
Is that all £11ph
1rustyspring:
I would like to congratulate myself for being the only person who tells agencies and employers where to go when it comes to wages below £11 p.h.,and before I get it in the neck I am putting my house and family at risk in saying no to work that pays below £11.I am being told by Employers and agencies no one else questions the rate,or they can get drivers for less than the above rate.
They tend to forget there is a hell of a lot of power in them big lorries they want us to drive,the power is the drivers themselves.Really getting hacked off being a member of the working poor.
You sir are a legend, give me a shout when you get to £14 p/h and we’ll have a drink, I don’t like to socialise with the working poor!
My latest agency “offer” - 350 miles a week (7-8hrs travel time approx) to and from depot which will incur a petrol bill of around £50. Crappy, small town store deliveries with nowhere to park, involving lots of cages/dollies/empty returns. Will defo quickly change from 12.30pm starts to 3am starts, ■■■■■■■ about with ancient, temperamental alarm systems. “probably” (quote) until christmas.
I said no thankyou, i`ll pass. £10-11ph. The money is only one of many factors to consider when evaluating the worth (or lack thereof) of a job.
1rustyspring:
bold maybe Snowman,silly,try factual as i posted both agency and employers have told me that no bother getting drivers to drive below the £11 p.h.
The only agenda here is to say no to working poor wages based on life in the modern day.
I have worked at places where I have been on sometimes double what another driver has been so could be true, but if they have no bother getting drivers to work for less why pay more
seth 70:
The-Snowman:
I have a sneaky feeling you are already a member on here and youve joined under a different guise and looking to start yet another agency bashing thread. To come out with “congratulate myself on being the only driver to refuse to work for less than £11” is a bold and silly comment.It aint me pal,im on £10.81
its not me im on £28 ph
Wages wages wages.
I think you have got to balance everything up with wages.
Lifestyle choices, money and what you enjoy doing every day.
It’s like me I’m on roughly over 9ph.
The yard is on my door step, good small family owned company, very good boss who leaves you alone and with very little stress.
I could earn extra 1 or 2 an hour at different yard but is it even worth my while in my situation?
The time I do an hour traveling everyday and fuel costs is it really worth the hassle working for a knob that’s on my back all day.
I think you have to balance your whole life style and company you work and what suits you. instead of looking at hourly rates as the bee end all.
That post had a sting in its tale.
whats the sting?
1rustyspring:
whats the sting?
The Bee. 
Yer heads wasted (facts),not ■■■■■■■■.
Moocher,If life styles change anymore you wont have any choices,look at it from a different Angle.
1rustyspring:
Yer heads wasted (facts),not [zb].
Read the sentence again, especially the 3rd word from the end. Don’t get wound up, it’s an internet forum after all. 
Course mate