Got a few days class 1 work at waitrose and just wanted a heads up, do you unload yourself,what are there delivery points like etc thanks in advance
Which RDC? Waitrose can be a very enjoyable experience. You should find everyone very helpful and polite, treating others how you would like to be treated yourself is one of their ethics. People are likely to say good morning to you as you walk on site. On day two and three you may well find company drivers asking if they can buy you a coffee (the machines take a special card) the place is THAT different to others where they assume you came in on the bottom of their shoe. They expect a smart appearance (no jogging bottoms) and top notch driving standards. You will be given an induction booklet which you really should read… because it will help you. The drivers’ waiting rooms are normally far more comfortable than other supermarket ones (take a book). There is no need to rush around just do the job in the proper manner. You should find that you walk the cages off the trailer onto the cage lift or onto the unloading bank. You will reload empty cages, milk trollies etc in a specific order and manner (the details will be in the booklet) and secure with load-lok poles every three rows. On return to the rdc, if you have been shown/told how to work it you will put the vehicle through the lorry wash. You will then unload at the de-kit warehouse and park the trailer where they ask you to.
Some of the delivery points are challenging manoeuvres , you should be given an accurate route map with landmarks which will also show you the layout of the yard. It often shows whether to turn around in the yard clockwise or anticlockwise.
What cav551 says, it’s a really good number, I worked out of MK for Waitrose, albeit for K & N, but it was still an enjoyable experience in this day and age of cut throat deliveries, take your time, read the booklet and, if unsure, ask.
Sapper
Don’t work for Waitrose directly but have done a few back loads to their stores of ambient pallets ( mainly toilet rolls and crisps)
Some stores have decent access others don’t.And it’s always been self tip wherever i have been.
Further to this, a 4am start means 4am in the traffic office not at the security gate, so turn up 15 minutes early, especially on day 2 and 3. It will actually only be a couple of minutes walk to the traffic office, but arrive at security 15 minutes early as said. At the end of your shift they will usually book you ‘off the clock’ to make up for that time and your time to walk back to the security gate. Don’t hang the job out so that you are having your card read at 13 or 15 hrs because they won’t be able to pay for more than the 13 or 15 hrs that are your legal maximum for the day. If things are still the same you will get an hour for meal break on site mid shift. After the second run, if there is one, you will have to refuel the vehicle and trailer before going to de-kit.
They will take a copy of your DCPC card, your licence (both parts) and download your digicard at the start of the shift. Turn up without and it will be home time. Safety boots and clean hi viz required. Ensure that you do your full vehicle checks as per their sheet and fill in the nil/defect sheet. Make sure that you note down damage. If the trailer is plainly nearly new and you find damage report it immediately, they will look it up because they keep a record of damage and you don’t want any laid at your door. If the vehicle has an accessible oil dipstick USE it. If you haven’t driven the particular type of vehicle given or used the particular tacho then ask someone, they realise that you didn’t know Einstein’s Theory of Relativity before you you were able to say goo-goo in you pram.
This may all sound a lot, it isn’t - it is how the job should be done, it’s just that others don’t bother.
I’ve never done supermarket work but as an outsider looking in surely what Cav has described should be the template of how to do the job properly? Why can’t the other supermarkets make it happen that way too?
the maoster:
I’ve never done supermarket work but as an outsider looking in surely what Cav has described should be the template of how to do the job properly? Why can’t the other supermarkets make it happen that way too?
Asda Is the same I’d say.
Fair enough BB, like I say I’ve never done that sort of work, and to be fair I’ve never heard criticism of Asda. I was thinking more of the err “budget” chains tbh.
DHL Iceland are quite keen too. DQC,Digi,Licence card photo copied every week, Digi downloaded end of every shift, damage expected to be recorded on the graphics sheet, truck wash to be used if vehicle is dirty, ALL vehicle/trailer checks to be accurately checked and recorded (transport check it carefully at the end of your shift), dashcam’s in all vehicles, drivers expected to be smart and tidy.
cav551:
Which RDC? Waitrose can be a very enjoyable experience. You should find everyone very helpful and polite, treating others how you would like to be treated yourself is one of their ethics. People are likely to say good morning to you as you walk on site. On day two and three you may well find company drivers asking if they can buy you a coffee (the machines take a special card) the place is THAT different to others where they assume you came in on the bottom of their shoe. They expect a smart appearance (no jogging bottoms) and top notch driving standards. You will be given an induction booklet which you really should read… because it will help you. The drivers’ waiting rooms are normally far more comfortable than other supermarket ones (take a book). There is no need to rush around just do the job in the proper manner. You should find that you walk the cages off the trailer onto the cage lift or onto the unloading bank. You will reload empty cages, milk trollies etc in a specific order and manner (the details will be in the booklet) and secure with load-lok poles every three rows. On return to the rdc, if you have been shown/told how to work it you will put the vehicle through the lorry wash. You will then unload at the de-kit warehouse and park the trailer where they ask you to.Some of the delivery points are challenging manoeuvres , you should be given an accurate route map with landmarks which will also show you the layout of the yard. It often shows whether to turn around in the yard clockwise or anticlockwise.
Aylesford, what the average shift mate ?
Day one will probably be short without much actual driving, so take a book but don’t be put off. You certainly won’t be scheduled for a 15hr day at any time. Average guesstimate 9 -11 sometimes more. It depends on how busy they are and like all supermarket outbound RDC work that depends quite a bit on the weather forecast. There will be a fair number of blindside reverses on offer, but the cab will have a rear window. You may have to swap vehicles mid shift, onto or off a rigid. The shunters will all be drivers and will be very helpful. Help the de-kit warehouse men and they help you. Again, turn up 15 minutes before shift start time at correct security (ask your Agency where this is) , NOT 14 minutes or 13 minutes.
cav551:
Day one will probably be short without much actual driving, so take a book but don’t be put off. You certainly won’t be scheduled for a 15hr day at any time. Average guesstimate 9 -11 sometimes more. It depends on how busy they are and like all supermarket outbound RDC work that depends quite a bit on the weather forecast. There will be a fair number of blindside reverses on offer, but the cab will have a rear window. You may have to swap vehicles mid shift, onto or off a rigid. The shunters will all be drivers and will be very helpful. Help the de-kit warehouse men and they help you. Again, turn up 15 minutes before shift start time at correct security (ask your Agency where this is) , NOT 14 minutes or 13 minutes.
Thanks Cav very helpful 
ill let you know how i get on
cav551:
Day one will probably be short without much actual driving, so take a book but don’t be put off. You certainly won’t be scheduled for a 15hr day at any time. Average guesstimate 9 -11 sometimes more. It depends on how busy they are and like all supermarket outbound RDC work that depends quite a bit on the weather forecast. There will be a fair number of blindside reverses on offer, but the cab will have a rear window. You may have to swap vehicles mid shift, onto or off a rigid. The shunters will all be drivers and will be very helpful. Help the de-kit warehouse men and they help you. Again, turn up 15 minutes before shift start time at correct security (ask your Agency where this is) , NOT 14 minutes or 13 minutes.
If they want you there at least 15 minutes before, and not 14 or 13 minutes, it makes you wonder why they don’t just say your start time is 15 minutes earlier so that everyone is clear what time you are expected to be there for? And if there is more than one security lodge or it takes time to get in, why don’t those who know provide information or a map to those who don’t?
It never fails to amaze me how employers jumps through all these hoops to avoid saying what they actually mean, and then presumably complain when a new driver turns up at the time and place they were told. If I were to turn up 13 minutes before an appointment time, then I’d be of the firm view that I was still there in plenty good time, not 2 minutes late.
The agency should know this and have passed on the information, but being what they are they don’t always do this. Likewise it is the agency’s job to make sure that the driver knows exactly where to go, where to park and who to ask for/report to - they don’t bother in many cases. The agency should tell the driver eg 3.45 at security shift start at 4am. As for 15 not 13 minutes the reason for saying this is that some security guards will record 14 minutes as a late arrival, even though it only takes 3 or 4 minutes to walk to the traffic office. The company ask that you turn up at the security so that the 10 to 20 drivers all starting at 4am are walking out of the traffic office with their paperwork and vehicle keys very shortly afterwards and not at 4.30. It is really little different from being told not to clock-on until you have put on your overalls and are ready for work.
Can you let me know how it went at Waitrose as I am very interested myself.
Agency near me is advertising for Class 2 drivers there.
I also have Class One but have never used it since the day I passed six years ago !
Looking to get a foot in the door, Do they give any training etc ?
Thanks in advance everyone
cav551:
The agency should know this and have passed on the information, but being what they are they don’t always do this. Likewise it is the agency’s job to make sure that the driver knows exactly where to go, where to park and who to ask for/report to - they don’t bother in many cases. The agency should tell the driver eg 3.45 at security shift start at 4am. As for 15 not 13 minutes the reason for saying this is that some security guards will record 14 minutes as a late arrival, even though it only takes 3 or 4 minutes to walk to the traffic office. The company ask that you turn up at the security so that the 10 to 20 drivers all starting at 4am are walking out of the traffic office with their paperwork and vehicle keys very shortly afterwards and not at 4.30. It is really little different from being told not to clock-on until you have put on your overalls and are ready for work.
I’ve done plenty of agency work there in the past as have others I know and I’ve never been there 15 mins before the start time
Next in Avonmouth are like that. Your start time is 02.30 tomorrow morning .
You show up at 02.20 to book in.
You are late driver, why weren’t you here at 02.10?
You told me I was starting at 02.30…
Well, you must book in 20 minutes before your start time.
(That is only one issue of a list of petty rules and practices that they operate. )
the nodding donkey:
Next in Avonmouth are like that. Your start time is 02.30 tomorrow morning .
You show up at 02.20 to book in.
You are late driver, why weren’t you here at 02.10?
You told me I was starting at 02.30…
Well, you must book in 20 minutes before your start time.(That is only one issue of a list of petty rules and practices that they operate. )
I find that one petty turn deserves another.
the maoster:
Fair enough BB, like I say I’ve never done that sort of work, and to be fair I’ve never heard criticism of Asda. I was thinking more of the err “budget” chains tbh.
Tesco?
Don’t go to Tesco Lichfield (Fradely industrial estate). In fact avoid the entire estate, Palletways is there. I have walked in to hell, I have seen, and I have been changed.
newboy23:
Got a few days class 1 work at waitrose and just wanted a heads up, do you unload yourself,what are there delivery points like etc thanks in advance
Before you go in there with an agency and get screwed for applying direct they are taking on at the mo in aylesford