The first one turned up half an hour early and got the hump because his load wasn’t ready. Then he found out that he’d have to do three calls and marched off saying ‘I don’t do multidrop.’ I know that run and it’s really easy. They’re only a few miles away from each other, get forked off, and there’s no waiting at any of them.
The second turned straight 'round and left after he discovered that he’d have to handball part of the load. The stuff is heavy, and he said that he had a metal plate in his back so fair enough, though you’d think that the agency might have mentioned that before they sent him.
It took the office ages to find replacement drivers, so is this a good time to ask for a pay rise?
Harry Monk:
I’m with you, first bloke seems a bit unreasonable, second one, fair enough, although they could have given him the first load instead?
Forgot to mention - second one was a 7.5 driver.
Thing is, it’s a fairly easy job all 'round. We manufacture and deliver our own stuff, so there are no collections - apart from scheduled collections for things that we use - so what you see on the planner is what you get, they don’t care how long you take provided it all comes off and you don’t totally take the ***, and it’s an early finish most Fridays…
Harry Monk:
I’m with you, first bloke seems a bit unreasonable, second one, fair enough, although they could have given him the first load instead?
Forgot to mention - second one was a 7.5 driver.
Thing is, it’s a fairly easy job all 'round. We manufacture and deliver our own stuff, so there are no collections - apart from scheduled collections for things that we use - so what you see on the planner is what you get, they don’t care how long you take provided it all comes off and you don’t totally take the ***, and it’s an early finish most Fridays…
dowahdiddyman: I dont do multi-drop` probably the reason he is an agency driver, nobody else will employ him.
My 1st thoughts about this driver is he is either a newbie with the “Ive paid for my class 1 licence, and I wont stoop lower and driver a puddle jumper” attitude (been there done it), or a mature driver who`s recently moved from full time employed work (sacked/left) onto agency, bringing his old ways with him.
The easy job, get done early on a friday, isnt what most agency drivers want to hear, especially the 1st thing on a friday morning when they roll up to a clients office. As getting paid basic 8hrs isnt going to earn them much money. If like me, most agency drivers like long shifts (11-12hrs+), as there more potential to earn more
peirre:
My 1st thoughts about this driver is he is either a newbie with the “Ive paid for my class 1 licence, and I wont stoop lower and driver a puddle jumper” attitude
I won’t drive a rigid because I always make a ■■■ of myself by turning the steering wheel the wrong way every time I have to reverse it
I remember an agency driver came into a place I worked a few years back. He was given the keys to a 7.5t with 3 drops and walked right back out the door saying he only drove artics.
peirre:
My 1st thoughts about this driver is he is either a newbie with the “Ive paid for my class 1 licence, and I wont stoop lower and driver a puddle jumper” attitude
I won’t drive a rigid because I always make a ■■■ of myself by turning the steering wheel the wrong way every time I have to reverse it
damoq:
I remember an agency driver came into a place I worked a few years back. He was given the keys to a 7.5t with 3 drops and walked right back out the door saying he only drove artics.
Been there, but drove the 7.5 no problem; though strictly on the understanding that I got paid artic rates.
Northampton. The only problem with the job is that we’ve recently had a massive pay cut. Which means that I’ll be looking to move if and when things pick up a bit, unless they sort it out.
damoq:
I remember an agency driver came into a place I worked a few years back. He was given the keys to a 7.5t with 3 drops and walked right back out the door saying he only drove artics.
I’ve turned around and left when turning up for a £10ph job and being told when I got there it’s a 7.5t job @ £7ph instead.
On another occasion, I turned up and they gave me a 7.5t at the already agreed rate of £10ph…
Booked a 14 hour shift that day doing drop and separate pickup in the midlands!
I’ll drive a milk float towing a magic carpet - if they’ll pay the agreed artic rate they called me in on, and not ■■■■ me about!
The former case agency in question was one that is now stuck with farm work, so draw your own conclusions who…
I’d say the time to ask for a payrise is when you’re constantly being pestered for work to the point you are flat out earning over big shifts, and still fielding off 2-3 calls a day with other jobs!
I do have a bad back ( fractured with pro lapsed disc etc ) & yep I do do some hand balling not a prob unless it is really too heavy for me to lift ( being 147 cm & 45 kg does have it downside as well as advantages )
I used to think " I could never drive a rigid never mind a 7.5 tonner " after driving artics all my working life , but 16 months ago after only getting a couple of shifts a week on agency I was asked by my sister to do a couple of weeks driving the 7.5 tonner for the engineering company she is PA for, while their driver was off after a car accident. The rate was £8.70 ph starting at 0745 and finish at 1600. Anything worked before or after these hours was/is at time and half. I have been there ever since after their driver (who was actually one of their engineers) decided he didnt want to drive again and went back into the factory. The job itself is the easiest most laid back I have ever had, we only deliver/collect our own products, there is no pressure at all, infact I now put the runs together and choose what ever time I want to start. The job has changed slightly over the last month in that we now work 0730-1615 but finish at 12.00pm on a friday. My pay has gone up to £9.13 ph basic for 37.5 hrs and if I do have a night out which is entirely my choice I get put up in a Premier Inn hotel with a full 3 course meal plus a drink paid for and £20 in my pocket.
Those that think they are lowering themselves by driving something lesser than they are qualified to drive should really think of the bigger picture. Yes I would love to be driving a brand new Artic all over Europe as I have done in the past, but that brand new artic isnt doing to pay my bills at the end of the week when the bosses pay you less p/h for the privelage.
