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.
Same here. Didn’t give a toss. Also don’t mind doing multidrop such as the locals for pallet networks as it tends to be steady eddie work but I’ll be buggered if I’m going back to 50 drops a day. 10 plus a few collections will do me.
we used to have drivers from the agency at the bakery were I worked out off…the agency would tell the temp driver your doing trunking to depots,but when they turned up to the traffic office to collect maps and tachos they was also given a bread hook(3ft steel rod with a hook at the end)…they used to say whats this for?..reply was you need 2 load your trailer with that…■■■ off im doin trukin mate not loadin trailers.most would comply but the die hard ive been to doha and back in a truck driver would walk,the agency then informed all new temp drivers the score before they turned up…cheque pls…
skell790:
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.
If your mob are going to stoop to employing agency drivers to get round the laws of laying people off then they deserve all the bad tempered/wont do attitude drivers they can get.
Ched:
If your mob are going to stoop to employing agency drivers to get round the laws of laying people off then they deserve all the bad tempered/wont do attitude drivers they can get.
Harrrumph
They were replacements for two drivers on holiday.
We do have one ‘there nearly all the time’ agency driver. That was me until someone left btw. What they do is have an agency to cover all the odd and sods, busy periods and holidays, then offer them a full time post when one comes up. That’s the way agency is meant to work, instead of having a massive lump of drivers who get laid off at a moments notice.
skell790:
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…
Sounds like the gig I’ve got (agency) at the moment.
I’m working for a firm that makes roof trusses and joists for houses. They’ve got 2 artics and 3 rigids, I’ve only been out in the rigids so far but as I seem to be doing well and the firm want me long term my shot at the artics will come. They’ve got 2 full time drivers and 2 of us agency regulars. The firm is in the town I live in (Northants) less than a mile from my house.
Job is hard work with the loading and unloading and I get muddy as hell when I get on site but the only bit of pressure (if you can call it pressure) is getting on site on time when a crane is waiting. No ISOTRAK, no planners, no cab phones. The rule is get there safely, if that means 10 stops on route to check the straps then so be it. No hassles with stopping if you need a break etc. Some days it’s one drop if it’s a longer distance other days it could be 2 or 3 locals with a return to base and reload.
I’m holding out in the hope I can get a full time job out of it.
Just finished some agency work (between jobs need to keep the CV up to date ) was asked to do some work for a bin and skip supplier, first day no probs out in a luton and did everything they asked and was even complemented on how quickly I got it done.
Day 2 turned down 7.5 tonner as it had a foot long crack in the windscreen right in front of me and the driver seatbelt didn’t work. I was asked to collect several bins (now with a 3.5 tonne van) , but if they’re full empty them out, kicked over the first one and got covered in stinking rotten ■■■■, rang them up and told them “No ■■■■■■■ way is that happening again” they told me Ok just carry on, so I just collected bins whether they were full or not, I was never asked back but ■■■■ em I’m not paid to do their dirty work or drive their illegal vehicles and thank God never will be.
If this is the sort of crap work that makes people think they are better because they “have proper jobs” and think agency workers are a bunch of ■■■■■ then good luck to them.
The truth is that some agecy workers just also happen to be professional drivers and won’t put up with crap maybe some of them have told the agency they wont do multidrop so when they get to work and they are told they are on multidrop they have every right to walk off site (thats down to the agency not the driver).
P.S. got a proper job now and don’t need to put up with any of that sort of ■■■■ but I will always respect agency workers because learning a job in a day isn’t easy…
I know what you mean, Mr Schrodinger - and I’ve had my share of that sort of agency crap meself - but this place has shiny, well maintained motors. They even give you printed maps of the drops, and if that’s not enough, they’ll lend you the office satnav.
What a joke 3 drops within a few miles of each other you call that multi drop. A few years ago I worked for a local brewery and my round on a Thursday was 30 plus drops of 9 gallon firkins covering all of Suffolk and part of Norfolk on my own wasn’t easy but I enjoyed it
I agree 100% buddy ill drive anything as long as the Queens Shilling is right, no Glory Hunting Here. Ref 1st Guy Glory Hunter if ive ever seen 1 …2nd Dvr can understand but like other,s ave said maybe swap to 1st job ie 3 drops. Bet the Pair never got work again wiv that Agency.
Winseer:
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 work as self employed on agency uk and europre if the money is right multi drop or not i dont give a ■■■■ i’ll be there and just crack on it’s the way its works in the magical land of driving for a living,fair enough if you,ve had a plate in ya back should’nt be there in the first place,
) was asked to do some work for a bin and skip supplier, first day no probs out in a luton and did everything they asked and was even complemented on how quickly I got it done.
