What to do? What to do?

UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUMS THE UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUM (INTERACTIVE)
1

I’m in a bit of a pickle.

I have a full time job driving for a bloke on blocks self employed owing to other revenue streams open to me (to keep the S/E legal).

Money is fair, truck is decent, bloke’s a bit of a bell but he’s alright.

I’ve had 4 phone calls today offering me work and I’m in a quandary as to what to do so here goes

Job 1
Go back to tippers on permanent nights for a chap who pays top money literally as soon as I bill him, trucks are decent, one bloke is a proper bell, the others are very decent. This is self employed. Class 2 with occasional Wag and Drag. Billed per shift hours are 1800-finish (rate is the same for 1 hour or 10) Have to share the lorry with the same day driver (Volvo FM12)

Job 2
PAYE employed as a plant, HGV and general mechanic with occasional driving, with a local hire company trucks are completely standard and very up together, don’t know any of the bloke beyond the occasional chat, they seem decent enough. Workshop manager and I played rugby together about 10 years ago and he’s decent enough. Class 2 exclusively. Salaried basic hours would be 0700-1730. I wont get my own lorry as not full time driving 1 is a Scania 470 6 wheeler and the other is a MAN 6 wheeler.

Job 3
Office, mechanics, installing and repairing steel and timber buildings with the odd delivery) for a small national timber building company. Don’t know any of the blokes and not sure what condition the trucks are in (going to see him tomorrow). Class 2 exclusively ERF EC6 and DAF LF 7.5 tonner, will share the puddle jumper and I’ll be the sole driver of the ERF

Job 4
Permanent nights on tippers for a different bloke, trucks are A1, money offered if decent, don’t know the bloke well, some of his chaps I know fairly well and they’re decent enough. Mainly Class 2 but with some artic. Again wont have my on lorry and will have to hot seat the artic with 2 others and have to share the lorry for nights FH Artic and FM12 8 wheeler

Rate is broadly the same except the PAYE job which is less money an hour but obviously paid holiday, sick pay and uniform etc

Job 5
Stay where I am, Renault Magnum 480 Mack to myself, all days odd night out, pays the bills and only have to wait a week usually after sticking a bill into him.

So my question is what do I do?

if I knew how to post a poll I would.

Cheers and sorry it was so long winded.

BB

2

One or five would be my choices. With a bias towards staying put unless there’s a reason to move (apart from the money).
BUT - if you are thinking about it and asking advice, remember in the future that you made an informed choice so if it turns out wrong don’t beat yourself up about it :wink:

3

Only you know if you want days or nights.

Would you rather go PAYE with a view to continuing, or stay SE?

Do you want a part time driving role, or are you happiest out and about.

Forget the lorry sharing situation thats a minor point in the grand sheme of things unless you’re going to night out in it.

If you’re happy where you are and its secure and its paying the bills regularly then staying put would be my choice, the offers are being sold to you so factor in a bit of salesmanship making them sound desirable.

4

I probably should say. I prefer nights as there should only be 1 4 o’clock in the day and it should happen just before tea time. Also i’d rather stay S/E cos paying tax properly brings me out in an empty wallet

5

What does the wife want ?..and what suits your lifestyle best ?
They are most important questions as far as i am concerned if it was me.
Money comes third as you would have discounted anything to crap.

6

The wife wants me working she’s not assed if it’s days or nights as long as we have two holidays a year she’s chuffed

7

Better the devil you know mate. I was offered a job a couple off years back, firm
had just taken over another company before you knew it they all had new motors delivered, drivers where walking around in there new flashy work clothes the owner wouldn’t match my hourly rate but would go to £1 an hour less and to be honest it would off been an easier days work. On paper it looked an obvious choice but I’ve only ever worked for 1 person and get treated like the family(looked after and shouted at if you know what I mean) so after all off ten minutes thought I decided to say thanks but no thanks.About 12 months later the company had gone. If its an offer to good to refuse like alot extra pay,much better conditions then take a risk, if there all pretty much on par then it’s better the devil you know.

8

Karl86:
Better the devil you know mate. I was offered a job a couple off years back, firm
had just taken over another company before you knew it they all had new motors delivered, drivers where walking around in there new flashy work clothes the owner wouldn’t match my hourly rate but would go to £1 an hour less and to be honest it would off been an easier days work. On paper it looked an obvious choice but I’ve only ever worked for 1 person and get treated like the family(looked after and shouted at if you know what I mean) so after all off ten minutes thought I decided to say thanks but no thanks.About 12 months later the company had gone. If its an offer to good to refuse like alot extra pay,much better conditions then take a risk, if there all pretty much on par then it’s better the devil you know.

None of them are massive money, all are reasonable. I know what you mean about staying, these are all established firms with years trading. I know that makes no odds really in the current climate but I wouldn’t be considering any of them otherwise.

Thanks for the advice though

9

I decided to go back on tippers (Job 1)

I think I’ve made the right choice so far

10

That’s good then as long as your happy and content with your choice then alls good. Good luck hope it turns out the right choice for you.