Why do supermarkets sub out their distance work?
If they sent artics to the continent for fresh produce and beverage, Then surely it would be cheaper than subbing it out.
They’d probably have to go out empty, But that would still be cheaper than using a subby.
The only reason i can think of is that they can’t find decent drivers.
Most supermarkets have logistics companies who run the transport for them and those logistics companies have their own operations who can be eligible to do the contracted work. Our place do not want any vehicle running empty for longer than necessary, the only time we run empty from a store is when we make a collection from a UK based supplier, and it would be very rare to find a store with no return cage/pallet/waste material.
I don’t work for a supermarket but we aslo sub out all our overseas and Scotch/Irish runs it’s a shame really as it would make my job a little more interesting. 
a question ive asked many times.
ASDA now have stores in Jersey and Geurnsey that get subbed out. Our stoke depot still subs out most of Wales and Northern Island as far as I know.
All the Devon and Cornwall stores get trunked to Chepstow ambient depot for them to deliver it for us instead of us doing a night out…
I’m still amazed (and thankful cos I enjoy doing it) that we still pick our own boxes up from Felixstowe.
limeyphil:
They’d probably have to go out empty, But that would still be cheaper than using a subby.
I very much doubt it.
Crikey, our lot going abroad, their bottom lip starts to go when they go past Exeter we have subbies to go to Cornwall they are that pathetic more than a 9 hour day would kill most of them.
If they could find there way to the Ferry/Eurostar then they would have to drive on the wrong side of the road, are you insane?
Because they really care about the little guys and want to spread the wealth around.
I have only ever driven a car over the water but it’s not hard to see why a supermarket would want to sub that work out.
If there were no problems then it would be pretty equal between the two, but as soon as there is a flat tyre, or a broken suzie or even a failed light, the Sainsco driver would have to call out the rescue service, while a subbie would fix the problem and get on his way.
“Santa”…:
but as soon as there is a flat tyre, or a broken suzie or even a failed light, the Sainsco driver would want to call out the rescue service, while a subbie would fix the problem and get on his way.
But to be far to the Sainsco driver that’s what he is told to do by his boss so not really his fault.
You are right - I changed want to have
its all about money they are the cheaper option. why knock the supermarket drivers that are on a good wage for a professional driver. why is it you have to live in your truck for days on end and earn peanuts to be a real lorry driver.
Supermarkets are not transport firms
Transport is only a small part of their operation.
They have vehicles to fufil a specific need i.e. RDC to store and back.
I woulld imagine that most of these are double manned.
Once you start sending them out tramping you need a larger fleet to cover the missing vehicles.
Likewise you need to adapt and follow different rules to run abroad.
If you’ve a set number of drivers pretty much doing the same every day it’s nice and easy to run.
Once you start sending people further afield you start getting all sorts of problems plus you need new wage structures, union agreements etc.
Bottom line is supermarkets aren’t interested how it gets there only how much it sells for and how fast they can shift it.
You’ll probably find johnny foreigner brings it in at a rate you can’t hope to compete with.
Soldier z:
Supermarkets are not transport firms
Transport is only a small part of their operation.
They have vehicles to fufil a specific need i.e. RDC to store and back.
I woulld imagine that most of these are double manned.
Once you start sending them out tramping you need a larger fleet to cover the missing vehicles.
Likewise you need to adapt and follow different rules to run abroad.
If you’ve a set number of drivers pretty much doing the same every day it’s nice and easy to run.
Once you start sending people further afield you start getting all sorts of problems plus you need new wage structures, union agreements etc.Bottom line is supermarkets aren’t interested how it gets there only how much it sells for and how fast they can shift it.
You’ll probably find johnny foreigner brings it in at a rate you can’t hope to compete with.
That about sums it up well said young man!!
in transport the further you go the less you earn.
If it ain’t double shifted, they don’t want to know.
bald bloke:
I don’t work for a supermarket but we aslo sub out all our overseas and Scotch/Irish runs it’s a shame really as it would make my job a little more interesting.
Snap…we sub out our daily Falkirk load…but we run Merc Megaspace cabs on distribution that nobody night’s out in 
My work sub out their Irish stores to McBurnies. Most of the Ice***d fleet are small day type cabs (Volvo FM’s) with a small bunk although they do hire a few DAF XF’s and MAN TGX’s mainly for the agency on nights.
As said before, all the big bosses are interested in is getting their product from A2B as cheaply as possible. If they could save money and keep it in-house you can bet your bottom dollar they would.
If they kept it in-house they would have to upgrade some of their fleet, upgrade the insurance, upgrade rescue cover, have union meetings, new risk assessments, more training, more drivers, bigger tri-axle trailers etc etc. I bet they don’t save much by subbing it out but every penny they save goes towards their profits 
What would you say the cost of a supermarket sending an artic from manchester to madrid and back is?
There’s fuel, wages, tolls, ferries, and the cost of the truck.
Now what would a subby get?
If a supermarket were to send it’s own driver, then how would the way Eurotrampers are paid fit in with supermarket full timer’s T&C’s?
If you normally do a 10 hour shift @ something like £15ph as a supermarket full timer, then you’re not gonna be impressed by 4 days out for 4x10 hours pay at ESL rates are you? THEY won’t be £15ph will they?
You’re lucky to be being paid as much as 10 hours out of 24 per day - whilst you’re still having the other 14 hours a day of your life wasted!
Without cushy T&Cs therefore, I suggest that euro work is pants and not worth chasing for it’s so-called “Novelty value”.
On the other hand, even I would jump at the chance if it were paid by the hour like other agency work, but it isn’t available to agency for that very reason!
limeyphil:
Why do supermarkets sub out their distance work?
If they sent artics to the continent for fresh produce and beverage, Then surely it would be cheaper than subbing it out.
They’d probably have to go out empty, But that would still be cheaper than using a subby.
The only reason i can think of is that they can’t find decent drivers.
Because they make money on someone elses sweat. 