Why so bad in the North West?

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

We run 125 drivers in the Midlands (Golden Triangle) and another 10 on a contract in the North West for the last month or so.

Accident/incident stats;

12 months, Midlands based contracts (125 drivers): one minor RTA and one damaged load (still being ‘discussed’ due to bad loading by warehouse).

1 month, North West contract (10 drivers): 1 x bridge strike, 1 x minor RTA, 2 x run out of fuel, 1 x front left step removed via a bollard, 1 x 18hr day worked, 1 x wrong trailer taken, not to mention another couple of more minor incidents (i.e. stripped the ABS lead wires from the socket, driving off with Anderson lead still attached, etc).

Why is it so bad in the NW■■? All contract are run the same i.e. the same amount or driver support etc. All vehicles have Key Fuels cards and directories so how do you run out of fuel (both said they couldn’t find a Key Fuels site). The 18hr day was worked by a driver who ‘has 30+ years experience of the industry, was a driver assessor, roping & sheeting instructor and mentor to new drivers’; pity someone didn’t ‘mentor’ him with regard to EU driving regs - he said he could do 18hrs because he didn’t put his (digi) card in for the first 3 hours he getting and loading his trailer!!!

I know that DCPC training might be an insult to some drivers but there are definately some other ‘drivers’ out there who are liabilities and need some more training, irrespective of their 30+ years in the industry!!

We are doing our part; good induction training pack and now, extra training as needed, including drivers hours, WTD, how to use a fuel card & directory but where do you draw the line??

At the mo, the NW contract is costing us more than it is making. :unamused:

2

Do you have somebody on the ground to manage the NW?

3

A supervisor is based there with a ‘management’ visit once per week.

I know that a manager based there would be the ideal solution but the operation then becomes rather ‘top heavy’ both in structure and costs. :confused:

4

Or just employ decent drivers instead.

I know I went for a few jobs and ‘more experienced’ people got the job instead.

I’ve got 3yrs artic experience, a few months on class 2 before that and 7yrs on busses and coaches, so I know the law, can drive etc, yet couldn’t get a look in when competing for jobs with these ‘30+ yrs’ people.

I’ve landed on my feet now with a job, but it still sticks in my throat a bit.

I’m not saying I or anyone else is perfect, accidents can and will happen, but other stuff is just neglect.

Best way for drivers to work, treat the truck as if you own it, like a subby, bet you don’t damage it then.

5

When you recruited in the NW did you use the same people and procedures as in the midlands? Some HR people have different standards and look for different things from candidates. Did they perform any kind of assessment before hiring? did the have to sit a therory test of any kind? Often it is easy for recruiters to just take 30 years experience as being sufficient, when it is still a good idea to check that the 30 years has not been spent making errors!

6

Theres absolutly no excuse for running out of fuel unless youve had some knicked or a mechanical issue causes it. :unamused:

7

waynedl:
Or just employ decent drivers instead.

You’re right but we think we’ve been quite ‘selective’ during the interview process. We are quite fussy about endorsements, do a drivers regs & WTD test, a UK geography test & a Highway Code test. I would say we have employed around 33% of those who were interviewed but when you get glowing references (especially for’ Mr 30+ years’) what can you do?

Maybe I’m getting sceptical - perhaps they gave a glowing reference to ensure he didn’t go back to them for a job . . . . ever! :unamused:

8

Imp:
Theres absolutly no excuse for running out of fuel unless youve had some knicked or a mechanical issue causes it. :unamused:

That one for example, gave a list of six service stations he visited that ‘didn’t take that card’. Three of them definitely do and are clearly listed in the Key Fuels Directory. :imp:

9

marcustandy:

waynedl:
Or just employ decent drivers instead.

You’re right but we think we’ve been quite ‘selective’ during the interview process. We are quite fussy about endorsements, do a drivers regs & WTD test, a UK geography test & a Highway Code test. I would say we have employed around 33% of those who were interviewed but when you get glowing references (especially for’ Mr 30+ years’) what can you do?

Maybe I’m getting sceptical - perhaps they gave a glowing reference to ensure he didn’t go back to them for a job . . . . ever! :unamused:

Yeah, I know, if he’s passed the drivers regs and wtd test, why did he think it was ok to put 18hrs down? Geography test :open_mouth: sat nav :wink:

There is no easy way to pick and choose drivers, it’s just 1 of those jobs I guess. Word of mouth or references can be selective, experience - I’d have thought 30yrs of mistakes would make a perfect driver though, working on the premise of ‘wont do that again’…

marcustandy:

Imp:
Theres absolutly no excuse for running out of fuel unless youve had some knicked or a mechanical issue causes it. :unamused:

That one for example, gave a list of six service stations he visited that ‘didn’t take that card’. Three of them definitely do and are clearly listed in the Key Fuels Directory. :imp:

To be honest, the key fuels directory’s a load of crap, has lots listed that don’t take key fuels anymore, and some haven’t for years, others are now car washes etc and, again, have been for years. Bloody thing’s had me panicing more than once.

10

marcustandy:
A supervisor is based there with a ‘management’ visit once per week.

I know that a manager based there would be the ideal solution but the operation then becomes rather ‘top heavy’ both in structure and costs. :confused:

Might be time for a head to roll, is the guy who hit the bridge still with you?

11

is this a roundabout way of recruiting lol :laughing:

12

clarkyboy:
is this a roundabout way of recruiting lol :laughing:

No, really it’s not!! We aren’t struggling for drivers up there, just for decent ones it seems.

We might be struggling a bit in the Midlands i.e. more work that drivers but that wasn’t what this thread was about.

Ref the NW contract, it was taken on with a strong possibility of it leading to bigger and better things - if I was calling the shots I’d just pull the plug on it right now and let some of the dross go spinning-off down the plug-hole!

13

marcustandy:
Maybe I’m getting sceptical - perhaps they gave a glowing reference to ensure he didn’t go back to them for a job . . . . ever! :unamused:

:laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:

To put it simply I think your NW drivers are taking the ■■■■, they don’t have to return to a yard with a ‘guvnor’ sitting waiting for them, so they’re under the impression they can get away with murder, you’ve got the wrong blokes mate, I reckon it’s time for a clearout before they damage your company’s reputation beyond repair :wink:

14

I’m from ZE North West, I park in a medium size hauliers yard who had nothing but aggro for years until I suggested an accident free bonus system, I remember David Croomes drivers getting 1 years ago & that seemed to work, anyway he made there annual Xmas bonus into a quaterly package for looking after his tackle & trying to avoid accidents, it seemed to work for him. Maybe worth a try Chap.

Fly sheet (North Westerner By Birth)

PS you are’nt the same Guy looking for a TM in the NW for 10 lorries are you?

15

Oddly enough we have a satelite site in the NW who seem to have more than their fair share of accidents, they seem to find it acceptable to damage a truck, drop it at the dealers and say nothing to nobody.

16

A fair bit of Northern Monkey bashing could be on the cards here, and being a Northern Monkey myself I aint having it :laughing:

I think a look into your Northern Monkey setup is required, from superviser to floor cleaner, keyfuels directory is as much use as a 1 legged man in an arse kicking contest, but i am presuming your on regular routes? If so then recommend a fuel stop for each route.

Seriously, it needs to be looked at before the damage becomes alot lot worse for you.

17

B1 GGK:
A fair bit of Northern Monkey bashing could be on the cards here, and being a Northern Monkey myself I aint having it :laughing:

I’m a Northerner an’ all (although I come from the far better side of the Pennines!!). :wink: :laughing:

Were not the ones looking for a transport manager in the NW.

Bonus?? I feel like it would be a bonus if we pulled out!! :unamused:

Seriously though, I guess the challenge is to find a system that keeps the job worth it (i.e. overheads) but ‘focuses’ the drivers attention . . . . . . . . . :neutral_face:

18

Ahh marcustandy maybe its a battle of the roses thing wi thou bein from oer t’hill an all that lad :smiley:

I’m sure you’ll sort it, thing is 95% of drivers nowadays are glorified cab drivers regardless of where there from, IMHO of course.

Fly sheet

19

As per usual people are too quick to put all the fault on the driver…As I see it you have a fairly big contract in the NW with 10 drivres running it, but with no real transport manager only a ‘Supervisor’.

I would of thought that you should get a Transport manager up there to sort this mess out before it’s too late and 10 drivers are looking for a job!!
So who’s at fault here…The Managers for not managing this contract correctly!!!

20

Deepinvet:
So who’s at fault here…The Managers for not managing this contract correctly!!!

I’m intrigued! Read through the following paragraphs then give me some suggestions!

Deepinvet:
As per usual people are too quick to put all the fault on the driver…

Signs approaching the bridge state ‘Drivers of high vehicles, use the centre of the road’. There’s even pretty little while lines to guide you! Driver stays on own side of road and . . . . . . crunch!!! A 10 meter long crunch, BTW!

Bollard in place to prevent vehicles hitting side of building. Bollard hasn’t moved since construction but still . . . . "I didn’t even see it. I didn’t recognise the sound as anything being damaged so I carried on.’ Ripped the step off; he thought maybe it was a cardboard box being driven over!!

‘I didn’t see a Key Fuels sign on the forecourt; that’s how I knew they didn’t take the card.’ Didn’t think of asking inside (x 6) and even more difficult to understand, didn’t think to call the 24hr number (to office and/or manager) at any time, even up to the point of running out of derv. Did think to call then though . . . . . . . .

18 hour working day - ‘I knew that 3 of the hours were done before I put the card in so it didn’t look like 15 hours. I still want paid 18 hours though cos that’s what I worked!’ WTF?

Minor RTA - ‘I did know the car was on my inside but once I couldn’t see it anymore I thought it’d gone or turned-off or something.’ Best bit though, ‘Well I did check the blind spot but there was nothing there.’

Striping the ABS lead - ‘It was awkward to get at. I tried stretching the cable to see if it would loosen-up any but it just pulled the wires out.’

Damaged Anderson lead - ‘I remembered I’d forgot it once I got going but thought I sort it at the next delivery.’

Wrong trailer taken - ‘I couldn’t find the trailer number that was on the paperwork but this one was on the usual loading bay for that drop so I thought that must’ve been it.’

Now bar the last point where I guess a manager could stand in the yard and show the drivers where the trailers are, as per their paperwork (hold their flippin’ hand more like!!), I fail to see how any of the above ■■■■-ups are anything other than driver faults. Short of a manager/driving assessor accompanying every driver on every trip, what difference would the onsite manager have made? Bear in mind that most of these ‘incidents’ happened away from base; isn’t that what 99% of drivers do i.e. drive a truck to the delivery point on their own?? I don’t see that it’s too much to expect, so yes, the fault is being put on the driver!! Explain why that’s wrong■■?