I found Manpower to be a false grail in the end, as I was breaking into 45% tax straight away (got a rebate when I left…) and there is this horrible pressure to run to 318 or you’re in the crapper all the time…
Rush Rush Rush = Forced Errors, undue stress, less-safe driving practices, and of course "what is the point of a headline higher hourly rate - if you’re penalized for taking a minute longer over running times expected out of one?
I’ve always thought the steady, sedate pace of 50mph limiter work at Supermarket for reasonable and regular rates - seemed like a better way to go, and now I’ve done that.
I took a look at Aldi & Lidl, but they don’t want drivers - they want warehouse staff that hold a LGV licence!!!
No good for a bloke like me, who loves being on the open road, and hates being stuck at the depot, being back-bitten and henpecked all the time.
I tried Pallet work, involving a lot more hours on the road - but no bloody “down time” to even get a proper break, so one ends up taking a crafty 15 on the pumps, and the other 30 mins whilst doing your curtains, technically illegal of course… No time to eat properly on breaks like that, let alone get your head down on what often is a 12-15 hour night shift running up to somewhere like the West Midlands from Kent!
Winseer:
I found Manpower to be a false grail in the end, as I was breaking into 45% tax straight away (got a rebate when I left…) and there is this horrible pressure to run to 318 or you’re in the crapper all the time…
Must have been on a good rate then - you don’t pay tax at 45% until your taxable pay reaches £150k…
Winseer:
I found Manpower to be a false grail in the end, as I was breaking into 45% tax straight away (got a rebate when I left…) and there is this horrible pressure to run to 318 or you’re in the crapper all the time…
Rush Rush Rush = Forced Errors, undue stress, less-safe driving practices, and of course "what is the point of a headline higher hourly rate - if you’re penalized for taking a minute longer over running times expected out of one?
I’ve always thought the steady, sedate pace of 50mph limiter work at Supermarket for reasonable and regular rates - seemed like a better way to go, and now I’ve done that.
I took a look at Aldi & Lidl, but they don’t want drivers - they want warehouse staff that hold a LGV licence!!!
No good for a bloke like me, who loves being on the open road, and hates being stuck at the depot, being back-bitten and henpecked all the time.
I tried Pallet work, involving a lot more hours on the road - but no bloody “down time” to even get a proper break, so one ends up taking a crafty 15 on the pumps, and the other 30 mins whilst doing your curtains, technically illegal of course… No time to eat properly on breaks like that, let alone get your head down on what often is a 12-15 hour night shift running up to somewhere like the West Midlands from Kent!
Seems to fit the idea of hourly pay being irrelevant if they expect more than an hour’s worth of work done in an hour.Or more than one job role for one wage.In many cases because some want to add more value to the job in a doomed attempt to increase the overall wage to match their over stretched commitments.Bearing in mind that we’ve established elsewhere that it costs employers no extra to employ two workers sharing one job.
The problem with night shifts being that if you’re finding yourself needing to get your head down on nights it means a body clock issue and ironically 4 on 4 off type arrangements for example,inevitably leading to trying to enjoy the extra days off during the day,will just make that worse.In addition to the upside of night work in the form of clear roads has been wrecked by speed limiters and RDC/Hub type systems instead of direct trailer swaps and night time road closures.Thereby removing even the chance of early finish and more daily rest tme between shifts.
3 or 4 on 4 off day work now has to be the way to go while also just ignoring the demands of those employers wanting more than 1 hour of work done in 1 hour.Or drivers to work ‘inside’ as warehouse operatives etc.
alamcculloch:
You here about people in abusive relationships who don’t leave, usually women but it happens to men too. It takes a straw that broke the camels back scenario then the zb really hits the fan. If the job is really getting to you then walk possibly do something other than haulage for a spell.
Up to a point.My beef would be the ludicrous raft of bs being foisted on us,ie.insurers say we can’t park at various places,including major strategically useful msa’s ffs,due to previous container box thefts.Not exactly spoiled for choice for parking in blighty are we f.c.o l…oh and no overnights in peaceful,rural laybys,even when EMPTY and i quote-‘our customers don’t like to see their wares parked in these places’ …(empty),maersk,hapag when i last checked you can give many years unblemished service and have to take this kind of crap,or find another gig and embrace even further degradations it seems.The jobs giving me up,not the other way round tbh.
Winseer:
I found Manpower to be a false grail in the end, as I was breaking into 45% tax straight away (got a rebate when I left…) and there is this horrible pressure to run to 318 or you’re in the crapper all the time…
Must have been on a good rate then - you don’t pay tax at 45% until your taxable pay reaches £150k…
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Looking back at my payslips - it was actually 52% deductions consisting of 40% income tax, and 12% national insurance.
The hourly rate @ Manpower into Royal Mail was £19.48ph. I’ve dropped to £14-£18ph now, but the work is so much more laid back, I can just work to get the job done at all times, and bugger being pushed about to do it on the double - especially through the morning M25 corridor traffic - and within as well of course.
THESE days - I get PAID to be stuck in traffic! It is NOT my fault for being stuck thus! I DON’T get moaned at for “being off-route” or “Showing my Initiative” making the full timer’s lack of work ethic look bad. - which had kinda become my nickname at Royal Mail, and presumably why I was “so disliked by the other drivers” there.
you can give many years unblemished service and have to take this kind of crap,or find another gig and embrace even further degradations it seems.The jobs giving me up,not the other way round tbh.