Just a question to gauge the feedback really, but for the drivers who have worked for, and are currently working for new or established small family haulages, was it a good experience, did your exerience get relied on and did you feel you made a difference or did you feel you just got churned out and passed through unoticed. No need for specific comp details. Just general chat.
Depending on the actual people. I have found the smaller the firm the better the experience. But you also have to remember you need to be a team player not one of these rule quoting shop steward types.
midlifetrucker:
Depending on the actual people. I have found the smaller the firm the better the experience. But you also have to remember you need to be a team player not one of these rule quoting shop steward types.
+1…smaller is better then your not just a bum on the seat and as good as your last trip with no jobsworths or barrackroom lawyers to worry about.
I work for one now, much better than just being a number. We only have 3 trucks and I can drive all three in one day. I’m the only non family employee, my boss lives just down the road from the yard, and on sunny Friday afternoons we’ll sit in the yard and have a beer or cider.
In the past I’ve worked for a family business that was quite a decent size and a one man band with 5 trucks.
The family business with 20 or so lorries was a nice atmosphere the owner a decent bloke and generally great work colleagues. The transport manager he employed was good and often paid compliments and thanks where needed.
The one man band. He didn’t really appear to appreciate us as think due his low wages he had high turn over of staff and he just seemed to be focussed on surviving. The work suited what I wanted. The owner seemed stressed a lot of the time and could lose his rag a bit but then turn throughly pleasant the next. Odd bloke. He employed a much suffering but very decent mechanic/transport manager. Bar one driver who was pretty vindictive the other 3 drivers were great colleagues.
I prefer to work for a small to medium sized family owned firm. You are still a number, but a more appreciated number. Non of the corporate ■■■■■■■■, and usually a more relaxed attitude as long as the job gets done. Not to be confused with the small family owned cowboy outfit…
Richard Long used to be the most wonderful family company to work for. Drivers were spoken to like they were well respected and part of the family. The office atmosphere was very welcoming which made you strive to do better. All in all a marvellous experience.
Ok Ok I’m talkin bollux an must be on drugs !
Not all small family firms are great as I worked with Steve66 at one place where this happened.
"We’re getting two new Hinos, do you and Steve want them as you have the oldest trucks? We told the boss we weren’t bothered, which surprised him.
A day or so later, the Hino idea had been binned and we were told “we’re ordering some G cab Scanias with fridges, microwaves etc in, but you wont be doing nights out.” So why not order P series day cabs then? Boss was miffed because we didn’t jump for joy like some of the other drivers.
The next day, following some major breakdowns (my prop shaft fell off and Steves’ motor decided to blow exhaust fumes through the air vents, and re tar the road with oil), I’m told “you’ll have to go get a class 1 licence…These 8wheelers don’t make any money.”
I jacked a week later, after I was offered an old job back as the hot and cold attitude of the boss didn’t inspire confidence.
Freight Dog:
In the past I’ve worked for a family business that was quite a decent size and a one man band with 5 trucks.The family business with 20 or so lorries was a nice atmosphere the owner a decent bloke and generally great work colleagues. The transport manager he employed was good and often paid compliments and thanks where needed.
The one man band. He didn’t really appear to appreciate us as think due his low wages he had high turn over of staff and he just seemed to be focussed on surviving. The work suited what I wanted. The owner seemed stressed a lot of the time and could lose his rag a bit but then turn throughly pleasant the next. Odd bloke. He employed a much suffering but very decent mechanic/transport manager. Bar one driver who was pretty vindictive the other 3 drivers were great colleagues.
Was this perhaps caused by their inexperience in the industry and potentially they bit off more than they could chew. Did they at least have regular work to give to the drivers?
I’ve always found that you’re often worked harder, expected to bow down (usually crap like you have holiday when we’re quiet, not when you want, don’t care of your leg falls off, your in work end of etc). Almost impossible getting an early finish or late start for appointments etc, and all for what? To be called a name rather than a reg. I stick to medium size firms. We run 60 trucks, the md knows everyone personally, and I have a lot of benefits associated with bigger fish. I know there are decent family firms, but just sharing my experience with a hand full I worked for
I ended my driving career with a small but long established family firm, just two lorries and I was the only employed driver, and enjoyed it more than when I drove for a large nationwide company even though the money was harder to earn and I put a lot of my own free time in. I felt ‘more valued’ I suppose but the large company treated me equally well for 22 years so had no complaints either way.
Pete.
I worked for a small family firm for 10yrs, for most of those 10yrs it was a really great place to work I was happy there. We were all treated like family and by and large everyone mucked in. The money was liveable with but not spectacular, sometimes if they knew you hadn’t gone away on your hols they’d ring to see if you wanted to work if they got busy, and because they didn’t use relief drivers your truck would be there waiting with all your gear in it untouched.
When My eldest 2 kids were due, they put Me on local work for a few weeks before the due date, and I was able to get back in time to get the Mrs to hospital. They also sent Mrs Snax a bunch of flowers both times. Though I only got a week off, and was then up the road tramping.
Contrast this to the Logistics firm I was working at when My 3rd child was born, to ensure I was close to home I took a month off, though it included 2 weeks company paternity pay, and 2 weeks annual leave.
The planners were generally inept and you had to make sure you covered your backside on every matter, or they’d use it against you at a later date. money was tidy though, and the holiday pay was not just a flat week, but an agreed rounded up figure, the truck/trailers all less than 5yrs/10yrs old. On a Friday, you could walk in the office after about 1-2pm and clear of home(if you weren’t down for Sat work).
I would say that small family firms will give you a better work environment, if you are willing to accept lower pay for longer hours, using older less reliable tackle. You will feel more fulfilled.
A logistics operator will give you better pay and benefits, with modern tackle, but you’ll allways be feeling like something is missing.
Or maybe that’s just Me 
Jake_Brake:
Freight Dog:
In the past I’ve worked for a family business that was quite a decent size and a one man band with 5 trucks.The family business with 20 or so lorries was a nice atmosphere the owner a decent bloke and generally great work colleagues. The transport manager he employed was good and often paid compliments and thanks where needed.
The one man band. He didn’t really appear to appreciate us as think due his low wages he had high turn over of staff and he just seemed to be focussed on surviving. The work suited what I wanted. The owner seemed stressed a lot of the time and could lose his rag a bit but then turn throughly pleasant the next. Odd bloke. He employed a much suffering but very decent mechanic/transport manager. Bar one driver who was pretty vindictive the other 3 drivers were great colleagues.
Was this perhaps caused by their inexperience in the industry and potentially they bit off more than they could chew. Did they at least have regular work to give to the drivers?
No no. He’s been in the game for years and always had a small fleet. Just the type of bloke he was. I think it was a character thing with him. We had regular work on containers.
I absolutely hate working for small family haulage firms, as in my experience, they’re stuck in a timewarp and still think it’s the 1970’s, where workers have no rights and you’re just a driver, and if you don’t like it…there’s the door…we’ll soon find another mug to fill the seat.
In my own particular case, they’re simply not geared up for anything unusual or out of the ordinary, such as disabled employees, like myself.
I do not want to work there, (I was TUPE’D in btw), and I absolutely detest the firm with every fibre of my being, but being physically disabled, if I leave this job, I’ll never work again.
Like anything in life, it has its pros and cons. I’ve only ever worked for smaller businesses. I wouldn’t have it any other way, my work and extra efforts are, respected and rewarded accordingly. As far as I’m concerned it’s the only way to roll!
The only downside I have found with small haulage firms, is that with having a handful of trucks they usually don’t have their own mechanics. That usually means the hassle of waiting around truck dealerships to get every minor problem sorted, or driving trucks that some over enthusiastic jobsworth has botched up, trying to do things above their skill level (or ability).
I’ve experienced both ends of the spectrum when it comes to Family run firms.
The first one I worked for, I had passed my Class 2 about 6 month prior so was grateful to be given a chance. The reason I was given a chance soon became apparent. The business was run by husband and wife, the husband being in charge of the yard and the wife being the transport manager.
I have never experienced a person since that woman who is so vile and unapproachable!!! 
I lasted 6 weeks at that place and the final straw was when they wanted me to “Just stick a bit of red in the tank to get you through today.” I was on locals delivering the pallet network stuff and the artic drivers used to get priority at their diesel pump. I threw the keys on the desk and walked at that very moment.
The second place is where I am still currently employed. It was a family run business and is now run by the brother and a friend. The brother is barely there so the other chap basically runs it on his own. I now drive one of their 3 artics, based permanently with 2 of our other drivers at a firm in Redditch. This means that we all work together and when things go wrong, we will try to deal with it ourselves, saving a call out or wasted time waiting. This includes changing airlines, bulbs, etc. all the simple stuff but it helps out.
In return, we are completely left alone, trusted and backed by our boss if things every go wrong. The transport company we are based at can be a bunch of pricks so our boss tells us to take it steady and let him know if they try to take the pee! I start at 6:30 and am usually finished by 16:30, the wages aren’t bad and my other colleagues are a good bunch. All in all, no complaints 
I can’t really imagine what it’s like to work for someone like the big yellow or green machines 
I currently work for an owner operator of which I have no issues. My job is probably the easiest job I’ll ever have again.
I get paid weekly (Have to remind him sometimes! ) Been to loads of great locations, great customers, decent kit. Shame I finish at the end of the month, due to my Wife wanting me at home more. So…Back to doing palletwork at a company near home in October. 
to be honest some of the smaller ones have been great others the owners struggled with the pressure, i have been at some big companies where i have loved it and a lot where i hated it.
good and bad in all if you ask me.
When I got a bad flue in my old job (a small family firm) , was told that “it’s man-flue, work it off”.