since i was made redundant from my last job witch was tramping i got another job on days,great ,no more sleeping in a box,i travel 60 miles a day to and from my job and i have no problems with that, i work on a late shift and early shift,early shifts are 02.45 starts and lates are any time after 08.00 ,my wages are £8.00 an hour guaranteed for 50 hours a week, i knew the wage before i started and dont have a problem with that,the problem i have is that on my interview i was told that there is over time on a saturday which i dont want as i am happy to spend my time at home now,was taken into the office today and told they are not happy that i am not doing saturdays ,i dont want to get up at 01.30 on a sat morning and not get home unti 16.30,i had enough of that when tramping ,so can they make me work or not on a weekend or what…
You will find in your contract that it says you have to comply with reasonable requests and this is a reasonable request.
Can’t understand that someone who has been in haulage doesn’t know that when they say “there’s overtime on a Saturday” that it means “you will be expected to work some Saturdays”.
Bear in mind that for the first 24 months you can be dismissed without any reasons whatsoever so if you want to keep this job then it might be an idea to do the odd Saturday.
The only get out you have is the maximum 60hr working week under working time regs so if it weren’t possible to do the run without going over the 60hrs you could say you legally couldn’t do it however that 60hrs does not include breaks or PoA. Your other defence is the 48hr average working week over a reference period but if you’ve not been there that long you’ll not be close to it and again that 48hrs doesn’t include breaks or PoA.
Not 100% sure on this but I reckon your contract of employment (assuming you have one) will say something along the lines of; 50 hours per week, plus a reasonable amount of overtime.
Now what is a reasonable amount of overtime? I’d say that in line with office/factory workers that 5 hours a week is reasonable. The fact that their contracted hours are around the 38 hr per week mark means that 43 worked hours is reasonable. Just because you’re “only” a lorry driver does NOT entitle your bosses to expect you to do 65+ hours.
As a matter of interest, do you actually do 50 hours per week? Or under or over normally?
the maoster:
Not 100% sure on this but I reckon your contract of employment (assuming you have one) will say something along the lines of; 50 hours per week, plus a reasonable amount of overtime.Now what is a reasonable amount of overtime? I’d say that in line with office/factory workers that 5 hours a week is reasonable. The fact that their contracted hours are around the 38 hr per week mark means that 43 worked hours is reasonable. Just because you’re “only” a lorry driver does NOT entitle your bosses to expect you to do 65+ hours.
As a matter of interest, do you actually do 50 hours per week? Or under or over normally?
ref
monday to friday is about 60 +hours ,i did do the odd saturday but i would rather have my time home at home and not doing 13 hours on a saturday ,i have not been given a contract,just going what i was told on my interview ,witch was if i wanted over time it was there if i wanted it as it is not compulsury to do it
Well I’d say that on 60+ hours you are certainly honouring your T’s & C’s so they can’t make you do more.
But, tipping a nod to Conors post you have to make sure of your position within the company ref length of employment etc. sometimes a compromise may be in order (not least to prevent them finding a spurious reason to finish you), maybe offering to work one every month or something.
Sometimes it’s important to stand up for yourself, sometimes it’s important not to bite the hand that feeds you.
That is something only you can decide though. Good luck with whatever you decide though.
haggis eater:
monday to friday is about 60 +hours
how many hours can you work in a week? 
As others have said, check the small print in the contract, if you have one, not all at my place have one & few had them at my last place. I currently tell my supervisor that I don’t work weekends as I don’t need or want to, however, if he is struggling getting someone in then tell me by start of play Thursday and I will help out, any later and I will probably have something planned. I’ve done 2 since January.
Surely overtime is just that, OVER time, and it is your choice whether you want to work extra or not, as it is over and above your contracted hours. Well thats what every manager and union rep has always told me.
Currently doing around 60 hours a week and have been asked (but refused) to do Saturdays, lorry washing. No thanks, don’t have my own wagon as I’m a mate/spare so I’ve no incentive to do anyone elses. Quite happy to wash down the one I’ve driven at the end of the day but no way am I setting up a pressure washer and washing down after a 14 hour shift (but paid for 11) thankyou.
haggis eater:
s,i travel 60 miles a day to and from my job and i have no problems with that,
you need your head read!!!
I don`t understand why people travel so far for a job. YOUR ALL CRAZY!!!
1.1 miles is enough for me. Think of the fuel costs!!!
truckerjimbo:
haggis eater:
s,i travel 60 miles a day to and from my job and i have no problems with that,you need your head read!!!
I don`t understand why people travel so far for a job. YOUR ALL CRAZY!!!
1.1 miles is enough for me. Think of the fuel costs!!!
i spend about £15 a day in petrol for an approximately 60 mile round trip but its a lot more profit than local. last night i did 15 hours at £10.20 an hour. even taking the break off i made £140. or i could spend next to nothing on petrol and do an 8 hour shift at £9 per hour. sunday, £9 or £14.20 per hour?