Samworths wanted up to 40 Class one drivers thats why I posted it on here. They wanted shift changes for a reason I cant reveal on here.
They received several hundred applications. Out of those, 48 were chosen as suitable.Out of the 48 only 15 were deemed to be good enough and offered jobs( admittedly they do have high standards ).
When questioned if they were going to readvertise they said there was no point because the quality of driver was not out there to be had.
I can understand this because the standard of truck driving has definitely deteriorated over the past years.I think that the influx of foreign drivers has added to this, although I would not say they were wholly responsible because I do know a few very good ones…Some of the worst I have seen on the night shift is the trunker parcel carriers. If I had to drive with the same speed and desperation as they do to complete my shift I would give the job up today.
Thoughts anybody?
Seen the odd bit of bad driving in fact may have been lucky once or twice myself.
No doubt only 15 wanted the job after meeting Samworths interview team.
The quality is out there, but usually in well paid jobs where the employer appreciates them as much as they appreciate the good job.
I don’t know what Samworths pay, but assume from the fact they have to advertise that its the usual ■■■■ poor offering with some bloody any 5 from 7 shifts all hours of the day to suit the operation.
Companies paying well do not, never have, and never will, advertise for staff.
Juddian:
The quality is out there, but usually in well paid jobs where the employer appreciates them as much as they appreciate the good job.I don’t know what Samworths pay, but assume from the fact they have to advertise that its the usual ■■■■ poor offering with some bloody any 5 from 7 shifts all hours of the day to suit the operation.
Companies paying well do not, never have, and never will, advertise for staff.
If it was a ■■■■■ job I wouldnt have posted the vacancies on here.
If it’s anything like the stobarts jobs with their “Salary: According to Eddie Stobart Rates of Pay” which is TF what exactly?
First and last thing I want to know about any job is how much do I get paid, and what hoops do I have to jump through to get that much? If one has the skills to jump over the moon, given the right package, then why settle for some wages that are made up by a guy who think’s he’s running a greengrocers in the early 1950’s, worried about ration books still!?
'Times 'are ‘ard’ arguments for low pay are wearing a bit thin these days. I’ve always been a bit suspicious of firms who seem to run nationwide, but don’t have any large depots in the home counties… Kinda smacks of penny pinching before they start, but maybe I’m just being paranoid. 
If I have it judged right, it’s easier to get a northern tramper @ £7.50ph to come all the way down here and ■■■■ around in laybys each day, rather than lay on some local bod like me @ £10ph to do the same job without driving to the other end of the country to do it… I thought Fuel was the big dent in haulier outlay these days, with wages a distant second… THe bigger the gap between NORTHERN pay and the price of fuel (which ISN’T cheaper up north) then the more trampers are going to get laid off in favour of opening new depots “daarn sarrth” and taking on the local talent. I’ll do nights out as required of me, but I’ve not yet had to do one since I’ve been working agency. Our kent laybys are full of stobart, irish, nobby, and other continental park-ups. Last time I ventured up north, I marvelled at how crisp and clear the roads are, with only the occasional shiny 4x4 driving by at night where the laybys are… Where’s the LGV park-ups? There were a few continentals, but where’s the home crew?
My guess as to why parcel carriers demonstrate little skill (eg. when they tear past in the roadworks, or third-lane us etc.) is that emphasis is on legal standing rather than actual experience & skills. (Eg. nine points with a clean criminal record makes one ‘OK’!) It might be my imagination, but I get the impression that parcel carriers employ a lot more inner city staff too, which perhaps lends its inner city culture to the night shift trunker… Just a thought! 
I dunno about everyone else around here, but I would hope that we all do this for money rather than the chance to wear a crisp brightly coloured uniform, work for a household name, or possibly get on the telly. Big Deal. 
Give me wealth in obsurity any day over famous poverty. 
and what is the pay like at samworth brothers?
do you get your own lorry?
do they pay by the hour?
can you take the lorry home when you finish?
is it UK or european work?
they are the questions i’d need to know, and that’s before i interview them.
YARDDOG:
Samworths wanted up to 40 Class one drivers thats why I posted it on here. They wanted shift changes for a reason I cant reveal on here.
They received several hundred applications. Out of those, 48 were chosen as suitable.Out of the 48 only 15 were deemed to be good enough and offered jobs( admittedly they do have high standards ).
When questioned if they were going to readvertise they said there was no point because the quality of driver was not out there to be had.
I can understand this because the standard of truck driving has definitely deteriorated over the past years.I think that the influx of foreign drivers has added to this, although I would not say they were wholly responsible because I do know a few very good ones…Some of the worst I have seen on the night shift is the trunker parcel carriers. If I had to drive with the same speed and desperation as they do to complete my shift I would give the job up today.
Thoughts anybody?
I can totally understand that. 
I have done parcels trunks for two companies, both wanted me to break the drivers regs, just to get the load to the depot for the alloted time. I came under a lot of pressure to break the law, but refused and parked up in a lay-by for a 45, even though they told me I was not allowed to do so 
They then went on to explain the hassle it would cause at the hub and how inconvenient it would be for a lot of other drivers.
The current company I work for have increased my workload…I told them I only wanted to do two days a week…I have been doing 3 or 4, so before it got to be a full time job, I told them to lay off me, they are not happy! Because of this, I can only assume that good drivers are indeed hard to come by 
But seriously, to be a good driver is so much more than driving, it is attitude and professionalism and doing everything you can for the company you can, whilst ensuring you and they, are running legal.
Your attitude will effect the way in which you drive.
You need a brain too…To ensure that when you call the office with any issues, you have as much information that you can give, several solutions and the mind-set of the people they are dealing with.
Don`t lie, as you always get found out and be totally honest at all times, even if you know they are not going to want to hear it…Reality is the only thing that can be dealt with, fantasy cannot, in any way, shape or form.
I’ve done agency work for Samworths in the past & they are certainly not a company that would condone breaking the rules. After two of their motors were involved in the fatal last year on the M5 I’d imagine that defensive driving is a big part of what they are looking for, & many drivers these days do not even know the meaning of the phrase, let alone actually practice it.
But anyone who is looking for a job, the page to upload your CV is http://www.samworthbrothers.co.uk/careers-submitcv.asp
A hint as to where the depots are,would be nice on their web page
My Agency mates tell me what an awful experience working for one of the parcels companies is. Cab phone constantly ringing, must ring in if expecting to be more than 3 minutes late to the hub, journey times that are only just achievable in good conditions if everything goes right and which take no account of traffic, weather, late departure or a toilet break,on what could be a 4 hour drive or more.
As for Samworths, it would be good to hear in general terms what the main reason for rejection was. Was it attitude or bad driving?
i have also worked for samworths they have depots in leicester and bristol that i know of most start times were either early morning 3-4-5am or early pm the work and equipment was pretty good a few reloads in the middle of nowhere but most the staff would give you maps and help to find them. it was just a bit too far to travel for me! the agency wasnt great money but the job was easy the staff canteen was dirt cheap and the work clean and easy! 
limeyphil:
and what is the pay like at samworth brothers?
do you get your own lorry?
do they pay by the hour?
can you take the lorry home when you finish?
is it UK or european work?they are the questions i’d need to know, and that’s before i interview them.
Average
No
Yes
No
UK.
YARDDOG:
Samworths wanted up to 40 Class one drivers thats why I posted it on here. They wanted shift changes for a reason I cant reveal on here.
They received several hundred applications. Out of those, 48 were chosen as suitable.Out of the 48 only 15 were deemed to be good enough and offered jobs( admittedly they do have high standards ).
When questioned if they were going to readvertise they said there was no point because the quality of driver was not out there to be had.
I can understand this because the standard of truck driving has definitely deteriorated over the past years.I think that the influx of foreign drivers has added to this, although I would not say they were wholly responsible because I do know a few very good ones…Some of the worst I have seen on the night shift is the trunker parcel carriers. If I had to drive with the same speed and desperation as they do to complete my shift I would give the job up today.
Thoughts anybody?
They’ve peed a load of drivers off and a fair few are even putting in for jobs at the new co-op at Avonmouth.
bald bloke:
limeyphil:
and what is the pay like at samworth brothers?
do you get your own lorry?
do they pay by the hour?
can you take the lorry home when you finish?
is it UK or european work?they are the questions i’d need to know, and that’s before i interview them.
Average
No
Yes
No
UK.
and they think they can pick and choose.
no wonder decent drivers don’t apply. 
war1974:
i have also worked for samworths they have depots in leicester and bristol that i know of most start times were either early morning 3-4-5am or early pm the work and equipment was pretty good a few reloads in the middle of nowhere but most the staff would give you maps and help to find them. it was just a bit too far to travel for me! the agency wasnt great money but the job was easy the staff canteen was dirt cheap and the work clean and easy!
I’ve found myself parked up in Leicester of late, and have noticed oodles of samworth trucks turning into the meridian estate… Since I’m there at around midnight, I’d really like to to know if these guys are just finishing a late late, or doing an overnighter with a turnaround going back to Bristol…
I wouldn’t be thinking at this point they’ve just started a shift!
Primia Facia, it looks like Bristol rather than Leicester is the place to go if you want to pick up plummy night trunks like me…
He lifted his hand off the mouse button sadly, realising that living in Kent isn’t going to make the cut…
Leicester, Bristol & Callington (Cornwall) are their main distribution places, and as Bristol is in the middle I’d guess it would be the busiest. They (Samworths manufacturing) also have other places around Leicester, a factory at Beaumont Leys, salad place at Glenfield and the main original depot up near Melton, so it could also be inter-depot stuff.
“They’ve peed a load of drivers off and a fair few are even putting in for jobs at the new co-op at Avonmouth.”
Thats true Bald Bloke. Trouble is half the drivers are earning over £35000 and a couple close to £40000 a year so obviously they think their wages are going to be affected when a salaried 42hour 4on 4off comes in which the company want to introduce.
But the company are offering extra shifts in addition to this basic and it is possible to do a 5 shift/ 6 shift alternate weeks giving £39000 a year if you dont mind all the hours (not for me incidentally 5shifts are my max, that will give me approx £32000 ) thats enough for me, dont like working too hard!!
But you know how it is with some drivers especially if they have worked somewhere for 10, 15, 20 years like a lot of Samworths drivers have and suddenly they are faced with change. They just dont want to know and wont accept any change however its dressed up.