Retro rob:
Is this the same Bill Chippington that run Blue and White Merck delivering ink to newspaper printworks? If so seen two this week pumping out at daily mirror in Watford!
That now belong to bedfords.
That’s right. Saw one of the tanker boys on the M62 on Wednesday (to my surprise). Made a couple of enquiries and apparently Bedford’s have taken over the Flint Ink (Wolverhampton) contract but as they haven’t got the kit they are using Chippie vehicles and have employed Chippie drivers. Seems Bedford’s have also taken on a lot of the curtain work, particularly jobs out of Corby and Kettering.
Apparently the fleet service plan was a little overlooked. Some of the Scanias hadn’t seen a fitter since January. Maybe not such a bad thing that he went to the wall.
One of the main reasons haulage companies struggle is regulations and jobsworth drivers that interpret the regulations to be less productive.
They will sit on a bay on other work for two hours, then pull off the bay and take a break.
They will sit for hours while a fitter turns up to change a bulb or fuse.
They will refuse to do something before the boss finishes his sentence.
Can’t stand these Phoenix companies as well that go bust through mis management & then start up the very next day with a clean slate, take Woodalls for example went bump a while back, now has all new kit with the debt wiped clean.
limeyphil:
One of the main reasons haulage companies struggle is regulations and jobsworth drivers that interpret the regulations to be less productive.
They will sit on a bay on other work for two hours, then pull off the bay and take a break.
They will sit for hours while a fitter turns up to change a bulb or fuse.
They will refuse to do something before the boss finishes his sentence.
The above comment is typical of the reasons why drivers are treated like pooh. The most militant drivers are far more flexible than office/warehouse “workers”, and a ■■■■ sight more productive. The reasons drivers usually act like that is because of the way they are being spoken too. Good bosses get more from drivers than the dinosaurs that occupy most TM offices.By the way is it ok for me to be writing this or should I be polishing the fleet ready for next week Phil ? Free of charge naturally.
limeyphil:
One of the main reasons haulage companies struggle is regulations and jobsworth drivers that interpret the regulations to be less productive.
They will sit on a bay on other work for two hours, then pull off the bay and take a break.
They will sit for hours while a fitter turns up to change a bulb or fuse.
They will refuse to do something before the boss finishes his sentence.
I’m often suprised by drivers who think they have to be on other work on a bay, even though they’re not involved.
Knew of a few on containers like that, and met 1 on fridges last week who told me I was breaking the law because I put it on break - because I wasn’t free to dispose of my time… 
That old chestnut 
So, sometimes I don’t think they’re being militant as much as just incorrectly informed and want to avoid a fine. But 1 lad on containers literally sat on a bay for 6hrs on other work (after driving there) and then pulled onto the road for a break and still ended up with an infringement due to going over 6hrs
limeyphil:
One of the main reasons haulage companies struggle is regulations and jobsworth drivers that interpret the regulations to be less productive.
They will sit on a bay on other work for two hours, then pull off the bay and take a break.
They will sit for hours while a fitter turns up to change a bulb or fuse.
They will refuse to do something before the boss finishes his sentence.
WE are expressly forbidden from doing just this.Its regarded as wilfull disodedience.Reconcile that with your vision of how drivers are unhelpful?
Montmerency:
limeyphil:
One of the main reasons haulage companies struggle is regulations and jobsworth drivers that interpret the regulations to be less productive.
They will sit on a bay on other work for two hours, then pull off the bay and take a break.
They will sit for hours while a fitter turns up to change a bulb or fuse.
They will refuse to do something before the boss finishes his sentence.WE are expressly forbidden from doing just this.Its regarded as wilfull disodedience.Reconcile that with your vision of how drivers are unhelpful?
I couldn’t work for a dictatorship company like that.
How do you do it?
For me being an hgv driver isn’t just about getting from a to b, there’s much more to it. I’ve always worked for myself or small family firms where getting the job done was a priority, Fixing my own lorry was the norm, just things like changing a wheel, fixing a blown brake chamber diaphram, changing bulbs and fuses, but nothing too OTT.
You’re a rare breed though Phil.
I know I will probably sound a bit “stooped” here, but what the heck is POA, bearing in mind I have been away a very long time !
JLS Driver SOS:
I know I will probably sound a bit “stooped” here, but what the heck is POA, bearing in mind I have been away a very long time !
period of availability! Basically a con! Illegal even! A period of time you’ll KNOW IN ADVANCE! but abuse for at least 21 hours a week so you can work 84 hrs a week 
POA stands for Period Of Availability.It often means that you are available to work but there is no wagon for you or no load.
saw a Bill Chippington rigid today, that reminded me of this thread 
Silver_Surfer:
You’re a rare breed though Phil.
my breed was once common.
“Too many trucks chasing to little work” yet there’s a driver shortage how does that work
Well you all make valid points but you all miss what is really going. Yes from the point of view from the transport industry there are rising costs as there are in all the other industries. You’re getting close with to many people chasing the same work. But the problem isn’t yours to sort out, or at least you have very little to do with the circumstances.
You have to step back and have a look at the bigger picture, not with transport but with business and industry in general.
Most business, and I’m not talking about transport here doesn’t give a stuff about road haulage. Most businesses are at the game of making as much profit for them selves as they can at what ever cost they can pass on to any one else, be it raw product, labor, power, or transport, or any other part of the equation. Gone are the days when an old company had loyalties to an old business partner, where they did business with each other for years and nothing was ever reviewed.
Whats been happening for years is the consumer,( and we are all consumers ) wants/ na demands the best value for money we can get, so it’s down to manufacturers to cut everything to the bone so they them selves can survive.
We’ve all seen the fallout of Thatcherism, and the start of the exodus of jobs to 3rd world countries so that the head office can produce a higher yield for the ever more expecting faceless share holders. It’s about profit at all costs and preferably cost to someone else and not your self, everyone in the chain is now expected to be part of it.
If you are working for a company that is part of it, and most of us are, then you are expected to do the job for as little as possible.
Lets say I was running a company that was making a product, I have to be profitable for my share holder, they expect their share prices to give them a high dividend and perform well.
I’ve now got rid of my European work force because my team of accountants said so, everything is made in China and shipped cause I can make a bigger profit, or at least as big a profit as my business rival.
Whats left? transport and distribution ( trucks and shops ). Shops are easy, that’s a flat fee, rent is set at high street level or a site in the newest shopping mall. I’ll put some young kid in that’s keen and green, just out of collage after doing some 2 year course in business. As there is now a load of cheap eastern European labor available I’ll employ them as well as the government will probably have some scheme that will pay half their wage. And most locals wouldn’t be seen dead doing a job like that any way, because work like that is under them and they’d be better of on the dole ( well there’s another problem ).
So that leaves transport of goods.
I don’t give a stuff about local people,I’ve already proved that buy moving as much as possible over seas. I certainly don’t care about trucks or road transport as long as I get my stuff to my shops. I’m going to go with the cheapest person that will give me a fixed lock in time scale contract. I don’t give a stuff if some time in the future he has aspirations of going on holiday, buying new vehicles, VOSA, sending his kids to a good public school. I don’t care about him or his circumstances.
If he goes bust, there are plenty more out there who are willing to sacrifice them selves for my cause. There will still be plenty left by the time I get my golden hand shake, and I’m a modern day business hero, didn’t I do well for my share holders. As long as I get ahead I don’t care about any one else. That’s the way modern business is, we’re all part of the gear box whether we like it or not.
Speaking from a personal note, I am only loyal to my own wallet, I will always get the best value for money I can, I don’t give a stuff who did what underhand back stabbing deal on the other side of the world to get what I want for the lowest price in their shop as long as it’s cheaper and better then the next guy.
Everyone is getting the shaft not just transport, we’re all part of the problem… I don’t have the answer…
From the transport side of things what can be done about it? Well the government has certainly shown it’s hand by opening up the cabotage laws and allowing of shore haulage to come in and have a go. It’s already said everything it needs to about what it thinks regarding British road transport. It looks like it’s going the same way as the steel industry, manufacturing, coal, and ship building, once something to be proud of and a world leader, the government has decided to reduce it into scrap and give away what’s left.
Since the times of the Tudors, Britain has been a place for the elite, ran by a few the benefit of a few, and if some could hold on to the coat tails then there was a bit of ride until they got thrown of. Through out it’s history it has been old families and old money that have had all the power, the working class man has never really had a say and is merely a pawn on a carefully controlled board, their only use being as consumers to line the pocket of the already rich.
A big global change is coming where there will be a massive equalization between rich and poor not just socially but across nations and as in all wars there will be winners and loosers.
Jeff…
Silver_Surfer:
You’re a rare breed though Phil.
Maybe in Britain. Doing basic maintenance and small repairs of the vehicle is still considered a norm amongst your favourite, so despised, flip-flop brigade… That’s one of the reasons why they are cheaper.
Either game on or lock the thread now 
Jelliot:
We’ve all seen the fallout of Thatcherism, and the start of the exodus of jobs to 3rd world countries
Since the times of the Tudors, Britain has been a place for the elite, ran by a few the benefit of a few, and if some could hold on to the coat tails then there was a bit of ride until they got thrown of. Through out it’s history it has been old families and old money that have had all the power, the working class man has never really had a say and is merely a pawn on a carefully controlled board, their only use being as consumers to line the pocket of the already rich.
A big global change is coming where there will be a massive equalization between rich and poor not just socially but across nations and as in all wars there will be winners and loosers. .
The idea of ‘massive equalisation between rich and poor across nations’ has been the biggest mistake of the bs socialist cause which our unions mistakenly followed and partly caused the mess that the place is in now by losing their credibility.Britain was actually going in the right direction up to the 1970’s by having strong unions ( but which aren’t working for the ideals of socialism ) which is the only way that the working class and the economy can move forward.
Ironically the issue of Thatcherism and resulting globalisation of our previous wealth creating industrial base is mostly based on taking advantage of what socialism always leads to in the form of the Chinese type totalitarian system of exploited workers under draconian rule.IE we’re actually now living under a worst of all worlds situation,of a combination,of the worst aspects of capitalism joined with,what the bs ideals of the workers of the world unite leads to,in the form of communism.There’s a big difference between the simple issue of workers uniting just to get the best deal for themselves as opposed to the bs idea that international revolution,in the form of socialism,is the way forward.The former will put the economy where it was in the early 1970’s while the latter will result in just yet more of the same.IE just replacing one bunch of greedy theiving zb’s setting themselves up as ‘leaders’ with another.