Bad experience or just the norm?

UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUMS THE UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUM (INTERACTIVE)
1

Hey guys,

I was fortunate to find a full-time Class 1 position shortly after passing my test. It was a bit of a commute (45 mins each way) but otherwise a seemingly great opportunity.

With no prior experience (the company knew that and I reminded them throughout the application process) I was sent out with one of their usual drivers for what I thought was a week of breaking in. Not so, as it turned out I would be with him for two days (I’d drive) then out solo on the third day and subsequent.

There was a lot to take in (especially considering there was all the customer’s depot procedures, docking numbers, loading/unloading times to remember) but I managed it pretty well. I had to take a few cuts when docking in the dark but otherwise no issues and more importantly no damage. I was told on the third day to bring an overnight bag as I was heading down to the Birmingham area for a few days the following day. Details were to follow I was told.

On the forth day I arrive at the depot and I’m handed a pile of paperwork and told to be back in two days,they will call with a back load location later. That was pretty much it, when I asked for more info I was spoken to like garbage and an imbecile. So, I head off and do the best I can over the next two and a bit days. Delivery times were/are, IMO, unrealistic and not having a clue to the exact locations of the sites (despite Googling them on my break) I got a little lost. Ended up trailing behind a couple of hours on the road home on the start of the final day.

trying to keep this short

Arrive back to…nothing. No; thank you, you did well/poor, how did you get on, did you have any problems. Simply told where to hand in the paperwork and sent home for weekly rest. Over the next month or so I get the impression they really couldn’t care less about the drivers. Driving hours theory is a lot different in practice and even when I ask for clarification on things I’m barely given the time of day. They seem more willing to hand out infractions than assistance (I had to make up my own record sheet to keep my 90/54’s in order and take note of reduced dailies and weeklies etc as there was zero feedback on these from the office).

In addition, and I think this is where I would like your feedback, the whole haulage division seemed to be stuck on fast forward permanently. Deadlines, as I said before, were super tight. Any delay at all and you’d be calling up the office having to justifying your tardiness and told ‘‘you have to be faster’’. Sure, just let me drive down the hard shoulder to skip the queuing traffic, or allow me to drive through villages on the limiter. At one point the transport manager told me that he ‘‘expects a 50mph average speed along…’’ a stretch of road that is mixed single/duel and also hilly and twisty. Even in a car you’d struggle to get that taking into account farm traffic, cyclists, Tesco etc.

I spoke with a few other drivers in the company and they felt too much pressure was put on me too soon. I can hardly disagree as I felt I was forever late and everything was done in a rush. When I mentioned this to the office I was told it would get better with experience. I’m sure it would but in the meantime all that rushing around is not good for me or the other road users if I happen to forget to check my brake lights, or wheels or load security because the pies (or whatever was in the boxes) must be in a warehouse by a certain time. In the end I said thanks (and I am thankful to the company for taking me on and giving me a chance) but no thanks.

On reflection, I do enjoy driving Class 1 but I’m not sure I’m cut out for a manic rush; speeding everywhere, risking my licence, my life and others, just so some food can be delivered on time. My question to the more experienced here is:

  • was this just a bad experience or is this the norm?

I’m willing (and currently) arranging applications etc but am I likely to simply encounter a similar situation? If so, are there any jobs, either Class 1 or 2, that have a more manageable work-load preferably without nights away?

Thanks

2

Welcome to the Wonderful World of Road Transport!

You have posted this in the wrong forum, the main one, the Professional Drivers Forum will get you more feedback, but I will say that I have worked for many, many firms like this before as I’m sure have many of us.

“How did it take you so long, it’s only two inches on the map?” :stuck_out_tongue:

3

This the the norm and the sort of job you will just have to crack on with until you have enough experience to move on to something better.

This is seemingly very common with newbies not being able to keep on top of the number of drops but unfortunately you will just have to if there is no other job available as they will be able to get someone more experienced from an agency who will manage to keep on top of it.

If, like in the old days, tins of beans were packed in boxes off the conveyor belt by hand it’s just how fast the belt goes and you’re expected to keep up they wouldn’t slow the whole factory down because they’ve got a new young lad in.

4

Wrong forum, this should either be in the newbies section, or (if you’re prepared for ■■■■ taking from the usual suspects) the main forum.

What you are experiencing is quite normal for general haulage, and the attitude knowledge and capability of each new generation that find their way into transport admin gets progressively worse, but only reflecting the general deterioration of the country as a whole, led monkey see monkey do style by dishonourable high ranking politicians etc of all hues.

There are other ways to work, i suggest you would be better pursuing supermarket type work, though that will have its downsides…there might be no nights away but expect to be on a shift rota including weekends, nights, rolling shifts, different start times etc, and don’t expect anything like a normal human capable of even basic courtesy to be running you there either.

Some blokes are still getting the treatment you’ve had after 30 plus years in the game.

5

Get another job, yours sounds ■■■■.

6

■■■■, so I have: sorry guys/mods. Could someone with authority move it across please, or shall I repost in the correct section?

Well it’s somewhat reassuring that I’m not alone, but then again if the experience I had transcends all areas of haulage, seemingly regardless of experience, I might stop before I end up jumping from the frying pan into the proverbial.

I’m not sure what I expected (although I did somewhat foolishly brush aside words of warning) but it wasn’t/isn’t this. Having said that, I have a couple of leads that I’m going to follow up. Not that I wish to waste anyone’s time, although I’d like to know for sure before I try something else…maybe politics.

Thanks for the feedback.

7

There are lots of drivers out there who have the experience to do the job, yet the company give you, a totally inexperienced driver the position.

Could mean two things, one it is a crap job and nobody with any experience would touch it with a barge pole, or two, they see something in you and are confident that you will turn out ok.

Yes it’s a bit daunting at first, you’re still finding your feet and in your case you’re lacking confidence, but that’s how it is for most of us when we start a new job. We may have the driving skills part sorted (unless we’re backing up with a crowd of drivers watching us :laughing: ) but we still have all the other procedural stuff to learn.

I just started at a new company in April, I’ve been driving for a living since 1985, yet I was still nervous of some of the procedural stuff and as well as having experience, I’m also a very confident person.

So hang in there, every single lorry driver out there was in the same situation you are now in at the beginning of their careers, we all learned to MTFU, you will too, it may take a while, but it will happen.

8

It’s the job. Get the experience and reference under your belt that’s more important. Give it six months or a year and then keep your eyes open for other jobs.

Like everything once you’ve done it a few times it becomes easier. As for getting the hurry up just ignore it. They all do that no matter What you do.

Praise is normally if no one says anything at all to you.

9

Sounds like the norm, being a new driver the job you describe is the type of work where you actually learn to be self sufficient a bit of a baptism of fire but one on which you’ll look back on and realize how much you actually did learn.

Also when you actually find the type of work you love then you will appreciate it all the more, some drivers like the type of work you describe I personally think they have a screw loose, maybe a job direct for a Supermarket would suit you better, everyone one has their own preference.

My advice is to ■■■■ it up until something better comes along, use your head when looking, go for something with good benefits not just take home pay a proper pension and holiday pay, there is no money in for profit transport which is what you are currently involved in.

One final point, the office generally have little contact with good drivers.

10

Fom what I have read on the forum it looks like you just have to get on with it. If your late due to situations out of your control and staying legal then there is nowt to worry about. Remember, next time you get ready for work, don’t forget to wear your thicker skin rather that your everyday skin, that should do the trick :smiley:

Chin up and crack on!

11

The jobs changed,it’s now 15 mins too exit yard ,if not WHY,30 mins from entering yard ,drop tri,get pods,diesel up,pick up try,leave,if not 30 mins WHY,stop for a quick pee,unscheduled stop,WHY ,divert due too accident,road closure ,WHY,blowout,fitter takes 2 hrs to get there and change tyre,driver gets five phone calls askingWHY it’s taken so long .
Get back early and asked too be signed up too go home early ,your DEFRAUDING the company of money,get back late your dragging the job out,again DEFRAUDING the company out of money .
Disiplinarys procedures ,marks on files etc,etc,etc .
I don’t know what too say about the job too be honest,other than it’s not what it was ,gone too the dogs .
Best bit is you got more done when they left you too just get on with the job :unamused: :unamused: :unamused:
There you go,probally not helped you in the slightest ,but it’s got some things off my chest :wink: :laughing:

12

I had some nightmare days when I first started driving & no, you don’t always get a pat on the back when you return with your signed notes. It’s all a learning curve and things will get better for you pretty quickly… before you know it you’ll be boxing off drops & collections in no time and finding your workload pretty straight forward. I look back at some of the runs I struggled with and wonder what I was playing at!

For heavens sake though, don’t speed & rush about for anybody elses benefit. ■■■■ that.

13

Get a job driving for one of the main supermarkets. You won’t get any of the ■■■■ that you’ve mentioned.

14

Should not of quit. Just carried on doing it all legal then when they tried too out you argue the toss LEGAL LEGAL LEGAL :exclamation: :exclamation: your right they wrong

15

first job is always a baptism of fire, the test &etc doesn’t in any way prepare yo for the ■■■■ you have to put up with when you start, although the job/company does sound like a pile of ■■■ so ■■■■ it up, gain experience for a few months then look for something better.

Most of all keep it legal and safe, its your life and licence you only have one of each, they (at the moment) can always find another mug to sit in their lorry.

I work agency part time so different companies/units/runs and am always prepared for the first shift at a new company or new run to be a bit of a slog and the inevitable “but the regular drive does it quicker/differently…” I often joke that I’m never knowingly given the same run twice.

If you can speak to the other drivers who have been to the places on your run and pick up any tips you can, also you’ll speed up as you get more experience and little things you have to think about now become second nature.

16

Usually, you get the most help from the other drivers and not the know nothing office staff. They have their own problems too you know.

All the general hauliers I have worked for have a basic core of customers and the drops/collections keep coming up, so you will learn the routes and routines fairly quickly. When you get a new one, try asking another driver for advice; it’s rare that they won’t be helpful.

My advice is stick with it for a while, but keep your ears and eyes open for a better alternative. The local hauliers will all know each other’s business, and it may well be that with 12 months experience working there, the other firms will welcome you with open arms.

Keep smiling, it can only get better:)

17

Almost:
Arrive back to…nothing. No; thank you, you did well/poor, how did you get on, did you have any problems. Simply told where to hand in the paperwork and sent home for weekly rest

What did you expect? This is a real blokes job where you do not get the poncy hand holding personal support ■■■■■■■■ typically practised in the public sector. The job is one where you are expected to be able to be entirely self sufficient and to be able to sort out problems on your own because a lot of the time you are because you’ll be hundreds of miles away from the base and working at times before and after the office is open.

You do your job, you get your pay, you go home. Want a personal development officer and someone to pat you on the back and tell you what a good little boy you’ve been then leave haulage because you won’t find it here. It comes as quite a culture shock to people who have been used to environments where there’s a HR team, lots of support given by management and the whole barrel of politically correct cotton wool wrapping crap that goes on in office type and public sector jobs.

18

You sound like me. I’ve just started a new job and I’m supposed to learn about 20+ drops in an area that I’ve never been in. I’ve been with a regular driver for the last two days but I’m expected to be out on my own tomorrow. I know where the drops are, its getting to them is the issue.

The guy who’s teaching me said, “you will get lost, you will be late, you will knock over stacks of bread, you will screw up the paper work and you get zb from the other drivers, but this is your first week so keep plugging away.”

There were points today that I thought I should just jack it in and look for something else but you’ll never get anywhere if you keep jumping from job to job. I’m going to stick it for a month or two then I’ll go for my class 1, hopefully they may have openings for class 1 drivers so I don’t even need to leave the company.

19

It sounds like the typical type of zb job involving either local,or even worse the combination of distance and lots of drops,that need to be avoided if possible.The clue is the reference to the required average of 50 mph in a situation whereby you’d realistically be lucky to average 35-40.If it was me I’d walk away ASAP because too much pressure and road safety don’t go together.While usually guvnors with that type of mindset won’t be prepared to listen to reason ( excuses in their view ).

20

Almost, you are in an excellent position.
You got what you wanted from them (experience)
They sound like idiots so you need to have no sympathy for them when you part company.
You are trying too hard to please them.
always ask for maps and directions for each job. If they are not forthcoming , always say “that will add an hour or two onto each drop”
Insist on having all giddy-up instructions in writing for future communication with the Traffic Commissioner when the Operator’s Licence comes up for renewal
Always carry a book or newspaper so that you can park up and take a break whenever you feel tired or tense. Remember the legal rest/break laws are minima, not maxima.
It is very unlikely they will sack you as there is a huge driver shortage which is about to get monumentally worse. Don’t worry about jeopardizing your reference as other potential local employers will already know they are idiots and your departure will be regarded as a career positive.
Good Luck
Enjoy

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