Just to paint the picture, i work for a large logistics firm who have contracts all over the UK, the contract i’m working on at the mo is due for renewal next year so we’re bending over backwards for the ‘client’ in hope of getting it renewed next year.
A lot of the deliveries are timed for when the customers open up in the morning, mostly 6-8am deliveries, usually 3-4 hours away from the yard meaning stupid o’clock starts, 3 or 4am.
Quite often we turn up at the allotted time to be told ‘we’re sorting our own lads out 1st drive, we’ll give you a shout when we’re ready’. No biggy really, kettle on, bowl of frosties & watch the world go by, whilst at the same time thinking i could’ve done with the extra hour in bed.
So, to get to the point, we’ve now been told that the client is worried about losing a big customer, so from now on, we are expected to arrive at the customers premises an hour before they open. Now i’ve been driving for 30+ years & i’m struggling to remember if i’ve ever heard anything so stupid in all that time. I’m amazed tbh, & a bit ■■■■■■ off that my TM doesn’t have the cahoonas to tell the client that what they’re suggesting is utter ■■■■■■■■.
Can anyone enlighten me as to why our being there an hour before they open would be of any benefit to anyone?
Anyone else got examples of ‘baffling orders from above?’
We get it all the time especially for building sites where we are tipping steel or concrete stairs and landings where they are timed deliverys for the crane to offload. E.g Monday morning steel tip for 8am you know the lads on site won’t start till 9 plus with it being Monday the crane has to get to the site then find a safe place to set up probably taking upto an hour. We just do as we are told and have an hour and half on bed all paid for
Ive learnt to just get on with it now, there is no point in reasoning or suggesting anything even though you know for a fact its going to go ■■■■ up, the best thing to do is just let it happen and then give your feedback should they want it for future reference.
Whenever possible i’ve parked outside the night before. If they want you in a few hours after your booking time, Then at least you havn’t started a card.
limeyphil:
Whenever possible i’ve parked outside the night before. If they want you in a few hours after your booking time, Then at least you havn’t started a card.
I’m a bit cagey about revealing the exact details, you never know who’s reading the forums, & I don’t need the grief.
I’m paid daily rate, not hourly, & away all week. All legal & above board. Hopefully sense will prevail come next year, when/if the contract is renewed.
It is staggering the amount of money the big logistics firms waste, up until recently we’ve had 2 agency drivers every day starting at 4am, on standby, just in case some one doesn’t turn up on time for their load. What we deliver is not time sensitive in most cases, but, the client wants us on the doorstep at opening time, & we drivers are expected to ‘do as we’re told’. They’ve even employed someone to ring around all the drivers & subbies we use, 5 mins before we’re due to arrive, to check we’re on time.
What you have to think of is, Not all firms are paid per mile or per load. In many cases it’s per day, week, or for a contracted period. A crane, slingers, air bag and netting crew cost a heck of a lot more than a lorry load of concrete.
So if the customer wants to see you there before work commences, Then that’s what they get. They’re paying for you to do sod all, and the boss is getting paid for a lorry that’s not moving.
However, If you’re not there, Then the haulier will probably get a penalty.
It would be better if the boss explained all this to the drivers. Then when the construction company tells a driver to wait outside, then rings the office to say “where’s my delivery”, The driver will know exactly what the git is up to.
I hear what you’re saying & I wouldn’t mention the firm you work for either, there are a lot of lurkers who read the site.
If this procedure helps secure the contract & your job by even 1% more with the client seeing you don’t have to do it but do so anyway, it’s a good thing is it not?
Often,which does happen,but when it happens time after time,week after week,year after year you do wonder if the lunatics have taken over the asylum.
I’ve given up now,yea whatever,just don’t loose any sleep over it,
