Darkside:
robroy:
The o/p could have been a bit more tactful in his wording if he wanted to have a pop at Downtons.
Most of us know there are a few Downton drivers on here so why choose to ridicule them in the ‘‘WHO WOULD WORK for ■■■■ poor pay like this’’ bit. 
A comment aimed at Downtons themselves, but not knocking the existing drivers would have sufficed.
I’m assuming he is agency in a lucrative area, on more than average money, so it is maybe a gloating excercise, who knows.(…who cares)
I have worked for firms abroad and UK on mega money, but unlike the o/p, my level of maturity exceeded coming on here having a pop at those who were not and gloating.
I am on average money now, but at the moment the job suits, I aint maxing out anymore, I’m home every weekend, I know what I’m doing every week, I have a reasonably quiet life on it so it suits me.(I aint a Downtons driver btw)
I suspect the Downton lads on here are the same, so let them crack on with it, and I am sure they won’t give a flying [zb] what the o/p thinks of them anyway.
On top of the basic they also get DCPC paid for and time attending course paid for, parking paid, £25000 DIS payment.
They do t get paid to sit for the dcpc although the course is paid you time aint
Surely if Downtons manage to have drivers for all of the lorries that require drivers, then they are paying exactly the right rate of pay?
Harry Monk:
Surely if Downtons manage to have drivers for all of the lorries that require drivers, then they are paying exactly the right rate of pay?
The work suits some people though, away all week, good kit, easy work, lots of hours, 2 of those scenarios wouldn’t suit me though .
bald bloke:
Harry Monk:
Surely if Downtons manage to have drivers for all of the lorries that require drivers, then they are paying exactly the right rate of pay?
The work suits some people though, away all week, good kit, easy work, lots of hours, 2 of those scenarios wouldn’t suit me though .
lot’s of hours and away all week■■? 
tango boy:
bald bloke:
Harry Monk:
Surely if Downtons manage to have drivers for all of the lorries that require drivers, then they are paying exactly the right rate of pay?
The work suits some people though, away all week, good kit, easy work, lots of hours, 2 of those scenarios wouldn’t suit me though .
lot’s of hours and away all week■■?
Yeah you know me well, actually one night out a week wouldn’t be too bad but no more .
I haven’t worked for them, but have seen a goodly number of their blokes doing changeovers, and had a chat with a few, they have a good share of competent experienced drivers so they must be doing something right.
I’m on own account, and i would agree with the general idea that OA is where the best T’s and C’s are to be found, ie the best pay for shortish hours even if you do have to work regular weekends and bank holidays, which suit me and her as it happens but won’t be for everyone.
However there is loads and loads of H&S and management in transport now who micromanage everything, memos by the dozen etc etc.
Maybe, and this is only surmising, Downtons tend to work like an old school haulier, call a spade a bloody spade and so long as the job gets done leave the lads to it, not breathing down their neck cos they got an overspeed twice in two weeks and other such ■■■■■■■■.
Lots of drivers, good drivers too, just want to be left alone to get on with their work without the phone going every 5 minutes and some bloody school leaver planner trying to squeeze more blood from the stone, and then analysing their days work via the myriad of spying equipment so many are fitting.
One thing to bare in mind with Downtons at Dunstable, is that the planner, Simon Wright, is legendary. And planners only usually reach such status for all the wrong reasons. 
Juddian:
I haven’t worked for them, but have seen a goodly number of their blokes doing changeovers, and had a chat with a few, they have a good share of competent experienced drivers so they must be doing something right.
I’m on own account, and i would agree with the general idea that OA is where the best T’s and C’s are to be found, ie the best pay for shortish hours even if you do have to work regular weekends and bank holidays, which suit me and her as it happens but won’t be for everyone.
However there is loads and loads of H&S and management in transport now who micromanage everything, memos by the dozen etc etc.
Maybe, and this is only surmising, Downtons tend to work like an old school haulier, call a spade a bloody spade and so long as the job gets done leave the lads to it, not breathing down their neck cos they got an overspeed twice in two weeks and other such ■■■■■■■■.
Lots of drivers, good drivers too, just want to be left alone to get on with their work without the phone going every 5 minutes and some bloody school leaver planner trying to squeeze more blood from the stone, and then analysing their days work via the myriad of spying equipment so many are fitting.
Well your surmising is sadly wrong in my experience with them.
Dragged over the coals for harsh breaking and acceleration,watched and scrutinised all week long,and then your “performance” put on a league table for all to see and if you don’t improve you get told off by the absolute d#*k head of a driver trainer who I wouldn’t hiss on if he were on fire… 
Well thats my theory out the window then
There must be some reason they’re getting the drivers, and following your post YT i won’t be one of 'em.
I’m doing agency work this week, start at 0600, finish at 1700, in which time I do about four hours of actual work and it’s £137.50 a shift so I won’t be banging on Downton’s door any time soon. 
Juddian:
Well thats my theory out the window then
There must be some reason they’re getting the drivers, and following your post YT i won’t be one of 'em.
A wise decision
Seriously though it could be £15 an hour and my opinion would not change…
Harry Monk:
I’m doing agency work this week, start at 0600, finish at 1700, in which time I do about four hours of actual work and it’s £137.50 a shift so I won’t be banging on Downton’s door any time soon.
Have you mastered the limp Harry? also what’s the choice of plaggy bag for your sarnies?
tango boy:
Harry Monk:
I’m doing agency work this week, start at 0600, finish at 1700, in which time I do about four hours of actual work and it’s £137.50 a shift so I won’t be banging on Downton’s door any time soon.
Have you mastered the limp Harry? also what’s the choice of plaggy bag for your sarnies?
Well, I had the limp already, and although I’m currently using an old Waitrose carrier bag, I’m going to pop in to Aldi this weekend to buy a pukka agency driver carrier bag.
Harry Monk:
tango boy:
Harry Monk:
I’m doing agency work this week, start at 0600, finish at 1700, in which time I do about four hours of actual work and it’s £137.50 a shift so I won’t be banging on Downton’s door any time soon.
Have you mastered the limp Harry? also what’s the choice of plaggy bag for your sarnies?
Well, I had the limp already, and although I’m currently using an old Waitrose carrier bag, I’m going to pop in to Aldi this weekend to buy a pukka agency driver carrier bag.
Keep the Waitrose bag it shows you’re upper league mate 
OVLOV JAY:
One thing to bare in mind with Downtons at Dunstable, is that the planner, Simon Wright, is legendary. And planners only usually reach such status for all the wrong reasons.
I’m surprised anyone works at that depot,his reputation is all true and really as bad as it is made out
Simple scenario; Driver trainer shows you how to get the best results out of Microlise. It’s very simple.
20mph+ use CC as much as possible. Keep the revs in the green band. Accelerate smoothly. Anticipate breaking scenario’s and do not brake harshly. Don’t have overspeeds. Do not leave the engine idling.
The best LGV drivers know that momentum is king, and envisage and anticipate various driving situations accordingly. I will not say I am the best driver in the world, but I have managed to achieve a fuel bonus payment every month I have worked for Downton’s.
If you have reached a situation where you get a talking to, you must be driving the thing like a Corsa in a council estate. It really doesn’t bother me that my results are posted on the board. Overall daily/weekly grades are A-G. If you average C or above, you will never hear a peep out of the driver trainer, and A and B grades are in the money. It really is a piece of ■■■■ to achieve an overall C grade.
For me personally, Juddian has once again struck the nail on it’s head, and so has F-reds.
I clear £400 plus every week in my pocket, the depot is 10 mins from my front door. I don’t work weekends, and if I want to work a Bank Holiday it’s double time. I have my own immaculate XF that no-one else uses and the work is clean, usually very local, and is extremely easy. Planners don’t bother me, we get paid to do CPC courses, plenty car spaces in a nice tarmac car park (unlike Stobart’s), and the drivers all get on with each other. Office staff are polite, and I have only done 2 14 hour shifts in 4 months (today being one of them!)
Horses for courses…
I don’t work out of the Beavers depot…But will echo what he has said…It really is’nt hard to achieve a fuel bonus…And the work is really a piece of ■■■■.Mainly reels,timber,Palleted paper.I tramp…But i certainley don’t do 70+ hours a week.Can work a weekend if you want…And as i’m Tilbury based it’s more than a tenner an hour then…Good well maintained equipment to use…And hell yeah the money could be better…But i’m happy with what i earn and for what i have to do to earn it…
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eagerbeaver:
Simple scenario; Driver trainer shows you how to get the best results out of Microlise. It’s very simple.
20mph+ use CC as much as possible. Keep the revs in the green band. Accelerate smoothly. Anticipate breaking scenario’s and do not brake harshly. Don’t have overspeeds. Do not leave the engine idling.
The best LGV drivers know that momentum is king, and envisage and anticipate various driving situations accordingly. I will not say I am the best driver in the world, but I have managed to achieve a fuel bonus payment every month I have worked for Downton’s.
If you have reached a situation where you get a talking to, you must be driving the thing like a Corsa in a council estate. It really doesn’t bother me that my results are posted on the board. Overall daily/weekly grades are A-G. If you average C or above, you will never hear a peep out of the driver trainer, and A and B grades are in the money. It really is a piece of ■■■■ to achieve an overall C grade.
My place has a nigh on identical system… Microlise with A-G grades & like at your place if you achieve a C or above for each category (piece of ■■■■) your left alone. I’ve had weeks where I think i’ve blown it, and still come out with a B. I don’t think it’s a big ask of a professional driver to expect them to be fuel conscious in their driving style.
It’s always the same excuses from the guys getting crap grades… “crap automatic gearboxes”, “I don’t have a Volvo”, “i’ve had heavy loads on”, “have to crack on because we’re given too much work”, “car drivers keep making me slam on” etc. etc. It’s ■■■■■■■■, just a case of not wanting to do anything but stick it in Drive & put their foot down.
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I was getting A,s all the way across the board,but my final mpg figure was less than 8 mpg.
I was been told I wasn’t driving correctly even though the system was saying I was driving perfect 
I think the truck wasn’t running right but they wouldn’t have it…
Like I say if you guys enjoy it then fair play but I’d rather clean toilets than go back there