I’m currently employed full time at a large international express delivery company.
My role and contract is for a 7.5t Multi Drop driver however I’ve been asked if I’d step up to Class 1(C+E) and they will pay for my training in full with the stipulation I stay for 2 years.
Once qualified I’d be expected to drive a 7.5t in the morning doing deliveries and then do collections in the Class 1, all local.
They want to pay me 7.5t hourly rate in the morning and Class 1 hourly rate in the afternoon….Is this a common thing that happens within the industry ?
Note: Other Class 1 drivers do the same thing but are contracted as Class 1 hence getting Class 1 money for 7.5t work.
The simple answer is yes they can pay you a different rate for the different vehicles you drive.
Most jobs I’ve had have paid me the rate for the job I applied for at the time regardless of what vehicle I drove for them, whether that be a van, C or C+E vehicle.
But as far as I am aware there is nothing to stop them paying different rates, it would all come down to what your contract says most likely about pay.
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I agree…
With simcor on this but, I’d be miffed to say the least.
Every agency I’ve ever driven for has paid me class 1 rate regardless of whether I drove an artic or not.
Once you join the elite class 1 club you should expect to be paid class 1 rate right through or I would anyway.
Nothing stopping them paying what they want to pay & nothing stopping you accepting it or not it’s up to you
On the one hand it’s unreasonable and I’d certainly be looking for another job but on the other if they are paying for your C+E training it’s sort of reasonable in a way.
It’s messy, what about holidays will they pay the two rates, if you did do it I would definitely get a new contract with all included
How much difference is it hourly rate, if not much more ask to get it as a extra substance, tax free
Are they a good company, do they have a turnover of artic drivers, if they do it won’t be long before your on a artic permanently.
Thanks for all your thoughts on the subject and taking time to respond,it’s greatly appreciated.
I think I’m in the 50/50 camp of wanting to be paid Class 1 but equally understand my employers logic….also getting my training paid for is a big plus point.
I wasn’t sure if it was normal practice,hence me asking for advice from the more experienced driving community.
Working agency at RM in the past I was often booked as a 7.5 tonne driver, but if I drove a class 2 at any point during a shift, I was paid the full shift at that rate.
In my opinion if they can ask you to drive a class 1 vehicle at any point at their discretion, you should be on a class 1 contract. If it is purely voluntary, then I would say perhaps if you drive class 1 during a shift then the full day should be at class 1 rate.
Yeah I’ve not come across this much, I’ve always been paid the class one rare and if needed to do class two or 7.5t I’ve been paid class one rate.
Is the job you do in morning fine? If so then given they’re paying for it and you get on with the job why not stick it out at a place you know where you can get your “two years experience” and by then a full class one role may have arisen? Either that or you get the experience to get you out the door into another place with a free licence to boot?
I suspect that they think that if they’re paying for your C+E then they’ll treat you like their ■■■■■, paying you crap money and giving you the crap jobs
I think ‘Toonsy’ has a good point regarding gaining 2 years experience at a place I know.
Again some great comments which has given me ideas on how to approach them regarding hourly rate.
I think your employers are being 100% reasonable.
Way I see it is they are doing you a favour and sure it suits them why shouldn’t it?
Here is the way I see it.
Your currently a 7.5t driver doing multi drop. All day.
They are offering to pay for your training and you will only have to do 7.5t for half the day and the rest is doing collections in a artic which is far easier. plus you get paid a bit more.
Why wouldn’t you want that?
Now no doubt some class 1 guys who work with you groan and moan about doing 7.5t work. But they are class 1 guys who paid for their licence themselves and tbh most people with a class 1 licence are allergic to manual labor… you gotta have your class 1 licence for a few years before you get that privilege.
Take the offer or dont take the offer. I wouldn’t try to haggle them over it though, they could give another dude the opportunity. The way I see it, they are giving you a opportunity.
I really do not see the downside here lol.
your gonna be on more money, half your shift will be significantly easier and your getting class 1 training thrown in.
Why dont you phone a few companies up and see what the going rate for training is these days… last I heard it was £3000+ probably more now.
The way I see it is it depends what your role is and the contract says. If I am employed as a C+E driver, irrespective of how I gained that licence I should be paid C+E money even if asked to drive a lower category vehicle right down to driving a work pool vehicle.
If however I am employed as say a 7.5ton driver at the going rate for that vehicle then that rate is paid, but if given a vehicle to drive in a higher category as long as my licence allows then whilst in that vehicle that’s the rate I’d expect to be paid whilst using that vehicle.
It would suggest the OP has a case ri argue for a new contract or rather amendment to his contract stating as he will be a C+E qualified driver he should be paid C+E rates regardless of the company vehicle he drives at any time as he can drive any of those vehicles at short notice. The worst they can say is no this is the deal, but if they value you as a drive they may consider your request.
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Stick it out for a year and start looking. If they charge you half of the training so be it. It doesn’t seem like a decent outfit that would pay you two rates on the same day, so use them to meet your own ends.
Without mentioning the actual rate what is the difference between morning job and afternoon job rates? Is it substantial or just a few £ for a flat week. Yes it is unusual to be paid a different rate during the day but equally it would be common to be driving a smaller vehicle to begin with at its rate and progress to class * rate when driving that category full time, thereafter being paid on licence qualification rate irrespective of type driven.
My employer paid for my Class 1 when I did it and they wanted to pay me different rates for different vehicles. In addition they wanted me to stay for 2 years which I didn’t object to as I have no intention of leaving because they are a great employer. What I did object to was paying them the fees back for the training (which is standard practise and always has been the done thing at our place, essentially they loan you the fees then take them out of your wages) and I wasn’t having different rates for different vehicles either.
I have been there for a good amount of years and they know me very well. My argument was that they knew what type of person would be driving for them as I was already there, my reliability and good work ethic was already known, I already knew the job inside out so there was no additional training for a new employee. I am happy where I work and had no plans to leave but I did say that if they didn’t pay for it I would look at other options and find somewhere that would fund it as I felt that they should be willing to put me through a course to benefit me the same as they do with other people (fork lift drivers etc). Training your staff is an investment in your workforce and if you train your workforce you gain a better standard of work ethic from them.
Worked out for me as they took the hit for the fees in full and I have a flat rate for driving. Essentially I guess what I am saying is you have to weigh up whether your worth what your asking for, above what is being offered and be honest with yourself. Twice I have refused to do work for them for an offered amount and both times I have got what I asked for after justifying why I should get it on my terms.
If you don’t ask you don’t get is very true with driving.
Welwyn:
My employer paid for my Class 1 when I did it and they wanted to pay me different rates for different vehicles. In addition they wanted me to stay for 2 years which I didn’t object to as I have no intention of leaving because they are a great employer. What I did object to was paying them the fees back for the training (which is standard practise and always has been the done thing at our place, essentially they loan you the fees then take them out of your wages) and I wasn’t having different rates for different vehicles either.
I have been there for a good amount of years and they know me very well. My argument was that they knew what type of person would be driving for them as I was already there, my reliability and good work ethic was already known, I already knew the job inside out so there was no additional training for a new employee. I am happy where I work and had no plans to leave but I did say that if they didn’t pay for it I would look at other options and find somewhere that would fund it as I felt that they should be willing to put me through a course to benefit me the same as they do with other people (fork lift drivers etc). Training your staff is an investment in your workforce and if you train your workforce you gain a better standard of work ethic from them.
Worked out for me as they took the hit for the fees in full and I have a flat rate for driving. Essentially I guess what I am saying is you have to weigh up whether your worth what your asking for, above what is being offered and be honest with yourself. Twice I have refused to do work for them for an offered amount and both times I have got what I asked for after justifying why I should get it on my terms.
If you don’t ask you don’t get is very true with driving.
The issue that employers have is people letting them pay for the licence and then leaving ASAP for better pastures. So you have to partly look at it from their side as well.
You did what I would do, as I said earlier if they are a decent employer that values you then things can go your way. But it isn’t always the case.
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