In recent weeks, on my nightly trunk from the north-west up to Scotland and back, I’ve seen dozens of Hermes trailers being pulled by Mark Thompson tractor units…in fact I was shocked early this morning when I actually saw one Hermes trailer being pulled by a Hermes unit! …the first I’d seen in over a week!
Anyone know what’s going on at Hermes (Warrington)? Have Mark Thompson taken over most of the subcontracting for Hermes?
I worked at that Infamous Hermes Warrington depot for a short time as an agency driver last year (I only lasted 2 days! …which was more than enough!), and I 'm guessing many others on here have as well. Apparently they got through more than 700 drivers at that depot last year!
Have Hermes lost so many drivers that they are having to subcontract most of their work out to other firms…like Mark Thompson? and have they reached the point where there are no drivers left in the North-west who will work for them? …even on agency?
They are permanently advertising for drivers, and nobody that I know who’s worked there, seems to stay for more than a week or two.
From personal experience of that Warrington depot (and that of others I know, who’ve worked there), drivers are treated like pieces of sh*t by transport managers and supervisors. Wages are nearly always wrong (underpaid…not overpaid!!), it can take weeks, and numerous phone calls, just to get paid the full amount for the hours that you’ve worked.
Drivers are messed about constantly by transport office staff, who expect you to be on the end of the phone 24/7. Start times are changed at short notice e.g you’ll be expecting to start a night shift at 22.00 only to get a phone call at 15.00 asking you to come in at 16.30!!
Organisation is terrible…managers and supervisors always arguing with each other and then agreeing (as always) to blame the drivers for their own failings!!
A culture of blame and bullying. Drivers and warehouse staff regularly walking out in the middle of their shifts.
From personal experience of that Warrington depot (and that of others I know, who’ve worked there), drivers are treated like pieces of sh*t by transport managers and supervisors. Wages are nearly always wrong (underpaid…not overpaid!!), it can take weeks, and numerous phone calls, just to get paid the full amount for the hours that you’ve worked.
Drivers are messed about constantly by transport office staff, who expect you to be on the end of the phone 24/7. Start times are changed at short notice e.g you’ll be expecting to start a night shift at 22.00 only to get a phone call at 15.00 asking you to come in at 16.30!!
Organisation is terrible…managers and supervisors always arguing with each other and then agreeing (as always) to blame the drivers for their own failings!!
A culture of blame and bullying. Drivers and warehouse staff regularly walking out in the middle of their shifts.
I could go on and on…but you get the picture.
What’s pay like? Average p/h? And is it just class 1 or do they have class 2? Thanks
The pay is not too bad…average for the North-West. Off memory it was £10.50 ph for Class 2 (nights) and £12,00ph Class 1 (nights) Monday - Friday…then more per hour for Saturdays/Sundays…if they pay you correctly!!
As eagerbeaver said the start times 13.00- 01.00 are not to most peoples liking…and they can be changed by a phone call from the transport office, at short notice!
I wonder whether management at Hermes are getting nervous now that Mark Thompson Transport ltd are no longer an independent operator but part of Kinaxia ltd
Gardner6LYT:
I wonder whether management at Hermes are getting nervous now that Mark Thompson Transport ltd are no longer an independent operator but part of Kinaxia ltd
You may well be correct.
Hermes (Warrington) could, and should, be a highly successful hub …if it was properly and competently run.
Hermes management have failed badly, and it’s been going on for years now. I’ve got to say that it has to be the worst-run depot
that I’ve ever worked at… by far! (and I’ve worked at quite a few places!).
I’ve never worked for Mark Thompson (but I know people who do). If someone competent and professional, like Mark Thompson/Kinaxia were to take over the full running of Hermes Warrington hub…it would surely be a far more successful operation than it currently is.
The operators license for the Warrington site lists 150 vehicles and 350 trailers,I wonder how many tractor units they have of there own ?
The transport manager at the site is a man who previously had his own haulage company that closed in 2009
Thompson’s seem to get the distance work.If a driver runs out of time it’s not Hermes problem, plus Thompson’s get about 120 a shift, so it’s done cheaper too.An agency a few weeks rang me to do a Maidstone for the grand sum of £110.
halewood:
Thompson’s seem to get the distance work.If a driver runs out of time it’s not Hermes problem, plus Thompson’s get about 120 a shift, so it’s done cheaper too.An agency a few weeks rang me to do a Maidstone for the grand sum of £110.
Warrington to Maidstone for £110■■? Surely that can’t be right.
I picked loads up from there and I’m 99% sure it was Maidstone I took it to , easy and straight forward , Appleton - Warrington - Maidstone - Warrington ( I ran out of driving time at Hilton park srvs ) , another driver took tri off me as apparently it had to be back at depot , nxt day was Hilton park - Warrington - sure it was Maidstone and think I got as far as rugby ( held up fair bit on m6)
Do though remember one day
Hearing them going on about a trailer that was lost , should of gone to gatwick / Heathrow , can’t remember which , it was lost for hours , eventually got hold of driver who said his planner had instructed him to drop it at Stoke and carry on with another load , think it got there 1/2 the day apx late .
Think what was said above was about right , not there problem if you run out of hours ( driving ) .
Don’t know if it’s true, but I heard some time ago that ALL drivers on Hermes were agency.
I’ve also noticed over the last week or two that Mark Thompson units are pulling more and more Hermes trailers, as well as other companies trailers. Haven’t seen them pulling many of their own trailers!
Having said that, most MT trucks that pass me, (They are well wound up), drive like agency drivers, don’t observe road work speed limits, drive right up the arse of other vehicles, cars as well as trucks, must be on a bonus!
halewood:
Thompson’s seem to get the distance work.If a driver runs out of time it’s not Hermes problem, plus Thompson’s get about 120 a shift, so it’s done cheaper too.An agency a few weeks rang me to do a Maidstone for the grand sum of £110.
Warrington to Maidstone for £110■■? Surely that can’t be right.
Oh it is! When I laughed he offered me Weybridge instead!
As many have replied…I worked at Hermes Warrington for a while, it should be the best job around. Sometimes you have to get out and close the trailer door.
But as ever the management (if you can call them that… mostly ex bag chuckers from the warehouse) can screw up anything. One of the worst blame culture organisations that I have ever worked for. Any incident that occurs, the first thing to do is make sure you can blame somebody else, ideally the driver.
Longer runs are now done mainly by sub contractors so no chance of any big hours anymore. Many occasions I ended up with less than 6 hour shifts (you only get paid for the hours you do).
They have a rule that you cannot stop unless at a Hermes site. Stop for a ■■■■ at the services and you are in big trouble. I think this is probably to do with insurance, i think they have a bond with some insurance but stand their own loss if subject to theft. Obviously the Mark Thompson drivers can do as they please, and usually do. Also an instruction which you must have your break whilst on the bay when you’re being tipped!!! They wont write this down…and as you have to move the trailer back 3 times during the tip (extending boom conveyor) totally illegal.
I understand now that they are to start fitting in cab recording, no problem with the forward facing but they also are putting a camera covering the driver. Wonder what other rules they’ll come up with.
Worst I ever did was pull an airline off…cost me 3 days work whilst the “management team” investigated the incident and provided re training for me!!!
In short…I made more money at Hermes than any other place in the first couple of years the place was open but, as time went by the major tool in charge started to make his mark. The ■■■■ you have to put up with now is just not worth it.
halewood:
Thompson’s seem to get the distance work.If a driver runs out of time it’s not Hermes problem, plus Thompson’s get about 120 a shift, so it’s done cheaper too.An agency a few weeks rang me to do a Maidstone for the grand sum of £110.
Warrington to Maidstone for £110■■? Surely that can’t be right.
Oh it is! When I laughed he offered me Weybridge instead!
Ha ha, much better then. I bet you snapped his hand off for 50ppm!
hi i went to the induction they told me they now expect you to be driving out the depot within 30 mins of getting your paper work .i told them it takes me 30 mins to find my unit ,he wasn’t amused ,but they kept saying take your time make sure you dont make mistakes ,they told me to come for my driving assessment at 1pm Saturday,after about 90 mins waiting i told them to stick it ,
Glad I read through this thread they have just opened another big hub near me at Rugby and are now looking for a lot of drivers money looks good but can not be doing with as ■■■■■ mention in 2nd last post for a game of soldiers…
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