I heard this as a rumour a little while back, but it’s now confirmed.
From 3pm today, the deal is done.
Thoughts - how does this affect subbies - especially those still owed money - etc?
Did Roadways used to be P&O Containers? A fella who lived around the corner from us used to park his unit and trailer up outside his house on a weekend when he worked for them.
SteveBarnsleytrucker:
Did Roadways used to be P&O Containers? A fella who lived around the corner from us used to park his unit and trailer up outside his house on a weekend when he worked for them.
Yep
waynedl:
I heard this as a rumour a little while back, but it’s now confirmed.From 3pm today, the deal is done.
Thoughts - how does this affect subbies - especially those still owed money - etc?
should make no difference as the business would of been taken over as a going concern, so just change of owner, the business would still pay its bills.
We are subbies for them and I heard this last week and just put it down to driver bull talk…
Iv heard some bad things about maritime so I will see what happens.
yorkshire terrier:
We are subbies for them and I heard this last week and just put it down to driver bull talk…
Iv heard some bad things about maritime so I will see what happens.
My ex father in law subbed for maritime a few years ago then pulled of to pull for dhl. when maritime took over dhl they got rid of the subbies that had previously worked for them. ■■■■ like that
chester1:
yorkshire terrier:
We are subbies for them and I heard this last week and just put it down to driver bull talk…
Iv heard some bad things about maritime so I will see what happens.My ex father in law subbed for maritime a few years ago then pulled of to pull for dhl. when maritime took over dhl they got rid of the subbies that had previously worked for them. ■■■■ like that
I know a couple of subbies that have come off maritime to go on roadways so if this is true it could be interesting…
I’m under the impression that subbing for road ways was half decent & subbing for maritime is panticles.
Boy that John Williams welsh fellow is going for it ain’t he. No flies on him Shaggers.
Silver_Surfer:
I’m under the impression that subbing for road ways was half decent & subbing for maritime is panticles.Boy that John Williams welsh fellow is going for it ain’t he. No flies on him Shaggers.
Well I don’t think my gaffer does bad out of it pays me a decent ish wage.
Don’t know much about maritime only the negatives iv heard…
I will wait and see
Nothing happens until the 7th of September, here’s hoping for a smooth transition. A lot of the lads down this way aren’t too happy about it though, I can understand but I’m going in with an open mind.
DJC:
Nothing happens until the 7th of September, here’s hoping for a smooth transition. A lot of the lads down this way aren’t too happy about it though, I can understand but I’m going in with an open mind.
I’m told that a few in the office @ BIFT were ash’n faced after the meeting 
its been rumoured for months with both side’s denying anything was happening and it is true ive seen it in black and white
DJC:
A lot of the lads down this way aren’t too happy about it though.
I wouldn’t be happy dropping my motor to 52 like marmite do:lol:
Was in Manchester Roadways office when Maritime guys arrived. Rumour going around that they had a similar visit arranged at the same time for all the depots?
I see redundancies for office staff,as they will now have two Manchester depots. Website is always advertising for drivers, particularly trampers. Will that still be the case when they develop rail network? If deal includes BIFT, then having a southern rail facility and a midland one, it could prove to be a savvy piece of strategic planning, especially if they got Roadways on the cheap. I wonder whether their plan ties in with new port/rail terminal opening on the ship canal in Manchester? As nobody seems to know who will be running it yet.
I’d guess they got them cheap as they were widely reported as struggling not long ago, think they were on the up recently though.
I think they got them cheap too. Did not think Maritime had the leverage for such a deal, but there you go. If they get a north western foothold, then they have a corridor from London Gateway to Seaforth more or less. Could be some realistic competition for Freightliner.
I suspect and I’ve spoken to a Maritime driver who suspects the same, a key reason for it was for the BIFT railhead as apparently Maritime are trying to get a lot more on rails. The RCL manchester site was being relocated and the old site being flattened and turned into a car park for the trafford centre. Quite where it was relocating to I’m unsure but I’m pretty sure it would be within around 5 miles. My opinion would be to use the railhead as normal and turn the native site into solely container storage.
As for on the cheap, in the company newsletter it always mentioned continued growth and greater prospects etc. however I don’t think many were convinced. Somebody is laughing in this deal though.
As for all the depots in unison, yes they were.
I feel like I’m the last to hear this news since it’s been a rumour for a while but the first I heard was when I called in last night with what to do with my box. My reaction to “Oh by the way we’ve been sold to Maritime, so you work for Maritime now” was “… Hooray!?” 
I wouldn’t be happy dropping my motor to 52 like marmite do
Most of ours are limited to 53 so there’s not a lot in it!
Janos:
Was in Manchester Roadways office when Maritime guys arrived. Rumour going around that they had a similar visit arranged at the same time for all the depots?
I see redundancies for office staff,as they will now have two Manchester depots. Website is always advertising for drivers, particularly trampers. Will that still be the case when they develop rail network? If deal includes BIFT, then having a southern rail facility and a midland one, it could prove to be a savvy piece of strategic planning, especially if they got Roadways on the cheap. I wonder whether their plan ties in with new port/rail terminal opening on the ship canal in Manchester? As nobody seems to know who will be running it yet.
Roadways actually had the contract (in proof at least) for the new port at Irlam Wharf, that’s where the depot is supposed to be moving to from it’s current location - which is becoming more parking for the craphole centre.
I was wondering the same thing about so much redundancy, they have large depots in lots of similar places and it seemed daft, but if it’s right about the line between BIFT and London Gateway, could be a seriously good buy tbh.
I don’t think John Williams and the rest of the top level management are daft and will know what they’re doing - I’m a truck driver not a business man, they’re the opposite
Will be interesting finding out what the overall plan is. If I am to be brutally honest, there are a few people in Roadways that I would love to see given their P45. Often wondered how the likes of Maritime could afford to have trampers in the current climate of high fuel costs, security issues and congestion. Wondering whether they will put pressure on their inherited drivers and contractors to operate in the same way?
Maritime website says they are run a driver friendly company…wondering why so many of their sub-contractors ended up at Roadways, and also wondering how they feel now!?
How it will affect the subbies I don’t know, but as for the drivers I think they’ll see a real improvement in terms and conditions. Good pay, all tolls parking etc pre paid, full kitchen packs in each truck, £560 pw holiday pay, all trucks and trailers well,looked after.
Easy work, 100% legal. Now no doubt people will knock them, but I think they’re good to work for.