Grumpy Dad:
The tax free incentives that made the job worthwhile have been capped by HMRC, over the last 18 months or so I’ve lost meal allowances and bonuses leaving me with halved bonuses which are now added to my daily rate and are taxable plus a reduced night out allowance.
I’m away for anything up to 4 weeks and no compensation for being weekended away, my daily rate if broken down to 12hr days is just above the national minimum wage, but 12 hour days are few and far between.
The haulage industry is a joke, companies can’t keep drivers because of poor wages but are willing to pay agencies for drivers on long term contracts.
I’m sorry, but why stay with this company ., obviously don’t care about you …also, only a mug would work 71 hours on salary and be paid 40. In last role, I was paid minimum of 38 hours salary … first half hour of OT wasn’t paid but the rest was either enhanced pay or TOIL. So if as I used to do on average 15/20 per week over my fostered hours I had that choice … I always did take toil … used to build it up too 200 hours then take time off, the toil always rolled over yearly. Perk of government jobs i suppose.
Everythjng was ok when I first started, but as time has gone by even it being a short time , things have progressively got worse.
The pay was essentially the average for European work, with there being a slight compensation for being weekended away, the difference being its fridge work so the biggest benefit is it being clean work and not busting a valve on general and groupage.
That 71 hrs is every other week as I work 6 days too but to use as an example against a 40 hour contract I put 71.
I’m not one to just leave without having something to walk into, but saying that looking for alternative employment while being away isn’t the easiest, and I don’t want to go down the Agency route.
You need to take a week off and go for some interviews. Week ended here, on a guaranteed 12 hours for every day you are abroad. Sunday is double time. If someone asks you to give up hours of your life, it’s only fair that they recompense you for it.
That’s my intention got a week off in October and I’ll see how things are then, but on the European side over the last few years it’s been dead mans shoes, I don’t want to go down the agency route, got a few mates on them and they push for those Ltd company schemes, which sound a bit dodgy.
But after almost 20 years driving I wouldn’t complain if I was offered a non driving job
We really don’t have it bad in this job. Earnings of around 30k are easily achievable on day work without working these daft 60-70 hours some are quoting, the job is virtually stress free and you can switch off the moment you pull the card.
Most of us work more hours than we would like, but we shouldn’t kid ourselves that long hours are exclusive to truck drivers and not forget the amount of work & stress many people take home after their 9-5.
The 9-5 utopia where you are home at 5.30pm everynight with no worries is largely experienced by people on relatively low incomes.
rob22888:
We really don’t have it bad in this job. Earnings of around 30k are easily achievable on day work without working these daft 60-70 hours some are quoting, the job is virtually stress free and you can switch off the moment you pull the card.
Most of us work more hours than we would like, but we shouldn’t kid ourselves that long hours are exclusive to truck drivers and not forget the amount of work & stress many people take home after their 9-5.
The 9-5 utopia where you are home at 5.30pm everynight with no worries is largely experienced by people on relatively low incomes.
I agree. My sister works in retail and after just 40 hours shes more tired than I am after 60 hours plus. I love what I do, I’m paid to sit on my can, listening to what I like at what volume I like. I can be on the phone (hands free of course) to my friends during work hours. I can stop for a break at any time I please. I’m paid to sit around doing nothing whilst someone else works around me. The list goes on. Maybe I’ve just found a good little number compared to what is out there but my job is what I make it. Yes I could be stressed out, flying around like a blue arsed fly but I choose not to. Only thing I miss is the early starts. I hate starting past 6am.
rob22888:
We really don’t have it bad in this job. Earnings of around 30k are easily achievable on day work without working these daft 60-70 hours some are quoting, the job is virtually stress free and you can switch off the moment you pull the card.
Most of us work more hours than we would like, but we shouldn’t kid ourselves that long hours are exclusive to truck drivers and not forget the amount of work & stress many people take home after their 9-5.
The 9-5 utopia where you are home at 5.30pm everynight with no worries is largely experienced by people on relatively low incomes.
I agree. My sister works in retail and after just 40 hours shes more tired than I am after 60 hours plus. I love what I do, I’m paid to sit on my can, listening to what I like at what volume I like. I can be on the phone (hands free of course) to my friends during work hours. I can stop for a break at any time I please. I’m paid to sit around doing nothing whilst someone else works around me. The list goes on. Maybe I’ve just found a good little number compared to what is out there but my job is what I make it. Yes I could be stressed out, flying around like a blue arsed fly but I choose not to. Only thing I miss is the early starts. I hate starting past 6am.
+1
I actually got the ■■■■ ripped out of me the other day when I volunteered for an extra shift. I actually like my job. Fair enough, I’ve only been doing it three years and may still be in he honeymoon period, but becoming a lorry driver is one of the best decisions I ever made.
rob22888:
We really don’t have it bad in this job. Earnings of around 30k are easily achievable on day work without working these daft 60-70 hours some are quoting, the job is virtually stress free and you can switch off the moment you pull the card.
Most of us work more hours than we would like, but we shouldn’t kid ourselves that long hours are exclusive to truck drivers and not forget the amount of work & stress many people take home after their 9-5.
The 9-5 utopia where you are home at 5.30pm everynight with no worries is largely experienced by people on relatively low incomes.
I agree. My sister works in retail and after just 40 hours shes more tired than I am after 60 hours plus. I love what I do, I’m paid to sit on my can, listening to what I like at what volume I like. I can be on the phone (hands free of course) to my friends during work hours. I can stop for a break at any time I please. I’m paid to sit around doing nothing whilst someone else works around me. The list goes on. Maybe I’ve just found a good little number compared to what is out there but my job is what I make it. Yes I could be stressed out, flying around like a blue arsed fly but I choose not to. Only thing I miss is the early starts. I hate starting past 6am.
+1
I actually got the ■■■■ ripped out of me the other day when I volunteered for an extra shift. I actually like my job. Fair enough, I’ve only been doing it three years and may still be in he honeymoon period, but becoming a lorry driver is one of the best decisions I ever made.
You’ve probably hit lucky with a decent firm, there’s quite a few out there that turn drivers away from the industry, I’m in one now, our dept has lost 4 drivers in a month, 3 of which left this week, there was only 8 of us to start with
Grumpy Dad:
I actually got the ■■■■ ripped out of me the other day when I volunteered for an extra shift. I actually like my job. Fair enough, I’ve only been doing it three years and may still be in he honeymoon period, but becoming a lorry driver is one of the best decisions I ever made.
You’ve probably hit lucky with a decent firm, there’s quite a few out there that turn drivers away from the industry, I’m in one now, our dept has lost 4 drivers in a month, 3 of which left this week, there was only 8 of us to start with
Dead mans shoes, I was in the right place at the right time and showed the right attitude. Not every ones cup of tea mind, it does have its downsides.
The biggest problem is, because it’s night trunking, I only know my way to half a dozen places across the country!!
Dead mans shoes, I was in the right place at the right time and showed the right attitude. Not every ones cup of tea mind, it does have its downsides.
The biggest problem is, because it’s night trunking, I only know my way to half a dozen places across the country!!
I keep getting told there are better jobs out there, but they are few and far between, it’s a of right time right place thing.
Been in haulage almost 20 years and on European for 15, thought it was the dogs nads when I first started, but it’s not what it was.
Don’t get sucked into “Grass is Greener”, if you’ve got a decent job which you enjoy that’s better than being in a job with slightly more money and shed loads of crap.
Living here in the USA I am not sure how to comment on this ? Things had advanced so much before leaving the UK and then it’s like I went back in time 20 or 30 years to antique trucks with crash gear boxes and other outdated stuff, even those terrible Ford Cargo’s which were replaced by Iveco years ago were and still are that original design but even worse, the mirror arms are like the ancient scaffolding mirror arms from old KW’s in the 30’s LOL. They still do not have air suspension that raises the trailers as well was drops them to unhook and people don’t believe me when I tell them such things exist. As for making fuel economy better, for the past 17 years I have seen truck engines running 24/7 to keep the cabs warm in winter instead of fitting night heaters. On my first trucking company I supplied details of a company in the UK that supplied night heaters to my boss, we sat down and I explained how that instead of each truck burning about 8 gallons overnight these items would use about a pint each night, saving thousands of dollars every year for each truck, he went away and a week later he told me he wasn’t willing to spend the$2,000 required for each truck to install them
I tried to explain to management on the company I now work for about economical driving, I went into details about all the fiel saving ways to drive trucks, “Amazing” said my boss, “Would you be willing to go to each terminal to explain these tips to the work force ?”
“Yes I would” that was 5 years ago and nothing has been done, I give up now and just do a they do. This country is stuck in the 60’s, even my new ‘advanced’ Cascadia has a Roadranger crash box in it.
For me what’s changed is mentorship and the whole learning curve new drivers need from the start.
30 years ago I was lucky enough to work for a firm (Tarmac Plant) where the natural progression was from driving a van to class 1 with some class 2 work inbetween.
I was as cab happy as they come and when there was no work on the van I was driving trucks round the yard, loading and securing them for other drivers, yes at times doing it wrong but the drivers would put me right and I would learn from doing the job.
It got to a point other drivers would ask “where’s dip” so I could load the truck for them, especially when the weather was crap.
But it was fun I loved it, then when I got to 21 I took my class 1 and passed first time obviously.
Then my previous years learning kicked in, I got the job on a rigid when the previous driver retired and I loved it, when the low loader driver was off I covered for him and loved that more so moved on to bigger things. Including some govt work I can’t discuss.
Now it’s all bollox many with a class 1 shouldn’t have it, learn in an auto/brakes to slow my arse.
To many pricks on the road today driving trucks like cars not realising their licence is a privilege not a right.
I blame the training system but that’s another topic.
Another thing that’s changed is 25 years ago I was on £350 per week now I’m on £550. But that’s all bollox as nothing has changed from my love of driving trucks apart from now they are much nicer.
Anyway sorry for the life story don’t wish to blow my own trumpet as I tried that at 15 and nearly broke me back…
Only managed to touch the tip if I’m honest.
We get good jobs , then somebody does it half an hour quicker then somebody an hour , then somebody wants to start early , somebody wants a chocolate biscuit , somebody wants to do what somebosy else is doing and so on and so on, then the brain deads in the traffic office realise we can do more and more and more
My personal solution is I don’t have any drivers mobile number I work with and I drink as much Guinness as I can on a saturday
Pat Hasler:
Living here in the USA I am not sure how to comment on this ? Things had advanced so much before leaving the UK and then it’s like I went back in time 20 or 30 years to antique trucks with crash gear boxes and other outdated stuff, even those terrible Ford Cargo’s which were replaced by Iveco years ago were and still are that original design but even worse, the mirror arms are like the ancient scaffolding mirror arms from old KW’s in the 30’s LOL. They still do not have air suspension that raises the trailers as well was drops them to unhook and people don’t believe me when I tell them such things exist. As for making fuel economy better, for the past 17 years I have seen truck engines running 24/7 to keep the cabs warm in winter instead of fitting night heaters. On my first trucking company I supplied details of a company in the UK that supplied night heaters to my boss, we sat down and I explained how that instead of each truck burning about 8 gallons overnight these items would use about a pint each night, saving thousands of dollars every year for each truck, he went away and a week later he told me he wasn’t willing to spend the$2,000 required for each truck to install them
I tried to explain to management on the company I now work for about economical driving, I went into details about all the fiel saving ways to drive trucks, “Amazing” said my boss, “Would you be willing to go to each terminal to explain these tips to the work force ?”
“Yes I would” that was 5 years ago and nothing has been done, I give up now and just do a they do. This country is stuck in the 60’s, even my new ‘advanced’ Cascadia has a Roadranger crash box in it.
Sounds bliss to me Pat
As for leaving the engine running all the time, i wonder if your US engines are about bolloxed and needing to rebuilt as some of the underpowered things we have that have umpteen cold and cool starts every week need, often at as little as half a million miles , cos i somehow get the feeling those old fashioned US lorry users have found what they do works for them, you know the old saying if it aint broke don’t fix it.
How many miles your engines doing before rebuild, and what sort of service regimes?
I’d hazard a guess also that the extended oil change intervals so many have come to accept as the gospel in europe, are viewed equally suspiciously as being in the interests of vehicles having a reasonably short working life in order to keep everyone in the manufacture and dealer supply line in business
Trouble is in Britain there are no more Cat and ■■■■■■■ engines in relatively simple well made old school lorries proving their worth for 3 or 4 times the life expectancy of the european maker’s offerings, lorry users have done exactly as the makers have planned for them, absolutely reliant on the main dealer now for almost everythiing.
noreversing:
Another problem is drivers ourselves!!!
We get good jobs , then somebody does it half an hour quicker then somebody an hour , then somebody wants to start early , somebody wants a chocolate biscuit , somebody wants to do what somebosy else is doing and so on and so on, then the brain deads in the traffic office realise we can do more and more and more
My personal solution is I don’t have any drivers mobile number I work with and I drink as much Guinness as I can on a saturday
Cutting the job up is possibly the worst problem, no disrespect to newer drivers but a lot find it a challenge to prove themselves better than the older drivers.
Another problem is Charlie Big Bollox on the motorways, squeezing every last bit of power on the flat , then getting stuck up hill trying to overtake
Dipper_Dave:
Sure we’ve all been there when keen and green and cut the job up hoping to impress the gaffer when in reality life don’t work that way.
Back in the day a few drivers would take you to one side and ‘clarify’ things.
Now such is the pussywhipped society we live in that drivers just slag you off behind your back or even worse ■■■■■ about you on social pedia.
To be fair you don’t need to say anything DD, sooner or later they ■■■■■■■■ up by rushing their arses off and come back with half the side ripped out of the wagon, or hit some bugger up the back.
These things tend to self regulate if you leave them to it, i take not a blind bit of notice how quick the usual suspects do the job, no ones has ever suggested i try to match billy whiz’s times.
Radar19:
I agree. My sister works in retail and after just 40 hours shes more tired than I am after 60 hours plus. I love what I do, I’m paid to sit on my can, listening to what I like at what volume I like. I can be on the phone (hands free of course) to my friends during work hours. I can stop for a break at any time I please. I’m paid to sit around doing nothing whilst someone else works around me. The list goes on. Maybe I’ve just found a good little number compared to what is out there but my job is what I make it. Yes I could be stressed out, flying around like a blue arsed fly but I choose not to. Only thing I miss is the early starts. I hate starting past 6am.
More tired & I bet from first joining your sister would have to go through a fair few rounds of promotion, take on a of managerial responsibility & and do a lot of arse licking to get up to around £30k. Unless she’s in the SE.
I used to work for Tesco in store. To be earning what I earn now in that environment I would have to be a senior manager with all the bull ■■■■ & head pecking that comes with that position. I have one friend who earns 40K in the health service, he is ‘9-5’ office staff but actually does 50odd hours every week for no overtime and comes home stressed to the max most nights with a pile of homework to do… i’m happier earning 10K less than him with no hassle and just living within my means. I’m earning more than most paramedics saving peoples lives, whilst asleep on the bunk waiting for my 3hr container tip to complete.
Don’t get me wrong, i’m not in love with transport but I appreciate the fact I could be a lot worse off.
I’m not with you on the start time thing though, I dread pre-6am starts. Did 3/4am starts on a regular basis years ago and I don’t know how I did it, 7am most of the time for me these days
Sorry to mention the old days…BUT…at least we had to clock in, and were paid for the hours on the card…i think an improvement would be made if they were returned to the work place…now thats ok for day workers, but what about those who work away…well also in the old days we had time sheets, and we handed those in to be paid the following week, plus night out money…thats if we didnt get them before we went !! Many are on salary…so bosses think you are at their mercy, and can work any number of hours for an annual salary…many offer job incentives like a salary + a bonus + overtime…and quote good ol henry whose been with the firm for 30 years…yet takes home £700 a week…well good for him, but they forgot to say that included 6 days a week, holiday pay, a a fuel bonus…see where i`m coming from…sadly there are drivers who work max hours, and include their night out money as part of their wages, due to what they pay out every week at home…and say they are satisfied with what they take home… The bosses look at ways to save money, and what they save is not including drivers who contribute to those savings…its only for the bosses new car, or to pay the gardner a small pay rise…if your not earning what you think is a fair wage, leave, look for something else that pays more, maybe with less hours…bombard VOSA telling them how tired you are, and that the hours have to be cut, bombard the minister of transport with the same moan…who ever allowed us to work 15 hour days needs shooting…it used to be 13…i advocate 12 on 12 off…but dont think it will happen.
Us oldies remember when a 5 day week was normal…when you were paid extra for a saturday…double time for sunday, and double time and a day off for bank holidays…with the government adding extra holiday pay
( 4 weeks ) that money has to come from somewhere, only the big boys can afford to pay that…we are also restricted by government legislation yet we are working in excess of 70-80 hours a week…10 hour drives, reduced rests, all in favour of the bosses…to get the job done…and god help if you take deliveries back, or whatever…i have a decent boss, but still take an 11 or 12 rest as it suits me, i will however start earlier to get a job done and reload…not all bosses are understanding, and want their pound of flesh dont they, but are not in a position to pay large wages because of the competition…ie cannot put the rates up for fear of losing the contract…can you blame them.?
daffyd:
do you think it’d be fair to say the job’s easier now so you have to work longer hours to get the same money as before?
Jobs like Brakes that involve lots of multidrop handball stuff still get a bit more than average?
Maybe because the job is easier more people are willing to do it hence body supply and demand on the wage front, muck graft and bullets have always spelled brass and that will probably always be the case.
daffyd:
do you think it’d be fair to say the job’s easier now so you have to work longer hours to get the same money as before?
Jobs like Brakes that involve lots of multidrop handball stuff still get a bit more than average?
Maybe because the job is easier more people are willing to do it hence body supply and demand on the wage front, muck graft and bullets have always spelled brass and that will probably always be the case.
The job isn’t easier though, it’s a drivers responsibility for his hours, not to be dictated by some bit of a kid who’s still wiping breast milk from his top lip reading downloaded info from your cab to his screen, telling him what 15’s you have or if you’ve used your 10hr drives, and he plans you using that info, he"ll phone to ask your location just to confirm the software and the GPS are still functioning.
Technology in cabs has come a long way, and much of it was to assist the driver, but it’s been hijacked by companies who use it to max a driver to the limit.
Then there’s those who cut the job up, rushing around for job and knock, which increases daily workloads.
It is an easy job but it’s being continually made harder.
, cos i somehow get the feeling those old fashioned US lorry users have found what they do works for them, you know the old saying if it aint broke don’t fix it.