Very serious predicament, need advice asap!

UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUMS THE UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUM (INTERACTIVE)
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Hi TrucknetUK,

I started a job with a firm in December, I had to quit on Monday because I refused to break the law and went to war with the manager of the depot I worked at. Here is the problem, I could sink this firm with the illegal activity I have seen. But I genuinely fear for my ex-colleagues and their families if VOSA or Police shut then cowboys down. This firm cannot be named right now but I will announce them at some point, it’s a nationwide firm who serves two sets of supermarkets, one of which is huge.

Here is what they’ve been up to that I have witnessed;
*Drivers smart-cards lent to a driver whilst the driver was on holiday, this enabled a guy to work a 7 day week, 5 days paid and 2 days in the hand.
*Overloaded vehicles for each driver, the orders given to each driver for the multi-drop means you run overloaded near enough everyday.
*Vehicles not fit for purpose with unsafe tail-lifts, I have witnessed a cage nearly hitting a pedestrian as they walked passed. Thankfully it didn’t and the cage was empty. Out of the 8 vehicles, 5 were unfit for purpose.
*Two drivers taken on and given rounds to do. One didn’t even have a licence and drove for a month and only stopped when I said to the manager that I would inform police if he continued to drive. The other guy didn’t have a CPC (not exempt by Grandfather rights).
*Workers urinating in the back of trucks and then the products being passed to customer who then put products straight on the shelf.
*Workers paid via salary and strongly recommended by the manager to work through their breaks. It’s pull up at a shop, set tacho to Break, drop the tail-lift and take delivery to a shop. Sort other orders out whilst you run down you 15/30/45 min breaks. The manager moans like murder if you don’t break rules because shops want deliveries asap and he has to close yard and shouts if he’s kept waiting.
*If you hit traffic and get held up you get screamed at, he asks you to drive down hard shoulder and say you need a toilet break if you’re pulled.
*Drivers on a tacho-break asked to work on vans for cash in hand.

Basically it’s systematic failings, the manager should be banned from working in the transport industry. I can’t reveal too much but most workers are on a dodgy contract with a 24 months probationary period. As soon as these cowboys are shut down then in turn these guys will undoubtedly lose their job. But I have a duty to inform authorities, I have never been a grass but these guys are a harm to every road-user and pedestrian. The firm is already red-lighted and it comes as no shock that they are, the shock is the continuation of blatant disregard for the rules and regulations in the transport industry.

I am now out of work due to quitting, and looking for a new firm, but I’d sooner be on my arse than break the law and put my licence at risk. I look forward to your replies, I have kept name of company secret for now due to respect for this site and don’t want to get it in trouble, just like my ex-colleagues.

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*Workers urinating in the back of trucks and then the products being passed to customer who then put products straight on the shelf.

These are the ex-work mates you’re worried about? :open_mouth:

I’d say MOST of what you’re listed are greedy drivers, who cares if the boss is waiting, if you need a break, take a break. If you’re not involved in the tipping then it’s legal to have a break on a bay, if you are involved then don’t do it (unless it suits YOU!)

Drivers driving vans during tacho breaks for cash in hand - greedy drivers

Are you SURE the vehicles are actually over-loaded, you’d be surprised at the actual weight on a 44t truck, even an 18t will struggle when loaded between 14 and 18t, so unless you’ve weighed them, I’d not make such accusations

The drivers licences are none of your business, keep your nose out

Vehicles not fit for purpose with unsafe tail lifts in what way exactly?

Drivers should take their smart cards home with them, can’t be lent out then - we are LEGALLY required to take holidays and if they’re not recorded, it’ll be YOU in trouble.

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Had the misfortune to start at a company with a similar attitude, I stayed less than a week and wouldn’t have been bothered if I’d never driven a HGV again.

What I would say is that because of this way of operating this company is undercutting the law abiding operators and putting decent, honest drivers (the ones who don’t ■■■■ in the back of trucks) out of work.

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Two of the drivers work on their days off, also those same drivers ■■■■ in the back of vehicle. It’s a case of a few ruin it for all.

Three of the drivers I am very concerned about because they are genuine and don’t break law, they moan like I do but it falls on death ears and we (were in my case) told that we are free to go and replaced the day after. The guys I worry about have young families. I have though this through Wayne, trust me pal.

'*Workers urinating in the back of trucks and then the products being passed to customer who then put products straight on the shelf.

These are the ex-work mates you’re worried about? :open_mouth:

No not these guys, these guys are the idiots

I’d say MOST of what you’re listed are greedy drivers, who cares if the boss is waiting, if you need a break, take a break. If you’re not involved in the tipping then it’s legal to have a break on a bay, if you are involved then don’t do it (unless it suits YOU!)

No, you misunderstand, drivers load and unload, moving cages. They set a break and then make delivery.

Drivers driving vans during tacho breaks for cash in hand - greedy drivers

Agreed, hwoever it’s the manager who asks the drivers to do it, only the two morons and one other guy who’s struggling to pay mortgage who does it. Gaffer is as bad as driver imo. Both are in the wrong.

Are you SURE the vehicles are actually over-loaded, you’d be surprised at the actual weight on a 44t truck, even an 18t will struggle when loaded between 14 and 18t, so unless you’ve weighed them, I’d not make such accusations

100% overloaded, trucks are 18t not 44t.

The drivers licences are none of your business, keep your nose out

NO! If somebody is driving an 18t+load truck without a bloody licence then it is my business, it’s ‘dangerous driving’, if one of these morons crashed into your family and killed them would you still have the same tone? (God forbid obviously)

Vehicles not fit for purpose with unsafe tail lifts in what way exactly?

Side-guards on tail-lift missing, loaded cages on wheels moving around, cages can roll off. I have seen one do so, luckily it was empty.

Drivers should take their smart cards home with them, can’t be lent out then - we are LEGALLY required to take holidays and if they’re not recorded, it’ll be YOU in trouble.’

A guy decorated his house using unpaid holiday, whilst he was off work he gave card to somebody doing a 7 day week.

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CMH:
The guys I worry about have young families. I have though this through Wayne, trust me pal.

I sympathise…

But what if something goes wrong as a direct result of the actions you’ve discussed here?

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chicane:
Had the misfortune to start at a company with a similar attitude, I stayed less than a week and wouldn’t have been bothered if I’d never driven a HGV again.

What I would say is that because of this way of operating this company is undercutting the law abiding operators and putting decent, honest drivers (the ones who don’t ■■■■ in the back of trucks) out of work.

Couldn’t agree more.

The way I see it is employees and employers have a responsibility to make sure we drive safely, load safely and act in a proper manner. good outfits get undercut by firms who charge less per unit, the race to the bottom encourages squares to be turned into circles with all the cut corners. I’d sooner throw my class 1 licence in the bin and pick litter for minimum wage than work for cowboys like these. I am new to this industry and knuckled down, keen to learn and get some experience, however all I have learned is that some MAJOR companies work like a third-world country would. I was openly criticised in front of the two idiots for not breaking the law and ‘‘taking the ■■■■’’ on my round. I literally did every drop and took my breaks legally, I got back to the yard with the manager moaning I kept him waiting an hour. It’s unbelievable how shoddy this guy is.

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Meistre:

CMH:
The guys I worry about have young families. I have though this through Wayne, trust me pal.

I sympathise…

But what if something goes wrong as a direct result of the actions you’ve discussed here?

Yes, I agree I have to.

Just hoping somebody can direct me in a way I can help these drivers out. I know for a fact this companies depot is that badly ran that it will be shut and drivers will lose jobs. Literally 100% confident.

I haven’t even mentioned the HMRC Tax dodging yet, I know that’s arguably a bigger problem in the eyes of the law but for me the camels back broke when I saw a guy drive a 18t without a licence, for me that was mind-blowing, I mean what the hell is that?

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If you want to report the drivers driving without proper licences, call 101 or crime stoppers anonymously. Traffic police would get involved who would then get DVSA/Traffic Commissioner involved. I think it’s quite hard to actually get to talk to the DVSA to report firms as they must get loads of disgruntled ex-employees trying to cause problems for old employers (not saying this is the case here)
Do you have a local checkpoint or MOT station? Pop along and speak to an enforcement officer in person.

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m1cks:
If you want to report the drivers driving without proper licences, call 101 or crime stoppers anonymously. Traffic police would get involved who would then get DVSA/Traffic Commissioner involved. I think it’s quite hard to actually get to talk to the DVSA to report firms as they must get loads of disgruntled ex-employees trying to cause problems for old employers (not saying this is the case here)
Do you have a local checkpoint or MOT station? Pop along and speak to an enforcement officer in person.

I know the guys routes and I know the overloaded vehicles. Vosa could catch them in the act rather than take my word for it. I guarantee them 2 vehicles that will 100% overloaded. Both of the drivers on the overloaded rounds want drops taken off to stop running overloaded, they both offered to come back and re-load but manager said that it was waste of diesel and they should get on with it. Cost, cost, cost, that’s all it comes down to. I cannot help but feel the manager is getting grief from HQ and passing on the problems.

One guys started at 6.30am and finished a round at 5.15pm, he delivered and organised load whilst setting his tacho to break. Basically early mornings, long days, illegal breaks, only a matter of time before something happens in my opinion hence why I left.

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Report the company and get them shut down - those put out of a job can then try fro new jobs with the other firms that take over the work

Probably not the best solution for some of the staff but its the only one that will work long term for the majority

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You can’t name names on here without credible evidence so don’t. After just reading your last post can you just confirm.
Is it a national company (you refer to grief from HQ) but just one depot that is operating like this? Is the manager who’s intimidating staff from the local depot or from a different base?

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I am on the side of the OP on this one and they need shutting down now.Send an email to Vosa enforcment,no need to give your name.
It is everybodies business what they are doing.
We moan the public hate lorries and drivers,these muppets add fuel to the fire.
One day a driver or member of public will get killed and then it is jail time.
It is a rogue operator that appears to be tax dodging and should be named and shamed on Tnuk with Rikki’s permission under public safety issues.Yes report them today.

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CMH:
One guys started at 6.30am and finished a round at 5.15pm, he delivered and organised load whilst setting his tacho to break. Basically early mornings, long days, illegal breaks, only a matter of time before something happens in my opinion hence why I left.

10:45 a long day??

Take a legit tacho break on that and it’s still under 12hrs, in my experience a 12hr day is about average - short for a tramper, average for a day worker.
0630 isn’t an early morning either, when I was delivering bread, start times were 0230 - 0500.

I bet you’ll find those taking the illegal breaks are doing it to suit themselves, as you’ve said, they’re on salary - aka job and knock - so the sooner they’re done, the sooner they can go home. This will be something that happens at most if not all salaried firms.

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ROG:
Report the company and get them shut down - those put out of a job can then try fro new jobs with the other firms that take over the work

Probably not the best solution for some of the staff but its the only one that will work long term for the majority

Going to do Rog. Only right to do so.

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m1cks:
You can’t name names on here without credible evidence so don’t. After just reading your last post can you just confirm.
Is it a national company (you refer to grief from HQ) but just one depot that is operating like this? Is the manager who’s intimidating staff from the local depot or from a different base?

The evidence is what I’ve witnessed, and what continues today. Vosa will 100% see it happen with their own eyes if they want.

Manager threatens everyone with losing their job, daily or weekly, he will undoubtedly drop the job line.

Massive outfit, based up north and depots nationwide.

Manager at my depot but also manager from HQ who pops in.

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Are you on twitter? Most police forces (and most traffic units) have an account. Send them a direct message. You could try a PM to Traffic Rat on here. Wether another member might help or not I don’t know. You could at least ask him to read this and it’s down to him if he wants to take further details off you.

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waynedl:

CMH:
One guys started at 6.30am and finished a round at 5.15pm, he delivered and organised load whilst setting his tacho to break. Basically early mornings, long days, illegal breaks, only a matter of time before something happens in my opinion hence why I left.

10:45 a long day??

Take a legit tacho break on that and it’s still under 12hrs, in my experience a 12hr day is about average - short for a tramper, average for a day worker.
0630 isn’t an early morning either, when I was delivering bread, start times were 0230 - 0500.

I bet you’ll find those taking the illegal breaks are doing it to suit themselves, as you’ve said, they’re on salary - aka job and knock - so the sooner they’re done, the sooner they can go home. This will be something that happens at most if not all salaried firms.

Long day as in driving times exceeded 9 hours. The drops take 2-3 mins unless on break. You make the order on a break to be quick. I think you’re right about workers doing for own gain and with the salary job and start promotes dodgy activity. The problem is the manager actively promotes this to be the done thing. You get moaned at for not doing it. The manager has no LGV/HGV exp or a licence for what its worth.

Some guys start at 2am, only reason that guy started so late is he covered a shift after sickness for original driver.

The company is ran dodgy and some drivers are happy to be bent. Let’s not just focus on this one issue, others are important also. The falling cage and worker with no licence are as important if not more.

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m1cks:
Are you on twitter? Most police forces (and most traffic units) have an account. Send them a direct message. You could try a PM to Traffic Rat on here. Wether another member might help or not I don’t know. You could at least ask him to read this and it’s down to him if he wants to take further details off you.

Thanks.

I have decided to go ahead and inform authorities. The more I think about the driver with no licence the worse it gets. It can’t be swept under carpet.

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Or walk in to a Police station and they will forward the case to Vosa and the CPS and HMR&C.Get these cowboys off the road.Probably have no insurance or road tax.No O licence too.Think of the children.

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CMH:
I have decided to go ahead and inform authorities. The more I think about the driver with no licence the worse it gets. It can’t be swept under carpet.

Seems like the right thing to do.