hammer:
Dave around here too many have gone down the ‘Franchise Haulier’ route. 45 contracts vs about 16 independants is a crazy ratio. Its really gone quiet here the last few weeks, they’ve managed to keep the contract trucks going pretty well through the recession but lately even they’ve been quiet. I wouldn’t like to have a truck stood with 1200/month finance hanging over me. As we feed off their scraps pretty much you can imagine how rushed off me feet I am! If it wasn’t for small jobs that the 8’s can’t get in, us 6’s would never go out.
Fingers crossed for an improvement soon.
hi hammer used to be with hansons and t/mac as you say to many lorries now chasing to little work heavy finance etc
when they get short of trucks you ll see the glossy advert coming out in the mags BE YOUR OWN BOSS BECOME A FRANCHISE HAULIER
what a load crap.
hammer:
Dave around here too many have gone down the ‘Franchise Haulier’ route. 45 contracts vs about 16 independants is a crazy ratio. Its really gone quiet here the last few weeks, they’ve managed to keep the contract trucks going pretty well through the recession but lately even they’ve been quiet. I wouldn’t like to have a truck stood with 1200/month finance hanging over me. As we feed off their scraps pretty much you can imagine how rushed off me feet I am! If it wasn’t for small jobs that the 8’s can’t get in, us 6’s would never go out.
Fingers crossed for an improvement soon.
Hi Hammer Minffordd is quiet as well. I didnt do anything there last week until saturday. this week is better had a good day today few local 10 ton loads. down a narrow lane where nothing bigger could get there. got 2 loads tarmac to st asaph tomorrow
hammer:
Dave around here too many have gone down the ‘Franchise Haulier’ route. 45 contracts vs about 16 independants is a crazy ratio. Its really gone quiet here the last few weeks, they’ve managed to keep the contract trucks going pretty well through the recession but lately even they’ve been quiet. I wouldn’t like to have a truck stood with 1200/month finance hanging over me. As we feed off their scraps pretty much you can imagine how rushed off me feet I am! If it wasn’t for small jobs that the 8’s can’t get in, us 6’s would never go out.
Fingers crossed for an improvement soon.
hi hammer used to be with hansons and t/mac as you say to many lorries now chasing to little work heavy finance etc
when they get short of trucks you ll see the glossy advert coming out in the mags BE YOUR OWN BOSS BECOME A FRANCHISE HAULIER
what a load crap.
Yeah “Be your own boss…but we supply the truck, finance, work, fuel, administration, insurance, tax etc.” The problem with having so many franchisees is that there is nobody to say “no” anymore.
hammer:
Dave around here too many have gone down the ‘Franchise Haulier’ route. 45 contracts vs about 16 independants is a crazy ratio. Its really gone quiet here the last few weeks, they’ve managed to keep the contract trucks going pretty well through the recession but lately even they’ve been quiet. I wouldn’t like to have a truck stood with 1200/month finance hanging over me. As we feed off their scraps pretty much you can imagine how rushed off me feet I am! If it wasn’t for small jobs that the 8’s can’t get in, us 6’s would never go out.
Fingers crossed for an improvement soon.
Hi Hammer Minffordd is quiet as well. I didnt do anything there last week until saturday. this week is better had a good day today few local 10 ton loads. down a narrow lane where nothing bigger could get there. got 2 loads tarmac to st asaph tomorrow
One ‘more local’ quarry isn’t allowed on that job anymore…
I’ve heard from ODs that we use what they get paid and I can’t see why they bother. I know a subbie who likes to a little bit for everyone so he can plan backloads etc. We don’t do asphalt, but our trucks are bodied for carrying everything else, I suppose Smiths can make 6 wheelers pay as it’s their own material, and muck is tipped in their own holes in the ground. On the whole, I can only think of 2 companies that sub 6 wheelers to us-all the others have 8s.
It is the same up this way, a few of the Tarmac franchise hauliers have called it a day, selling their truck’s back at a knockdown price no doubt!! The Midland’s are is now controlled from an office in North Notts and the despatch staff at the quarries have been finished. My mate has his own 6 wheeler (not a scheme vehicle) and is struggling to find anything apart from cut rate stone work, all the franchise O/D’s now have eight wheelers as all the four wheeler’s have long gone and there is just one six wheeler left. The guaranteed 17 ton payload has long been scrapped and they now only get paid on what they carry, some of the Volvo sixes can only manage about 15 tons payload! Years ago we were putting 17+ tons on Reivers and Cargos, and 21 tons on half cab Foden’s running at 30.50 tons. Seems to me that as trucks have got newer they have become heavier which seems daft, I thought that payload = profit or is it down to how many fancy lights you can fit on the front of one truck! The rates have also been lowered. Glad to be out of the quarry job now, and it WAS a good living a few years ago. Mind you, new building project’s don’t need as much stone as most of it is recycled from what was on site previously, not a bad thing but it doesn’t help the quarries much.
windrush:
It is the same up this way, a few of the Tarmac franchise hauliers have called it a day, selling their truck’s back at a knockdown price no doubt!! The Midland’s are is now controlled from an office in North Notts and the despatch staff at the quarries have been finished. My mate has his own 6 wheeler (not a scheme vehicle) and is struggling to find anything apart from cut rate stone work, all the franchise O/D’s now have eight wheelers as all the four wheeler’s have long gone and there is just one six wheeler left. The guaranteed 17 ton payload has long been scrapped and they now only get paid on what they carry, some of the Volvo sixes can only manage about 15 tons payload! Years ago we were putting 17+ tons on Reivers and Cargos, and 21 tons on half cab Foden’s running at 30.50 tons. Seems to me that as trucks have got newer they have become heavier which seems daft, I thought that payload = profit or is it down to how many fancy lights you can fit on the front of one truck! The rates have also been lowered. Glad to be out of the quarry job now, and it WAS a good living a few years ago. Mind you, new building project’s don’t need as much stone as most of it is recycled from what was on site previously, not a bad thing but it doesn’t help the quarries much.
Pete.
I agree. We import type 1 from Wickwar and Banbury rail sidings, but sales of that’s dropped off now we pick out the best concrete rubble and crush it to type 1 size. Hard as the real stuff but no mineral tax and it’s earned money once by being disposed of as waste.
windrush:
It is the same up this way, a few of the Tarmac franchise hauliers have called it a day, selling their truck’s back at a knockdown price no doubt!! The Midland’s are is now controlled from an office in North Notts and the despatch staff at the quarries have been finished. My mate has his own 6 wheeler (not a scheme vehicle) and is struggling to find anything apart from cut rate stone work, all the franchise O/D’s now have eight wheelers as all the four wheeler’s have long gone and there is just one six wheeler left. The guaranteed 17 ton payload has long been scrapped and they now only get paid on what they carry, some of the Volvo sixes can only manage about 15 tons payload! Years ago we were putting 17+ tons on Reivers and Cargos, and 21 tons on half cab Foden’s running at 30.50 tons. Seems to me that as trucks have got newer they have become heavier which seems daft, I thought that payload = profit or is it down to how many fancy lights you can fit on the front of one truck! The rates have also been lowered. Glad to be out of the quarry job now, and it WAS a good living a few years ago. Mind you, new building project’s don’t need as much stone as most of it is recycled from what was on site previously, not a bad thing but it doesn’t help the quarries much.
Pete.
I agree. We import type 1 from Wickwar and Banbury rail sidings, but sales of that’s dropped off now we pick out the best concrete rubble and crush it to type 1 size. Hard as the real stuff but no mineral tax and it’s earned money once by being disposed of as waste.
windrush:
It is the same up this way, a few of the Tarmac franchise hauliers have called it a day, selling their truck’s back at a knockdown price no doubt!! The Midland’s are is now controlled from an office in North Notts and the despatch staff at the quarries have been finished. My mate has his own 6 wheeler (not a scheme vehicle) and is struggling to find anything apart from cut rate stone work, all the franchise O/D’s now have eight wheelers as all the four wheeler’s have long gone and there is just one six wheeler left. The guaranteed 17 ton payload has long been scrapped and they now only get paid on what they carry, some of the Volvo sixes can only manage about 15 tons payload! Years ago we were putting 17+ tons on Reivers and Cargos, and 21 tons on half cab Foden’s running at 30.50 tons. Seems to me that as trucks have got newer they have become heavier which seems daft, I thought that payload = profit or is it down to how many fancy lights you can fit on the front of one truck! The rates have also been lowered. Glad to be out of the quarry job now, and it WAS a good living a few years ago. Mind you, new building project’s don’t need as much stone as most of it is recycled from what was on site previously, not a bad thing but it doesn’t help the quarries much.
Pete.
hi hammer same as you mate glad to be out of it but to be honest i do miss it.regards martyn
windrush:
It is the same up this way, a few of the Tarmac franchise hauliers have called it a day, selling their truck’s back at a knockdown price no doubt!! The Midland’s are is now controlled from an office in North Notts and the despatch staff at the quarries have been finished. My mate has his own 6 wheeler (not a scheme vehicle) and is struggling to find anything apart from cut rate stone work, all the franchise O/D’s now have eight wheelers as all the four wheeler’s have long gone and there is just one six wheeler left. The guaranteed 17 ton payload has long been scrapped and they now only get paid on what they carry, some of the Volvo sixes can only manage about 15 tons payload! Years ago we were putting 17+ tons on Reivers and Cargos, and 21 tons on half cab Foden’s running at 30.50 tons. Seems to me that as trucks have got newer they have become heavier which seems daft, I thought that payload = profit or is it down to how many fancy lights you can fit on the front of one truck! The rates have also been lowered. Glad to be out of the quarry job now, and it WAS a good living a few years ago. Mind you, new building project’s don’t need as much stone as most of it is recycled from what was on site previously, not a bad thing but it doesn’t help the quarries much.
Pete.
Hi Pete,
Much the same at the quarries here.These are controlled from Bristol,half of the customers trying to order materials can’t get through or get any sense out of them.There are only two four wheelers left,they are capped to 14 ton,several of the owners of six wheelers have moved up to eight wheelers. A lot of stone is moved from a railhead near Hereford,which artics from South Wales are doing a lot of that,and not making much money out of it.As you say the payload on most of the lorries is less because of the higher tare weight.A lot of recycled material is used,but I can’t see how a lot of it is suitable for a lot of jobs,as it has’nt got the load bearing strength of rock.
As I said in an earlier post,a lot have packed it in,with several more looking for a way out.Same as you I enjoyed driving from the quarries and still have several mates working at them,but I think we saw the best times.
Cheers Dave.
windrush:
It is the same up this way, a few of the Tarmac franchise hauliers have called it a day, selling their truck’s back at a knockdown price no doubt!! The Midland’s are is now controlled from an office in North Notts and the despatch staff at the quarries have been finished. My mate has his own 6 wheeler (not a scheme vehicle) and is struggling to find anything apart from cut rate stone work, all the franchise O/D’s now have eight wheelers as all the four wheeler’s have long gone and there is just one six wheeler left. The guaranteed 17 ton payload has long been scrapped and they now only get paid on what they carry, some of the Volvo sixes can only manage about 15 tons payload! Years ago we were putting 17+ tons on Reivers and Cargos, and 21 tons on half cab Foden’s running at 30.50 tons. Seems to me that as trucks have got newer they have become heavier which seems daft, I thought that payload = profit or is it down to how many fancy lights you can fit on the front of one truck! The rates have also been lowered. Glad to be out of the quarry job now, and it WAS a good living a few years ago. Mind you, new building project’s don’t need as much stone as most of it is recycled from what was on site previously, not a bad thing but it doesn’t help the quarries much.
Pete.
Pete, that about covers the situation up here. They pester the customer to have their material on 8’s, even if its only 10/12 tonne. God knows what thats about cos it costs them 19tonne to send a small load on an 8-wheeler. I have a feeling “da environment” is behind this somewhere. I seem to remember some ■■■■ in a bad suit telling Commercial Motor that bigger wagons are more efficient for the planet…
Dave the Renegade:
Hi Pete,
Much the same at the quarries here.These are controlled from Bristol,half of the customers trying to order materials can’t get through or get any sense out of them.There are only two four wheelers left,they are capped to 14 ton,several of the owners of six wheelers have moved up to eight wheelers. Cheers Dave.
Dave,
I wouldn’t like to name the large company in question but I have it on good authority that they missed SIXTY THOUSAND phone calls over a three month period earlier in the year. Assuming they are open roughly twenty days per month (the offices don’t work Saturday of course ) thats a thousand phone calls per DAY!!! What I don’t get with the ‘central control’ thing is that they still pay the weighbridge staff the same money so what are they saving?
Also, the 4 wheelers in our area get 14tonne only on tar, paid what they carry otherwise.
Dave the Renegade:
Hi Pete,
Much the same at the quarries here.These are controlled from Bristol,half of the customers trying to order materials can’t get through or get any sense out of them.There are only two four wheelers left,they are capped to 14 ton,several of the owners of six wheelers have moved up to eight wheelers. Cheers Dave.
Dave,
I wouldn’t like to name the large company in question but I have it on good authority that they missed SIXTY THOUSAND phone calls over a three month period earlier in the year. Assuming they are open roughly twenty days per month (the offices don’t work Saturday of course ) thats a thousand phone calls per DAY!!! What I don’t get with the ‘central control’ thing is that they still pay the weighbridge staff the same money so what are they saving?
Also, the 4 wheelers in our area get 14tonne only on tar, paid what they carry otherwise.
Hi Hammer,
Sounds like the same bunch that run these down by me.They are the same outfit that run the one that jonmea hauls from.
Lets hope that someone buys the lot off them and things improve,but it will be another big outfit that doesn’t give a monkey’s about the hauliers.
The problem with having so many franchisees is that there is nobody to say “no” anymore.
I have a feeling “da environment” is behind this somewhere. I seem to remember some ■■■■ in a bad suit telling Commercial Motor that bigger wagons are more efficient for the planet… 