Would you take the truck back?

UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUMS THE UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUM (INTERACTIVE)
81

robroy:
Anything over the legal limit, could be a concern for DVSA in terms of an ‘O’ licence

All the mithering on here from some posters about letting it go over 56mph on a hill is a bit hysterical. Clearly, if DVSA give a driver a pull and find that he’s letting it go to 70+mph when the opportunity presents itself then there is going to be a problem. 60mph is not illegal. It is not exceeding the speed limit and the wording surrounding limiters refers to powered speed, which clearly 60mph on a downhill does not relate to as it is momentum that takes the truck to that.

More simply, if anyone thinks that DVSA have the time or manpower to devote to trucks pushing past the limiter by a few mph on a downhill then they are in cloud cuckoo land. DVSA and the Traffic Commissioners are only interested in the serially non-compliant and those that are outright taking the ■■■■, as anyone who has been to any event where representatives of either office have spoken in recent years will attest.

Goodness knows what those who are worrying about a few mph over the limiter would have done in the dim and distant. It was not unusual to come down one of the big hills on the M62 in a rather lively fashion, only for another driver to come hurtling past in the second (or third) lane at 80mph in a battered old ERF or similar. It certainly wasn’t right, but that didn’t stop it happening.

82

EB. Did you have an assessment & induction before your 1st run? The answer will determine whether you knew what Culina expected of you.

83

Wiretwister:
EB. Did you have an assessment & induction before your 1st run? The answer will determine whether you knew what Culina expected of you.

Never had one for them mate. Did a few runs for them last year and had no problems.

I think they are just getting ■■■■■■ off with agency drivers full stop. One was supposed to got to Wolverhampton for them the night before last, and ended up going to Dartford :laughing: He phoned them up at Luton and said that he wouldn’t be able to make the tip time at Dartford, that’s when they told him to turn around and go to Wolverhampton :grimacing:

84

robroy:

simcor:
Oh beaver. Maybe being a tad more cautious about the load would have cured half the issue.

As for the overspeed issues it is sadly going to be commonplace with a lot of haulage companies that value their o licence. Having said that we had a stint if going on the wall of shame for OS and I’ve half a few lately but try to keep it under 60mph all the time and nothing has been said or any new page of shame has gone up for a fair while.

Assessment then yes you should expect paying for your time, but if they want you to do an assessment you can’t really argue the toss over the why, after all they are the payer.

I’m sure a smaller haulage outfit would be more your cup of tea by the sounds of it. Although you say you are working out your replacement career so it’s all probably academic anyway.

How would a driver doing 53mph affect their ‘O’ licence exactly? :neutral_face:

I think Simcor was trying to say that it adds to a potentially big pile of things that might show up on a audit, when the moon is blue, the stars align and lightning strikes twice. If you have a large number of your drivers breaking the speed limit then it shows that the company can’t keep a handle on things and in DVSA’s eyes aren’t fit to hold an O licence. Its the same thing with drivers getting the odd infringement or so, if stopped DVSA aren’t likely to do much other than wag their finger at you. Have a lot of infringements then they will take you to the cleaners.

85

Irrational fear is the problem here folks. Fear of losing a job. Fear of failing an audit. Fear of getting stopped by DVSA. Fear of being fined.

Learn to control your fear folks FFS :unamused:

86

eagerbeaver:
Irrational fear is the problem here folks. Fear of losing a job. Fear of failing an audit. Fear of getting stopped by DVSA. Fear of being fined.

Learn to control your fear folks FFS :unamused:

Nope don’t agree. It’s about being professional and pride. By returning they would have written you off as a waste of space. I would have been mad and tell them my side of the story be told at the end of shift. I totally agree about the assessment however.

It’s a good job we are all different.

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87

nsmith1180:

robroy:
So basically you are reiterating what I said…ie

Anything over the legal limit, could be a concern for DVSA in terms of an ‘O’ licence.
.
Anything over the limit the individual co sets, which is well under 56 …is not.
That was exactly my point to Simcor.

No one knows what the terms of their O-licence are. Maybe they have agreed a voluntary undertaking to restrict their vehicles to 53mph. Maybe its a clause in their insurance. Maybe its Mr Culina on a powertrip. Whichever it is, it doesn’t matter. Its their vehicle, drivers should drive it in the way they are instructed by the owner provided that instruction doesn’t break the law.

It really is quite simple, if you think you know better than the bosses, put your money where your mouth is and put your own on the road. If you ain’t willing to do that, shut up, drive as you are told and make sure you tick all the boxes before you pull away because while they are paying the bills its their call, not yours.

the maoster:
As for The Beaver he differs from me in as much as I prefer to smile whilst sticking a stiletto into the companies ribs whereas he goes for the pool cue to the teeth method! Whatever, at least he possesses cojones and a spine.

No he doesn’t, if he had cojones and a spine he would have stood and argued his case rather than the passive aggressive hissyfit of dumping the wagon at the gate and going home.

Was he wrong to take the original load. Yes.

Does he have anyone else to blame. No.

Was he right to refuse to finish the run he was on. No.

Was he right to refuse to do an unpaid assessment. Hell Yes.

The assessment is the only thing about this whole situation that EagerBeaver did right. Everything else is just a catalogue of why he should be ushered out of the industry as fast as humanly possible. Its drivers like Beaver that give the rest of us a bad name.

Cheers for your account of the ins and outs of how the haulage industry works, but I’ve been in it a bit longer than 5 mins, so I’m fully aware thanks, but next time I want to be patronised you will be the first one I come to.
No desire to put a truck on the road again today, so I’ll pass on your suggestion…been there done that.

Whether Beaver’s actions were the right way is his own affair, but at least he is capable of showing these types of wonkers he will not be ■■■■ ed about,.and if more drivers had done the same when all this type of schooolboy treatment towards drivers came about around 10 to 12 yrs ago,.we would not have all the ■■■■■■■■ we have today. :bulb:

Me?..I prefer a more subtle approach, I look like I’m playing their bloody stupid games, and more times than not win them at it…, but still look like I’ve lost to them, so everybody’s happy. :sunglasses:

I would have completed the job after being severely ■■■■■■ off that they would ask me to do an assessment to see if I fit their standards.
I would be only going home for my tea after work, read a book, watch tv and ■■■■ about on Trucknet…So maybe feign a breakdown (red line or soft tyre) next to a cafe, have my tea waiting for callout, read, tv and get paid enough to cover my next day’s assessment and then some…and then ensure that my assesment was by the book and more than impressive…just to ■■■■ them off…

Some of you serial conformists who will have an hissy fit about me doing this sort of stuff, and call me everything under the sun…I couldn’t give a ■■■■, just calm down, it’s old school tactical revenge, winning by appearing to lose, and getting paid for playing their bloody stupid games…so deal with it.

88

P Stoff:

eagerbeaver:
Irrational fear is the problem here folks. Fear of losing a job. Fear of failing an audit. Fear of getting stopped by DVSA. Fear of being fined.

Learn to control your fear folks FFS :unamused:

Nope don’t agree. It’s about being professional and pride. By returning they would have written you off as a waste of space. I would have been mad and tell them my side of the story be told at the end of shift. I totally agree about the assessment however.

It’s a good job we are all different.

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Some of you people really don’t get it. Tell my story? Please…FFS grow up. They would not listen simply because they will not be interested. Drivers end up being ’ responsible ’ for everything that goes wrong.

Why on earth do you think the line ; " The load and it’s security are the sole responsibility of the driver " was invented? It’s so that the driver ALWAYS carries the can.

If a loader cannot load correctly and the pallets don’t have enough shrink wrap on them, how is that MY issue? Refuse to take the load out until it’s trans-shipped to another more suitable trailer? Again, grow up. I would simply have been jibbed off and another agency driver would arrive and take the trailer out and end up with the same outcome :unamused: Like I said, I had already delivered 4 pallets of unstable product to another customer off the same trailer unscathed, so it’s nothing to do with my driving. As for driving a couple of sections at 60 mph for 30 seconds a time, so bloody what?

Sometimes you need to break an egg with a lump hammer. This was one of those occasions. Start standing up for yourselves or forever be treated like little ■■■■■■■ :unamused:

89

Perhaps anger management on the next CPC.

What did you achieve by doing that. Have you attained superstardom. No.

Worked for an egg company and checked my load when leaving yard. All was fine. After first delivery I realised the back eggs had not be packed out to avoid moving. Some had shifted and disaster was about to happen. Took pictures on my phone as proof. Informed company and asked what they wanted to. Was told to do my best. So I tried to secure as best I could. There was damage on pallets and made customers sign the damage. Returned to depot relatively ■■■■■■ off. Loaders all got a bollocking and guess what,. Never happened again.

Not rocket science.

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90

But you like being treated like a little ■■■■■…

(Well, that’s what the Moaster said. But he had a drink…)

91

P Stoff:
Perhaps anger management on the next CPC.

What did you achieve by doing that. Have you attained superstardom. No.

Worked for an egg company and checked my load when leaving yard. All was fine. After first delivery I realised the back eggs had not be packed out to avoid moving. Some had shifted and disaster was about to happen. Took pictures on my phone as proof. Informed company and asked what they wanted to. Was told to do my best. So I tried to secure as best I could. There was damage on pallets and made customers sign the damage. Returned to depot relatively ■■■■■■ off. Loaders all got a bollocking and guess what,. Never happened again.

Not rocket science.

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Thanks for the instructional tuition. Luckily for me I rarely get angry as excessive emotion simply creates tactical errors.

Funnily enough mate, your light bulb moment happened to me too! I contacted Culina and told them that the pallets had started to shift for the second drop and what did they want me to do. I was told to go to the second delivery to prove (presumably for their payment reasons) that the delivery had been attempted. I informed them that I had taken pictures.

I then phoned my agency and re iterated the conversation with them to cover my back when the inevitable would happen 45 minutes down the road at Aldi Darlington. It amazes me that people like you think they are really clever :laughing:

I am so far past you in the mental race that you’ve been lapped Chief :grimacing:

92

eagerbeaver:

P Stoff:

eagerbeaver:
Irrational fear is the problem here folks. Fear of losing a job. Fear of failing an audit. Fear of getting stopped by DVSA. Fear of being fined.

Learn to control your fear folks FFS :unamused:

Nope don’t agree. It’s about being professional and pride. By returning they would have written you off as a waste of space. I would have been mad and tell them my side of the story be told at the end of shift. I totally agree about the assessment however.

It’s a good job we are all different.
+1 well said E/B

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Some of you people really don’t get it. Tell my story? Please…FFS grow up. They would not listen simply because they will not be interested. Drivers end up being ’ responsible ’ for everything that goes wrong.

Why on earth do you think the line ; " The load and it’s security are the sole responsibility of the driver " was invented? It’s so that the driver ALWAYS carries the can.

If a loader cannot load correctly and the pallets don’t have enough shrink wrap on them, how is that MY issue? Refuse to take the load out until it’s trans-shipped to another more suitable trailer? Again, grow up. I would simply have been jibbed off and another agency driver would arrive and take the trailer out and end up with the same outcome :unamused: Like I said, I had already delivered 4 pallets of unstable product to another customer off the same trailer unscathed, so it’s nothing to do with my driving. As for driving a couple of sections at 60 mph for 30 seconds a time, so bloody what?

Sometimes you need to break an egg with a lump hammer. This was one of those occasions. Start standing up for yourselves or forever be treated like little ■■■■■■■ :unamused:

93

I think I saw you lapping me. I always feel better when I know my place.

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94

I suppose it’s down to company policy and procedure. If policy says loaders are responsible for individual pallet quality, loading, and then zipping trailer up then they are responsible, if policy is for driver to carry out final quality check then he is responsible, (having been given enough time) for carrying out checks, policy could be a mixture of both of the above too.

Maybe loaders handling that product hadn’t done it before (new staff, agency etc.), as is often the case the driver cops blame, when bad management, training, procedure and lack of clear policy is responsible.

95

My take on this is…

I would have completed the day with no real enthusiasm or urgency. Having got back I would probably have asked what the issue is with overspeeds as having not had an induction I was not aware of the company expectations which would be an opportunity for improvement, the companys induction process and your own individual performance (that is playing the company nonsense back at them and giving an impression of compliance while ignoring it unless it suits your own purpose). Point out that using downhill momentum is seen by other clients you serve as a fuel saving, and therefore cost saving benefit, and not discouraged in the way Culina are.

I would also be wanting a conversation with the agency about such briefings, by phone, mid shift. It’s hardly an immediate operational matter in the way a diversion to an unexpected collection or driver pick up might be. I’d then suggest that Culina failing to do a driving assessment before utilising you in an operational role is their issue and you will not do an unpaid assessment because of the said operational tasks done already. I’d also suggest that no further deployments to Culina would be wise for both parties. I’d also take a great delight in turning the next urgent, they are desperate, shift down when offered before any assessment has been done. Revenge is definitely best served cold.

I won’t condemn your reaction but I would have done it differently.

96

Wiretwister:
My take on this is…

I would have completed the day with no real enthusiasm or urgency. Having got back I would probably have asked what the issue is with overspeeds as having not had an induction I was not aware of the company expectations which would be an opportunity for improvement, the companys induction process and your own individual performance (that is playing the company nonsense back at them and giving an impression of compliance while ignoring it unless it suits your own purpose). Point out that using downhill momentum is seen by other clients you serve as a fuel saving, and therefore cost saving benefit, and not discouraged in the way Culina are.

I would also be wanting a conversation with the agency about such briefings, by phone, mid shift. It’s hardly an immediate operational matter in the way a diversion to an unexpected collection or driver pick up might be. I’d then suggest that Culina failing to do a driving assessment before utilising you in an operational role is their issue and you will not do an unpaid assessment because of the said operational tasks done already. I’d also suggest that no further deployments to Culina would be wise for both parties. I’d also take a great delight in turning the next urgent, they are desperate, shift down when offered before any assessment has been done. Revenge is definitely best served cold.

I won’t condemn your reaction but I would have done it differently.

Good post - always more than one way to skin a cat as they say.

97

Honestly, by Culina saying that you need to be assessed before you drive for them again, to me means that they don’t trust you.
if thats the case, turn the truck around and take it back because if anything happened guaranteed they would try and pin it on you.

98

Me i would have drove it straight through the warehouse and gone up to management and said you are quite right i do need assessing

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99

mdourish:
Me i would have drove it straight through the warehouse and gone up to management and said you are quite right i do need assessing

Yeh…but would you?
Really mate?
At least my version of events of what I would have done is realistic and what I actually WOULD do if they ■■■■■■ me off in that situation that Beaver faced.

100

Some interesting replies so far folks, thanks for that.

There are a few predictable responses form the weak Borg, some sensible and measured thoughts from the middle ground and some militant and spirited comments from the militia :wink:

Maybe it’s from dealing with many family losses from a relatively young age, or maybe a different combination of experiences thus far in my life, I’m not sure…but I sure as hell don’t want to be old and look back on my life regretting not standing up for myself and/or others. There is no great purpose or mystery to life, it’s just a series of choices put before you based on certain efforts made or blind luck, but it strikes me as foolish to not really ever try on your one go to accomplish something.

Driving trucks doesn’t mean we should be treated like caged animals begging for a toilet key. It does not mean we should be grateful for wages that haven’t moved in 15 years. We should not be pleased as punch to manage to find a lay by for the night, or pay £3 for a bottled drink from motorway services.

Many courageous souls have given their lives over the years for the betterment of this country and it’s inhabitants. Why do we as drivers allow this to happen to us? We have a responsible and important job to do and there are THOUSANDS of us. If we can find a way to individually start protesting (even on a small scale like I have done), we can achieve change. If the THOUSANDS of us can organise ourselves properly, we can FORCE changes.

Let’s all reach down between our legs and discover what’s there. Picture yourselves in years to come REGRETTING not doing anything when you had the chance, and for heaven’s sake DO something about the job before it becomes a minimum wage lost cause :neutral_face: