Well as some of you may know i packed in my previous job of car transporter driver early last year after many years, i was in a state of complete exhaustion and probably stressed to near breaking point**, though didn't realise just how bad until months after i'd packed the job in...though SWM had seen the deterioration and told me to get out of the job....her words, 'i do not want to be the richest widow in our town'.
Have since been temping for agencies.
That's been an eye opener i can tell you, one thing that hasn't changed is that the agency admin/allocation staff lie as a matter of course, and when you leave there's every likelihood you won't get any holiday pay owed.
I got on well at most client sites and mutual repect is fairly common, though the rudeness and ignorance at some surprising sites is staggering, a more polite and fruitful conversation likely to be had at the monkey cage in Whipsnade....little wonder some of these high street and big names can't retain a driver worth their salt.
It's kept the wolf from the door though and i've had 16 months of working recuperation, so back to full health fingers crossed.
I walked into a reception one morning a month or so ago, spoke to nice reception lady who in turn spoke to one of the transport dept seniors, he came down and we had a brief chat, he asked me to send in my CV but there was nothing doing at the moment.
I assumed that was the last of it.
CV on his desk the following morning, couple of days later i get a call, driving assesment, interview all went well and i start full time tanker driving in a weeks time, old fashioned long established company too, works for me.
Good feeling to be back into a proper job, decent hours and salary.
I'm extremely grateful for my good luck, just shows that the old way of putting a face through the door can still work, reasonably well presented and polite is so important at that initial contact, though few here would need any tutoring in that dept..
** i hadn't twigged how close i was to breakdown, not trying to be a drama queen, i still chat to my old transporter workmates on the phone some days and one or two sound exactly like i was before leaving.
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Good news and best of luck :-)
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Best of luck GB, I hope it goes well for you!
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Congratulations GB! Especially the bit about "...so back to full health fingers crossed."
Welcome back to the world of wage slavery. :-)
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That's good news........an emploter that appreciates a bit of experience and respects you for it by providing a good package.
Keep chilled, man.......lifes not a rehearsal.
Ted
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Congrats on the new job GB, best of luck with it.
>> start full time tanker driving in a weeks time
Hazardous materials? I've seen the Hoyer safety film for their tanker drivers. If it goes tu loading / unloading, there's basically no chance for the driver or anyone in 100m+ radius depending on the cargo.
The token fire extinguishers put out when the drivers hooking up the earth clamps seem a bit toothless. I tended to find things to do in the office when the butane delivery was taking place at my old workplace... :-)
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Thanks for the kind wishes chaps.
Not fuel, it's foodstuffs.
Whole new thing for me to learn though, pressure blower, i'm really looking forward to it.
I've been met by nothing but old school courtesy and friendly good manners during my application and acceptance process, didn't realise there were such attitudes to be found any more in my industry, feel at home already.
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Must be a big relief gb after a year or two of very mixed company (and the freelance's constant preoccupation of securing the next job). There's a lot of stress in that.
May it all go well, the cheques arrive regularly and the smooth highways unroll sunnily before you!
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No going on strike, we know you tanker fellas earn a fortune, so we'll have no sympathy.
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Happy to hear that GB, hope it goes well.
I can empathise with what you say about not knowing quite how badly it was affecting you until you stopped doing it. I had a similar feeling nearly 20 years ago, after a year and a half of working at two different locations, one 70 miles from home, the other 170. I like driving, and thought I was OK, if a little tired, but when I stopped I realised just how badly it had affected me. I actually had a perforated stomach ulcer in that period and still didn't make the connection.
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Thanks again, i'm getting a bit embarrased here, but appreciate the thoughful sentiments.
I didn't give Iffy the frown, honest guv, no one should take offence at that pertinent and amusing quip, never been on strike that i can recall.
Interesting MT should have been in ill health too but just carried on regardless ignoring the tell tale signs, is this our generations attitude or something else that drives us?
I've kept my earnings up during this period by covering weekend shifts when available so getting peak rate...got a shift this afternoon by the way...slip that last Sunday dubble bubble in eh..;)
To temp you have to be very flexible to make it pay even in my lowly job.
To be fair to employers i've seen some seriously bad attitudes from drivers in this temping period too, aggressive, ill mannered and slovenly, arriving to work in a tattered pair of filthy jeans and a holey T shirt, you know what their work will be like if they look like a tramp, they don't usually disappoint.
If twer my work place i wouldn't have allowed some of them through the door.
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Congratulations, GB. Excellent way to score a job too. :-)
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...I didn't give Iffy the frown, honest guv, no one should take offence at that pertinent and amusing quip...
Didn't think you had for one minute, if you had something to say, you'd look me in the eye and say it.
Back to the matter in hand, the new job sounds a good 'un, being a few steps up the lorry driving ladder.
What types of journeys will you be doing, and will there be any overnights?
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Good one GB,
At least you wont me have me slipstreaming you, dry powder tankers are useless for that.
Oh and you'll have to do your food hygiene certificate ;-p
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[[Excellent way to score a job too. :-)
Cold calling might have worked either way, worked this, hopefully the last, time.
>> At least you wont me have me slipstreaming you, dry powder tankers are useless for
>> that.
Easier to see behind too from the cab mirrors, especially if it's a motorcycle with checkered stickers and blue lights..:-)
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The way my (now 21) lad, has scored all his jobs is to rock up in clean appropriate clothing, clean shoes, freshly shaved, good haircut, and talk in an adult manner to whoever can give the job,
Its worked 100% to date, and in a tough environment, its put him above 99% of the grunting untidy bin bags that turn up for interviews.,
Last edited by: Zero on Sun 26 Jun 11 at 10:00
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>> The way my (now 21) lad, has scored all his jobs is to rock up
>> in clean appropriate clothing, clean shoes, freshly shaved, good haircut, and talk in an adult
>> manner to whoever can give the job,
>>
>> Its worked 100% to date, and in a tough environment, its put him above 99%
>> of the grunting untidy bin bags that turn up for interviews.,
>>
Absolutely Z. Speaking as a former recruitment consultant and transport manager (we don't ALL lie GB, well not any worse than some drivers anyway ;-) ) I think that's the right way to go, and respect to your lad for doing so.
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>> Back to the matter in hand, the new job sounds a good 'un, being a
>> few steps up the lorry driving ladder.
Based around 9 hour or so shifts 5 day set week, no nights away...a big consideration for me, served my time at that forge.
So single trips or doubles if local.
Pays slightly less than the transporters top line, but far less hours and relatively easy work, certainaly compared to that which was gruelling.
I know i've had a lucky break, though it's often been the case that previous car transporter experience is recognised in the industry, that probably made the difference for me, whatever it was tripped it i'm glad.
In conversations with other (good ones) drivers over the last few months, most of us had come to the conclusion we'd not secure permanent positions again in our working lives, so many companies no longer recruit their own staff but make increasing use of agencies, pick them and put them down as and when, i can see the benefits of this policy, but you don't get to hand pick staff that way.
However i've seen another side too, some companies do offer good pay and conditions for their staff, and in many cases have good solid staff who appreciate and give good service.
But there is a serious problem of abusing the system, particularly where sick pay is concerned, some having extended months at a time off for various excuses on full pay...we all know if there was no sick pay scheme then a miraculous cure would follow.
Now i've been lucky in health and i've never thrown a sicky or ever taken a day off unauthorised or failed to turn up, and i have little sympathy for those who take the mickey, some of them have seriously taken the P, and IMO have helped destroy the good jobs in the process.
Personal views obviously and i've tried not to generalise.
Last edited by: gordonbennet on Sun 26 Jun 11 at 09:32
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Absolutely delighted to hear your news GB. Great result.
I expect you'll be in a position to chop in that old Merc too now then? Get yourself something a bit more up to date so to speak?
;-))
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>> I expect you'll be in a position to chop in that old Merc too now
>> then? Get yourself something a bit more up to date so to speak?
What?, and ruin my eccentric reputation?...they probably think i'm half round the bend really, thats a result cos i'm all the way.
Not a hope....but thanks for the kind thoughts.
Anyway i'm enjoying filling my old bus up at 70ppl, smug warm feeling, or is that incontinence.:-)
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>> Anyway i'm enjoying filling my old bus up at 70ppl, smug warm feeling, or is
>> that incontinence.:-)
Well if they ever get a car to run on pee, that should cut the motoring costs down for you old gits.
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>> Well if they ever get a car to run on pee, that should cut the
>> motoring costs down for you old gits.
>>
I suppose imbibing heavily on the spirits the night before you could in theory run the engine intravenously.;)
{{'Its worked 100% to date, and in a tough environment, its put him above 99% of the grunting untidy bin bags that turn up for interviews.,''
Well done the lad, he'll do well, nothing wrong with being a proud parent, i'm one too.
I mentioned elsewhere, SWM heard a celeb employer commenting on some of the youngsters he employs, seems mothers have phoned him to complain at how hard he works their little darlings, and the vastly different attitude encountered from the East Europeans who just get on with it.
You really have to wonder what planet some people are living on.
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{{'Its worked 100% to date, and in a tough environment, its put him above 99% of the grunting untidy bin bags that turn up for interviews.,''
I doubt then he turns up with idiotic hair, gelled up to give a good impression of an incoming wave at Harlyn Bay, no fashion sense the lad, thank goodness.
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The smartly turned out, reasonably intelligent youngster is a rarity in the workplace.
Zero's lad stands out, which is a credit to the lad and his parents, but it's also a sad indictment of his peers.
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>> The smartly turned out, reasonably intelligent youngster is a rarity in the workplace.
Yep, met the more common example in a large electricals shed two weeks ago. Needed a disgwasher. Max £350. Lad knew diddley about dishwashers & made minimal effort to identify substitute for the unavailable Siemens we really wanted.
Eventually settled on a Zanussi and proceeded to arrange delivery. Gets to page with questions about access to site (new development? room to turn a truck?) and answers no to all without any reference to me -not 'cos he's a local just too lazy to bother (IMHO). I had to make him go back to insert the required note about finding our road which is wrongly shown on some street maps/sat nav.
Would have walked but we had their vouchers for irreperable predecessor DW.
Last edited by: Bromptonaut on Sun 26 Jun 11 at 10:31
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Horses for courses. In our industry some of the youngsters ( indeed some of the oldies ) can look a bit strange or if one is being charitable, "alternative" perhaps.
Conversely to above if a young lad turned up for an interview with us in a Burton's suit and a side parting he'd almost certainly have to work harder at persuading us of his potential than if he arrived in the latest street fashions.
When I'm interviewing, I'm much more interested in what the person has done or has a passion for than what they're wearing and provided they have sufficient qualifications it's not always the one with the most pieces of paper who gets the job either.
I'd far rather employ someone who has spent a year helping to build a hospital in Africa for example than someone who has stayed at home to do some more aerobic drinking in Nicetown Nowheresville.
Last edited by: Humph D'Bout on Sun 26 Jun 11 at 10:54
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>> Horses for courses. In our industry some of the youngsters ( indeed some of the
>> oldies ) can look a bit strange or if one is being charitable, "alternative" perhaps.
>>
>> Conversely to above if a young lad turned up for an interview with us in
>> a Burton's suit and a side parting he'd almost certainly have to work harder at
>> persuading us of his potential than if he arrived in the latest street fashions.
Hence my carefully chosen word "appropriate" clothing.
>> When I'm interviewing, I'm much more interested in what the person has done or has
>> a passion for than what they're wearing and provided they have sufficient qualifications it's not
>> always the one with the most pieces of paper who gets the job either.
>>
>> I'd far rather employ someone who has spent a year helping to build a hospital
>> in Africa for example
His CV looks good, with his work for connextions.
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Well done GB, I'm sure the new job will go well for you.
Out of curiosity, what are the things that made car transporting so stressful?
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>> Out of curiosity, what are the things that made car transporting so stressful?
>>
Salesmen?
I know they make my job stressful.....
Congrats and good luck GB!!!
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>> Salesmen?
>> I know they make my job stressful.....
Thanks again chaps.
Not really, in some cases they'd hide, it's incredible just how invisible a fully loaded nigh on 70ft truck 50 yards away can be when it's an fast tickover and all sorts of things are moving...but honestly most of them were fine, with full marks going to almost every dealer for treating the supply chain as well as they did the customer.
You always find the odd snotty twerp in every field, some drivers could be snotty too mind.
[[Out of curiosity, what are the things that made car transporting so stressful?
The hours, the constant time and allocation battles, the filth and cold and unceasing weather exposure in winter, that's part of the reason the pay is higher, but it is a skilled job. In summer it can be a great job.
In my case it was the increasing time away from home and the fighting against the clock in order to get home, two increasing to three nights spent in a cut down cab (car over so very low) is no joy, you'd have laughed to see this scrunched up bent double feller staggering across the service area to get a wash after a hellish night in a sweaty bunk, unable to open a window cos the constant running refigerators, and night trunkers would keep you awake half the night.
It wasn't aways like this, but the company restructured and mended so much that was never broken in the first place, i'm sure that rings bells all round, babies out with bathwater...i'm glad to be out, and i will not go back to it, i've turned down offers since leaving from other companies, kind though they were.
Fortunately we don't need the money, thats much, some fellows have no choice and it will kill them like it has so many before them.
edit, thanks too Skippy, and all who've responded...interesting tangent too concerning Z's lad who must shine like a beacon amid much we see wandering the streets.
Last edited by: gordonbennet on Sun 26 Jun 11 at 11:29
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Good on you Matey. Best of luck.
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I remember once, when one of my company cars turned up. A pug 405 I seem to recall. It arrived on a very big transporter amid lots of other cars, to our office in Richmond high street.
The resulting chaos of this poor bloke trying to find room for a articulated tranporter, and unload the car jammed up the A316 and made it onto capital radio eye in the sky traffic report.
That must have been stressful.
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>> I know i've had a lucky break, though it's often been the case that previous
>> car transporter experience is recognised in the industry, that probably made the difference for me,
>> whatever it was tripped it i'm glad.
I'm sure that the previous experience/politeness has got you the job, and it's good for the employer because you already know the ropes (apart from some specialist training) - I should think it's something you can't fake in an interview.
Good luck with it GB. You'll be able to afford a whole collection of vintage cycles now :)
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Stress can be a killer and its often the person its happening to they are the last to realise.
I have been in that situation myself and no amount of money you recieve is worth badhealth.
Good luck in your new venture.
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Give us enough of a clue to work out the company and we can all phone the "How's my driving" number to say something along the lines of..."You know I've just seen one of your trucks being driven in an extraordinarily fine manner. An older driver, clearly once handsome but nonetheless excellent at his job. If I were you I'd give him a jolly good rise" ...sort of thing.
What do you think?
:-)
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>> An older
>> driver, clearly once handsome
Now thats below the belt.
:)
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"I was closely following one of your tankers, when he dumped 40 tonnes of milk powder on me"
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>> "I was closely following one of your tankers, when he dumped 40 tonnes of milk
>> powder on me"
>>
..."causing me to crash into a PG Tips lorry which overturned and spilled it's load. The impact caused my radiator to burst just before the Tate and Lyle van ran into the back of us. I wish to complain in the strongest possible terms, I'm a coffee drinker and I do not take sugar. I have felt ill all day as sweet tea reacts with me."
Last edited by: Robin Regal on Sun 26 Jun 11 at 18:17
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He's not bitten yet. Expect he's out pricing up a Hi-Lux...
:-)
Last edited by: Humph D'Bout on Sun 26 Jun 11 at 18:28
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RR may be close to the cigar..... T&L have a significant operation round Northampton though my money's on gb's cargo being flour. Deliveries to McVitie's may be part of the deal?
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That's got to be one of the better runs! Hardly going to say they've run out of biscuits when you roll up are they?
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goo.gl/561Go
If this is a picture of GB's new steed then he can call in when he visits the Tring mill down the road.
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>> If this is a picture of GB's new steed then he can call in when
>> he visits the Tring mill down the road.
They've a place down there as well as the local mill?
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>> They've a place down there as well as the local mill?
>>
Yup. Often have to wait for a wagon turning in as I pass - they need both sides of the road.
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>> That's got to be one of the better runs! Hardly going to say they've run
>> out of biscuits when you roll up are they?
Roll-up?
Gawd you cant leave it alone can you Humph
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>> I know i've had a lucky break, though it's often been the case that previous
>> car transporter experience is recognised in the industry, that probably made the difference for me,
>> whatever it was tripped it i'm glad.
Don't sell yourself short. Good drivers are at a premium, you know that and so do I. It's the qualities you mention (reliability, punctuality, honesty) which decent empoloyers look for.
Congrats on getting the job.
As you say, permanent jobs (or what passed for them) with good pay and conditions are becoming hard to find in our industry. My guess is that being home every night will do you as much good as anything, it certainly worked for me.
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>> Hence my carefully chosen word "appropriate" clothing.
Worked for me 4 years ago to get my current job. I did agency driving from day 1 after I moved house, spotted a signwritten van and phoned the number on spec. Next day I had a 45 minute interview to coincide with my tacho break, started 2 weeks later and I'm still there.
GB, I went to school with someone who's now fairly high up at the flour mill in Ickleford, I'll put in a good word for you if you're ever headed there :)
And HM, I didn't see you last Thursday near Market Harborough did I? It was one of your trucks, Welsh registered too.
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[[Good on you Matey. Best of luck.]]
Thanks Mart, and to everyone for the congratulations, it means a lot.
[[to our office in Richmond high street. The resulting chaos
That must have been stressful.]]
That part of the job i enjoyed, not causing chaos but fitting the thing where it causes the least problems for everyone...bit of leg work sometimes.
Talking of legs, Richmond was one of my favourite routes in and out of the city from the south west side, via Brompton or Fulham road...Brompton route and Richmond apparently providing some of the best totty spotting anywhere..well so i'm told.:-)
[[we don't ALL lie GB, well not any worse than some drivers anyway ;-)]]
No that's fair comment HM, the ones i've worked for and in one case signed on for but not worked for have.
[[I'm sure that the previous experience/politeness has got you the job]]
Car carrier experience does carry well in the industry, but only if the transport dept heads are old school or have any say in staff recruitment....Pat did say i was looking in the wrong place at Logistics companies, where previous experience is not always appreciated or valued as much as it should be...she was right.
[[Stress can be a killer and its often the person its happening to they are the last to realise.]]
That's absolutely the case, if it hadn't been for SWM i would have carried on, over the last 20 years i've known a handful of drivers actually make retirement before some dreadful ill health problem cut short their hopes, and in some cases droped dead weeks/ months after retiring.
I suppose that's the same for many industries, lots of heavy smokers though.
[[An older driver, clearly once handsome but nonetheless excellent at his job.]]
The Hump dagger, kindly heated to red metal to cauterise the wound...i'll use that one meself somewhere.:-)
There'll be lots more increasingly older drivers as the retirement age outpaces time, i'm in that trap meself, and there's few young drivers coming through to replace us.
[["I was closely following one of your tankers]]
[[I have felt ill all day as sweet tea reacts with me."]]
[[He's not bitten yet. Expect he's out pricing up a Hi-Lux...]]
You are bad boys, didn't finish till 2am thismorning, it's a good job some of us keep the wheels of industry turning, whilst you lot dossed about.;)
I'm not giving you lot any clues, some of the guesses might be getting warmish...my cock ups'll end up on utube if you blighters have anything to do with it.
[[Good drivers are at a premium, you know that and so do I]]
Agreed, and so do the few remaining own account employers (hint), unfortunately in my area the scene is dominated by logistics companies where waters get muddied.
It's all agency work now, few companies recruit full time anymore in distribution.
Yes we know good ones are hard to find, and some of these companies will be struggling to find competent honest staff in a little while, most drivers are in the 55+ age band.
[[Next day I had a 45 minute interview to coincide with my tacho break, started 2 weeks later and I'm still there.]]
Mine was a cold call too, i thought those days were over...never hurts to try.
Appreciate the kind sentiments all of you.
Last edited by: gordonbennet on Mon 27 Jun 11 at 09:48
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permanent job again - rtj70
