So, that wasn't good enough for you then..
Discussion
For no other reason than to share, thought I'd stick up the following, which my agency (who are fab) asked me to pen, after their client apparently had performance issues with me last night. It has been forwarded to their client. I'm sure with a little thought, the end recipient would become clear. 
There's a bigger picture I feel, as another long standing agency driver of merit was deemed persona non grata from the same six week contract on day one.
There's a bigger picture I feel, as another long standing agency driver of merit was deemed persona non grata from the same six week contract on day one. email sent said:
Hi mate, please find below a brief synopsis of last night's shift for MR.
Start time for route 6XX is 18.09, I arrived at 18.00. I signed most of the relevant paperwork asked of me, however, I wasn't given the start time sheet, which I subsequently signed on return when 'my' error was pointed out. My digi card was downloaded.
A very helpful agency chap called Pete showed me to my tractor unit, and told me where my trailer would be and gave me a few route tips.
After hooking up and carrying out all the relevant checks, I moved off at 18.42, the correct time of departure in the route book.
After studying what appeared to be a comprehensive map, I chose to follow it, rather than use my sat nav.
All was well until I missed the junction to Penarth Road. If I remember correctly, this junction is sign posted 'Athletics Arena'. The route book tells me to exit for the 'Rugby Stadium'. The next junction is signposted 'Stadium', so this is where I left the A4232.
After soon realising this was the wrong exit, I tried to use my sat nav, but there was no satellite coverage, so I found a suitable place to stop and ask for directions. Having now been given correct directions, I arrived at Cardiff depot 18 minutes behind schedule, at 19.00. It is worthy of note that the cab temperature is 31 deg, the entire trip spent heading into low sun, not very comfortable.
I was loaded and left at 19.20 for Daventry. The route book allows you an hour's driving time to Cardiff, and then 3 1/2 to Daventry, so it is pretty tight on driving time especially at this time of year with night roadworks everywhere, in particular the M50, long stretches of which are 40mph contraflow. Once my sat nav started to work, it soon became apparent that I was going to need a break before Daventry, or risk exceeding my 4 1/2 driving time.
At approximately 20.00 I phoned the number for Daventry and informed them that I'd had difficulty locating Cardiff depot, would need a tacho break, and therefore would be arriving about an hour late. Having received no instruction on using the cab equipment, I used my own phone to do this. The woman I spoke with noted my phone number, and told me that somebody in the transport department would call me back. No one ever did.
I stopped at Corley Services on the M6(S) at 23.25 with 6 minutes of driving time left, had a 45 minute break. It was a little cooler now, a mere 28 deg. In the absence of any seals for the rear door I stayed with the vehicle during this time. I arrived at Deventry at 00.51, 69 minutes behind schedule.
After unloading, it became apparent that there was nothing to go to Swindon, so I was told to hang around for 10 minutes before moving off to Swindon. Having studied the route book, in which Swindon to Bristol depot is carried out empty, it was pretty clear that there was no point in travelling to Swindon at all. After consultation and discussion, a manager suggested I travel back to Bristol direct. I left for Bristol Depot at 01.36, 2 minutes ahead of schedule, after collecting a nil weighbill.
I arrived back at Bristol at 03.50, unhooked the trailer and parked up, After debrief by transport as to why I had been behind time on two occasions during the shift, I left site at 04.20, 1hr 09 minutes ahead of schedule.
No mention was made of the diesel and wages saved after I had pointed out the futility of driving to Swindon empty, only to travel on to Bristol, empty. So despite completing the shift to the best of my ability and returning the vehicle intact, under some difficult conditions, and saving some money, apparently my efforts weren't good enough. On balance, I am feeling slightly underappreciated. Please feel free to relay my sentiments to MR.
Cheers,
Me
Start time for route 6XX is 18.09, I arrived at 18.00. I signed most of the relevant paperwork asked of me, however, I wasn't given the start time sheet, which I subsequently signed on return when 'my' error was pointed out. My digi card was downloaded.
A very helpful agency chap called Pete showed me to my tractor unit, and told me where my trailer would be and gave me a few route tips.
After hooking up and carrying out all the relevant checks, I moved off at 18.42, the correct time of departure in the route book.
After studying what appeared to be a comprehensive map, I chose to follow it, rather than use my sat nav.
All was well until I missed the junction to Penarth Road. If I remember correctly, this junction is sign posted 'Athletics Arena'. The route book tells me to exit for the 'Rugby Stadium'. The next junction is signposted 'Stadium', so this is where I left the A4232.
After soon realising this was the wrong exit, I tried to use my sat nav, but there was no satellite coverage, so I found a suitable place to stop and ask for directions. Having now been given correct directions, I arrived at Cardiff depot 18 minutes behind schedule, at 19.00. It is worthy of note that the cab temperature is 31 deg, the entire trip spent heading into low sun, not very comfortable.
I was loaded and left at 19.20 for Daventry. The route book allows you an hour's driving time to Cardiff, and then 3 1/2 to Daventry, so it is pretty tight on driving time especially at this time of year with night roadworks everywhere, in particular the M50, long stretches of which are 40mph contraflow. Once my sat nav started to work, it soon became apparent that I was going to need a break before Daventry, or risk exceeding my 4 1/2 driving time.
At approximately 20.00 I phoned the number for Daventry and informed them that I'd had difficulty locating Cardiff depot, would need a tacho break, and therefore would be arriving about an hour late. Having received no instruction on using the cab equipment, I used my own phone to do this. The woman I spoke with noted my phone number, and told me that somebody in the transport department would call me back. No one ever did.
I stopped at Corley Services on the M6(S) at 23.25 with 6 minutes of driving time left, had a 45 minute break. It was a little cooler now, a mere 28 deg. In the absence of any seals for the rear door I stayed with the vehicle during this time. I arrived at Deventry at 00.51, 69 minutes behind schedule.
After unloading, it became apparent that there was nothing to go to Swindon, so I was told to hang around for 10 minutes before moving off to Swindon. Having studied the route book, in which Swindon to Bristol depot is carried out empty, it was pretty clear that there was no point in travelling to Swindon at all. After consultation and discussion, a manager suggested I travel back to Bristol direct. I left for Bristol Depot at 01.36, 2 minutes ahead of schedule, after collecting a nil weighbill.
I arrived back at Bristol at 03.50, unhooked the trailer and parked up, After debrief by transport as to why I had been behind time on two occasions during the shift, I left site at 04.20, 1hr 09 minutes ahead of schedule.
No mention was made of the diesel and wages saved after I had pointed out the futility of driving to Swindon empty, only to travel on to Bristol, empty. So despite completing the shift to the best of my ability and returning the vehicle intact, under some difficult conditions, and saving some money, apparently my efforts weren't good enough. On balance, I am feeling slightly underappreciated. Please feel free to relay my sentiments to MR.
Cheers,
Me
Edited by pacman1 on Thursday 26th July 19:00
That's agency work for you fella. Expected to know it all like their employees who do it day in day out and also expected to do it in the same time as them. In my experience these places aren't any great loss when you're not asked back. It's unlikely that your agency will back you up unless it's only a small outfit and you already have a near-spotless record with them. Chalk it up to experience and move on is all you can do.
All that jazz said:
That's agency work for you fella. Expected to know it all like their employees who do it day in day out and also expected to do it in the same time as them. In my experience these places aren't any great loss when you're not asked back. It's unlikely that your agency will back you up unless it's only a small outfit and you already have a near-spotless record with them. Chalk it up to experience and move on is all you can do.
This is b
ks An agency driver is supposed to know the route better than the driver he replaces, and is able to do it in half the time, with extra drops added.
There is a certain "brown" outfit near me, that have difficulty getting agency drivers to work for them. They constantly try to blame the driver, agency or otherwise, for the management/traffic f
k ups.It has nothing to do with Manpower having too many drivers and having to share out the work then? The regular agency guys are always complaining about the new guys getting the work to make it look like there's enough work for all. The company being talked about is one of the most sought after jobs on the agency so it can't be that bad now can it? Yes it's tight from Cardiff to Daventry but at no point are you asked to break the law.
Edited by leggly on Sunday 29th July 11:33
leggly said:
It has nothing to do with Manpower having too many drivers and to share out the work then? The regular agency guys are always complaining about the new guys getting the work to make it look like there's enough work for all. The company being talked about is one of the most sought after jobs on the agency so it can't be that bad now can it? Yes it's tight from Cardiff to Daventry but at no point are you asked to break the law.
Yet it counts against you if you subsequently have to take an 'unauthorised' break. I'd have the round nailed if I was ever asked to do it again, but apparently you aren't allowed to underperform, even if you are new and the problems faced weren't really your fault.Your observation as to the agency having too many drivers would seem not to apply in my area, why else would they then subcontract to another agency (for whom I work) two six week driving contracts?
philthy said:
All that jazz said:
That's agency work for you fella. Expected to know it all like their employees who do it day in day out and also expected to do it in the same time as them. In my experience these places aren't any great loss when you're not asked back. It's unlikely that your agency will back you up unless it's only a small outfit and you already have a near-spotless record with them. Chalk it up to experience and move on is all you can do.
This is bks An agency driver is supposed to know the route better than the driver he replaces, and is able to do it in half the time, with extra drops added.
There is a certain "brown" outfit near me, that have difficulty getting agency drivers to work for them. They constantly try to blame the driver, agency or otherwise, for the management/traffic f
k ups.t work I was trying to avoid by going for my class 1, but there seems plenty of it about at this level.Guess I'll just have to wear my fair share of crap outfits until I have two years experience under my belt, by which time I may be able to pick and choose who I work for.
So far my agency has been really good, and we have an excellent working relationship.
The only irony so far has been that some of the better paid contracts and easier jobs I've done have all been rigid work!
All that jazz said:
leggly said:
If you think working for Royal Mail is hard you're in for some very unpleasant shifts elsewhere :-)
Would have to agree with that. It doesn't get any easier or laid back than RM.In my experience, it's the drivers who are telling you not to carve it up?
4key said:
Sainsburys is excellent work aswell if you can get it, all of the routes and times are spot on, everyones helpful and you dont even have to get out of the cab to unload at the stores. beats most of the other supermarkets.
Rumour has it, that they are opening a hub near Exeter at the end of the year?Woohoo if so?
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