What about decent drivers?
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RETHE letterWhere are the decent employers?' (CM 22 September), we are a small Midlandsbased warehousing and distribution company based outside Derby.
Our basic rates for Class 1 and 2 drivers on a guaranteed 50 hours Monday to Friday are £337.50 a week (£6.75 an hour) plus a monthly attendance bonus of £60, which is paid if no absence occurs and lifts the rate to £7.03 an hour (average pay £20K plus). Overtime is paid x1.5 above 50 hours; x2 after 1pm on Saturday and Sundays. But we try not to work weekends and give our drivers a predictable family life!
Of the last four drivers recruited in the past three weeks, all accepted the job and all failed to turn up on start day. We prefer older more mature drivers and have an excellent insurance claims experience as a result.As I write I am advertising three positions due to long-term servers retiring. Can I get drivers'? No. I have used tern ps, but at what a cost?
One stole £500 of diesel over two nights. One delivering to Sainsbury's did £1,500 of damage on two separate occasions to tractor and trailer. One returned from Andover stating he could not find the customer, despite the fact that we've delivered there for years with no problems.
Any mature drivers seeking a proper contract, no lies, and straight honest employment are welcome to apply.
There are decent employers, you have to look that's all! We (the employers) might ask,where are the decent drivers'?
Andy Bawd
Bow Distribution and Warehousing Ripley, Derbyshire