Shift patterns for Class 1 drivers

[tovadee]

Am interested in going over to distribution with the current recruitment drive on class 1 drivers.
I know it’s a 36 hour contract but does anyone have any examples of the shifts required or what people currently do.
Thanks in advance.

[Jb1969]

Voc typically work 24hrs 7 days a wk.
You will probably start as a reserve, therefore any shift pattern.
Money is good & you get to sleep in your own bed!

[ConeHater]

Just had Network review so drivers have just had re-sign for duties. As previous said will join as reserve and when vacant duties are advertised will be by seniority, all years in business - not just as driver ! So someone with 20 yrs as OPG who’s just passed test will trump a current driver who’s been driving 30 yrs but “only” been with business 19 yrs !

[tovadee]

Thanks for the replies.

If successful, I fully expect and happy to be a reserve until a duty becomes available. Recently got my class 1 licence, having spent the past 20 years on deliveries.
Was just wondering how the hours across the week roughly look like.
How many days/nights a week do you have to work?
Is it 4 x 9 hour days/nights? Long and short days to make up the 36 hour week? Or do some duties have allocated overtime on them

[abzyyy]

Kind of depends which voc you apply at. Each voc has its own procedures and duty patterns etc

[Navalron]

Thanks for the replies.

If successful, I fully expect and happy to be a reserve until a duty becomes available. Recently got my class 1 licence, having spent the past 20 years on deliveries.
Was just wondering how the hours across the week roughly look like.
How many days/nights a week do you have to work?
Is it 4 x 9 hour days/nights? Long and short days to make up the 36 hour week? Or do some duties have allocated overtime on them

Yes mate ex Glasgow driver here. £36,000 per year. All different shifts mostly 5/7. Some have docket added on. Shift pay also. It works out about £24/£26 per hour depending on shift . It's a canter. Driving yorkies between distribution centres and MCs. Maybe doing big customer pick ups. Piece of piss. Go for it. Hope your lucky.

[SpacePhoenix]

Not sure if some of the MC > DO runs are class 1 work as well, some use 17 ton lorries

[2214MN]

Just applied for Woking VOC, ex postie who left for a HGV apprenticeship with a supermarket. So sounds like as a reserve you could be doing AM shift one week, PM shift the next and nights the following week?

[Jb1969]

Just applied for Woking VOC, ex postie who left for a HGV apprenticeship with a supermarket. So sounds like as a reserve you could be doing AM shift one week, PM shift the next and nights the following week?

Correct, as a youngster your body copes, as you get older it does not.

[2214MN]

Just applied for Woking VOC, ex postie who left for a HGV apprenticeship with a supermarket. So sounds like as a reserve you could be doing AM shift one week, PM shift the next and nights the following week?

Correct, as a youngster your body copes, as you get older it does not.

Jeez that’s not great is it. Shame they can’t have split reserves into AM/PM/Nights. Working nights currently and enjoy it but it’s hard enough managing your sleep pattern with days off with family let alone changing your working hours so drastically week to week.

[ConeHater]

. . . and the duty days can vary wildly too, some have Sat or Sun or both as a feature.

[Kylepugh1]

Did you start on the class 1’s with rm? Currently applying myself and seen the one for 36 hours so just wanted to see what the shift patterns are like myself, is it 4 shifts a week?

[ConeHater]

Remember the recent film “ Everything, Everywhere, All At Once “ ? That’s the duty patterns. Can be 4 or 5 day shifts, even had 3 day ones in the past. Can be any combination of days as long as the breaks are legal, with the need for weekend drivers there are some which run eg. Thursday - Monday. Start times can be literally anything, there’s some that start midnight, 0100, 0200, etc. Imagine starting at 0300 and not getting night allowance ! Some duties have fixed content week to week, some rotate every week. A few VOCs use 4 on / 4 off duty patterns. Also leave reserve duties that pick different duties every week.