Most Horrific Shifts?

[ECML180]

It's a well known fact that in the transport industry we have shifts and shift patterns a bit worse than many. A new driver commented to me the other day that he was appalled to have worked 50 whole hours this week! (Upon investigation at least 20 of those were sat doing nothing waiting for a private hire to return!)

So this got me thinking...what is the worst shift you've done(or been asked to do!)?

For me it was one when we were short of divers and meant an early finish on friday to do a pair of works services on saturday morning 05.00 to 09.00, get in a daily rest, 18.00 to 21.00 tour feeder then 21.00 to 22.00 break finally 22.00 to 01.30 works service. I won't lie, it was a killer! But I suspect you guys with more experience will have had worse...

 

[causton]

Nothing as worse as when I used to work in retail, an 8am-3am shift with a stocktake...
...yes... no typos there!

So some bad shift patterns sometimes (depending on who makes the rosters :P ) but the shifts aren't quite as bad on the railway, I'm sure

 

[ECML180]

Well I hope you got good money for that, but hey it could easily give you a 4 day weekend all the time!

 

[Shrimper]

One I regularly got was almost 11 hours long (06.25 to 17.15) but was only paid 7h11 - school service, 90 minute break, round trip on service run, 2h20 break, school run.

I was 'fortunate' enough to be one of the only drivers who knew the morning school run so regularly copped for it when the usual driver was ill. I didn't mind the duty too much as the school runs were quite pleasant with decent amounts of dead running and reasonable kids, it was just the paid value that made it a nightmare, though we were on a guaranteed 38 hour week.

 

[causton]

Well I hope you got good money for that, but hey it could easily give you a 4 day weekend all the time!

I wish! If you call 3p above minimum wage good and 10am-8pm shifts (which were often extended at the end to 9pm, sometimes later) either side... I don't think so

 

[GB]

Nothing as worse as when I used to work in retail, an 8am-3am shift with a stocktake...
...yes... no typos there!

So some bad shift patterns sometimes (depending on who makes the rosters :P ) but the shifts aren't quite as bad on the railway, I'm sure

I can see a typo there. Change stocktake to pi33take!

 

[455driver]

I cant remember the shifts I did but I have a wage slip upstairs for 83 hours and 50 minutes for the week!
There were some long shifts on the buses!

 

[dakta]

when I worked on pipeline surveying I got an emergency callout after a day on site dragging me down from yorkshire to ipswitch (why another local contractor couldn't do it beats me)

Got back 1.5 hours before the next days shift started, was the parents company so I got no favours in all fairness I didn't mind too much, a lot of it was just being driven so plenty of stops, plenty of coffee and a breakfast too and i'm champion

So as a rough guide that would have been 8:30am on day one to 5:00pm day 2. Just a one off so not sure if it counts but was memorable!

 

[notadriver]

How about a 21 hour double man coach job from the midlands to Italy or Spain? Yes you can rest in shifts in the bunk but it's not very relaxing.

 

[Tom B]

Not in transport but one memorable month I worked 72, 78, 85 and 82 hours each week. Knackered by the end of it. Ran out of space on the overtime form and had to be sent a continuation payslip!
Was once asked to stay on from a 6pm finish to help with something "for about an hour". When I left at 3.30am.....!

 

[ralphchadkirk]

4 12 hour night shifts in a row, 2 hours late off on the last one, and not had any sort of break on any of them, and then stuck in rush hour traffic on the way home.

 

[starrymarkb]

Not directly transport (I work for an enquiry service) but I once had a serious rota of doom!

Mon: 1300-2100
Tue: 1300-2100
Wed: 1300-2100
Thu: 1300-2100
Fri: 1300-2100
Sat: 0800-1900
Sun: 0900-2000

That happened about every 6-8 weeks. Was very glad when I changed teams and moved onto something more civilised!

 

[pompeyfan]

I did a special park and ride last summer for a local music festival, 10:00 - 02:00, so was bang on the 16 hour spread.... According to greenroad I did a total of 5:32 driving.... The other 10 hours or so were spent sipping tea and coffee!

On my regular rota line there is a 13 hour duty with 2 1:30/2:00 unpaid breaks.... As you can imagine it's not the depots favourite duty.... Unless of course you're on the grandfather contract and get paid from start to finish

 

[ValleyLines142]

On my first day at Costa, I worked 0800-1800 without a break!

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I remember in preparation for deregulation at my late dad's depot that the schedules were flung together very rapidly; a local firm had thrown in a load of work that they'd won on tender having realised they'd won too much. Whilst the shift lengths were actually reasonable, the composition of the shifts tended to be working the same route either all day or sometimes all week.

One shift started at 13:30 with the driver doing a service to the estate I lived (every 15 mins for 4 hours with a Merc 608 mini) then a break, then doing it another 4 times inthe evening (plus another service) for the next 4 hours - therefore, my father ended up going past our house 40 times in a shift until finishing just about 23:15

Another line on the rota involved doing the same service all day for a week, another relatively local service but on a 45 min turnaround so the driver did 5 of them, hour break, and then another 5 - my uncle (who was also a driver) copped for that doing the same shift and going to the same place 10 times a day for 5 days in a row!!

Needless to say, drivers were going stir crazy but it was put right for the set of January 1987 changes when the de-reg services could be adjusted and more variety in their working day/week

 

[ECML180]

The interesting thing about that is...some of our drivers would love that! I'm with you personally, that the variety makes it bearable but some of my colleagues work the same shifts every day, Monday to Saturday on the same 1 hour round trip route with the same 2/3 vehicles. How they don't lose their minds I never know, then again try and send them even slightly off their patch to the other side of town and they turn up with a sat nav, 3 maps and a list of directions. I guess to some people a repetitive shift is bad but to others a 'geographically challenging' shift if their nightmare!

 

[Tom B]

The interesting thing about that is...some of our drivers would love that! I'm with you personally, that the variety makes it bearable but some of my colleagues work the same shifts every day, Monday to Saturday on the same 1 hour round trip route with the same 2/3 vehicles. How they don't lose their minds I never know, then again try and send them even slightly off their patch to the other side of town and they turn up with a sat nav, 3 maps and a list of directions. I guess to some people a repetitive shift is bad but to others a 'geographically challenging' shift if their nightmare!

I read somewhere that certain London operators show drivers one route, and their rosters allow a driver to go several years only driving one route!!

 

[Antman]

I read somewhere that certain London operators show drivers one route, and their rosters allow a driver to go several years only driving one route!!

There is such a high turnover of staff at many London garages it is probably not worthwhile to teach newcomers all the routes only for them to leave again.

Some drivers prefer a bit of variety whilst some are happy to be on the same route day in day out.

 

[Busaholic]

I read somewhere that certain London operators show drivers one route, and their rosters allow a driver to go several years only driving one route!!

No idea about current practices, but in London Transport of 1960s and 1970s there were 'old boy' rosters for the more sedate routes, particularly at outer London garages. Thus at Bromley, this roster comprised the 47 on Monday to Friday plus the 227 at weekends. This may not sound so sedate, but the vast majority of Bromley's workings on the 47 went no further north than Lewisham and the 227 didn't entail any stairs to climb, although Saturday workings were very busy. When one-man operation started to come in during the late 1960s, many older drivers went over to it at these outer garages because they were able to work routes like the 21A at Sidcup, the 250 at Romford, the 242 at Potters Bar and the 136 at Harrow Weald, none of which were hives of activity and usually had fairly relaxed running times.

 

[Antman]

No idea about current practices, but in London Transport of 1960s and 1970s there were 'old boy' rosters for the more sedate routes, particularly at outer London garages. Thus at Bromley, this roster comprised the 47 on Monday to Friday plus the 227 at weekends. This may not sound so sedate, but the vast majority of Bromley's workings on the 47 went no further north than Lewisham and the 227 didn't entail any stairs to climb, although Saturday workings were very busy. When one-man operation started to come in during the late 1960s, many older drivers went over to it at these outer garages because they were able to work routes like the 21A at Sidcup, the 250 at Romford, the 242 at Potters Bar and the 136 at Harrow Weald, none of which were hives of activity and usually had fairly relaxed running times.

I think it is much the same now with the long serving drivers getting the more cushy routes, the 166 and 412 out of TC for example.

 

[Simon11]

Working in a bid team, you have very long hours. For the last month of a bid you would work every day. Usually 9am till 8 or 9pm during weekday and more 9-5 at weekends. For the last few days, I did several 9am till 1am, with only a run out to grab lunch but made sure I had an hour for dinner.

It wasn't good for your waist line with so many take away meals...

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Working in a bid team, you have very long hours. For the last month of a bid you would work every day. Usually 9am till 8 or 9pm during weekday and more 9-5 at weekends. For the last few days, I did several 9am till 1am, with only a run out to grab lunch but made sure I had an hour for dinner.

It wasn't good for your waist line with so many take away meals...

I feel your pain. I have similar experiences when doing a bid - recently been travelling up to Manchester by train to work and saving on driving by working on lap top so working day starts at 0700 and can go through to 1900/2000. And yes, it's difficult not to overdose on crap food and caffeine

I have massive respect for professional drivers - I know how tired I get after 3-4 hours of driving

 

[Qwerty133]

My sister (17) recently worked 17:00-03:00 one day and 15:00-23:00 the next...
All for £4 per hour minus a 30 unpaid break, which she didn't recieve...
and she was also asked to work 08:00-13:00 on the second day, in addition to above.
I would name the employer, but she doesn't want to cause trouble, and thinks the law is guidelines which don't have to be followed, so will just say 'sub-contracted hospitality and catering department at a major Rugby team'.

 

[83G/84D]

Some workers I know do the following:-

Sunday:- 1800 - 0600
Monday to Friday:- 2200 - 0600
Saturday:- 2200 - 0600

They get well paid but it can be a long week, and you certainly feel the affects of it come Thursday night!

This is done once every 4 weeks so not a one off by any means.

 

[Busaholic]

My sister (17) recently worked 17:00-03:00 one day and 15:00-23:00 the next...
All for £4 per hour minus a 30 unpaid break, which she didn't recieve...
and she was also asked to work 08:00-13:00 on the second day, in addition to above.
I would name the employer, but she doesn't want to cause trouble, and thinks the law is guidelines which don't have to be followed, so will just say 'sub-contracted hospitality and catering department at a major Rugby team'.

Unpaid breaks are the bugbear of so many low-paid jobs: often the person is not able to take the break, so is working unpaid during that period. The so-called 'best large employer to work for' is famous for this and, certainly for cashiers, them rarely finishing their shift on time, an extra 10 or 15 minutes that doesn't get paid. Be two minutes late arriving, however, and have your pay docked!

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

My sister (17) recently worked 17:00-03:00 one day and 15:00-23:00 the next...
All for £4 per hour minus a 30 unpaid break, which she didn't recieve...
and she was also asked to work 08:00-13:00 on the second day, in addition to above.
I would name the employer, but she doesn't want to cause trouble, and thinks the law is guidelines which don't have to be followed, so will just say 'sub-contracted hospitality and catering department at a major Rugby team'.

The law says £3.79 per hour so that's ok (except I think it's a derisory amount)

As for breaks, the law says....

Young workers (above school leaving age and under 18) are usually entitled to:

• a 30 minute rest break if they work more than 4.5 hours (if possible this should be one continuous break)
• daily rest of 12 hours
• weekly rest of 48 hours

Exceptions for young workers
Young workers sometimes aren’t entitled to daily rest or rest breaks at work if their work has to be done because of an exceptional event (eg an accident). This is only where:

• there isn’t a worker over 18 who can do the work
• the work is temporary and must be done immediately

Compensatory rest

Young workers have the right to compensatory rest if they are not entitled to daily rest or rest breaks at work. This is the same amount of rest that they should have had. It can be taken just after any rest they’ve missed but it must be taken within the following 
3 weeks.

I think it's hard to argue that hospitality is an exceptional event. However, I've just lifted all that from the government website and I'm no barrack room lawyer!!

 

[Tom B]

Some workers I know do the following:-

Sunday:- 1800 - 0600
Monday to Friday:- 2200 - 0600
Saturday:- 2200 - 0600

They get well paid but it can be a long week, and you certainly feel the affects of it come Thursday night!

This is done once every 4 weeks so not a one off by any means.

Although not regularly nights, my work rota goes : Mon-Fri, Sat/Sun RD, Mon-Sun, Mon/Tue RD, Wed-Fri, Sat/Sun RD. Add some evening overtime to the 7-day week or if you pick up overtime on the rest day either side and you'll be knackered! However, the 3-day week does make having a 'week off' easy on your A/L (although perhaps not a true week).

 

[driver9000]

I read somewhere that certain London operators show drivers one route, and their rosters allow a driver to go several years only driving one route!!

That was certainly the case when I drove buses in London. From memory a new Driver was placed in a spare cover roster until a place in a route roster was available. Personally I didn't mind it as you could pick up work on the other routes operated by the garage as overtime or off spare. The Night buses were covered in the part time roster.

For horrible shifts then the bus industry certainly has them. I regularly worked 12 hour shifts with unpaid meal breaks or split turns which were effectively 13 hour shifts with a long unpaid break between peak periods. Regular driving up to the limits with minimum breaks, short turn arounds from booking off to booking back on. I remember one week in the roster whet you began it by driving the last bus of the night and ended it driving the first bus of the day. Killer weeks for £6.50 an hour (less for minibus Drivers) with no enhancement for overtime. Do I miss it? Absolutely not!

 

[Rich McLean]

Back in the days when I ran a pub

Monday 0900 - 1700ish - Inputting End of week, Banking and Shopping. (pub supplies)
Tuesday 0900 - 1800 (line cleaning, delivery, bar)
Wednesday 1000 - 2300ish (Bar
Thursday 1000 - 1800 (Bar)
Friday 1800 - 0200 (Bar)
Saturday 1930 - 0200 (Disco/Karaoke host until 0000, then bar there after)
Sunday 1100 - 2230 (Bar + End of Week Stock Check)

and Repeat, week in week out

 

[E-Rail]

I believe the MegabusGold driver duties are something like...

2100: Sign on in Glasgow
2200- Depart Glasgow
0700- Arrive London VCS. Empty and run dead to West Ham depot where coach is tanked, cleaned, fuelled, restocked and converted to day mode. Return to London VCS and prep for boarding. Then operate the...

1100 - London VCS to Plymouth, arriving around 1600. The crew then hand over to fresh drivers (who had performed this duty the previous day) and lodge for the night in Plymouth.

Next day, they sign on around 1600, relieve the incoming crew and depart Plymouth around 1630 for London VCS, arriving around 2130. There may then be a visit to west Ham for sleeper prep before returning to VCS for a 2330 departure to Scotland, arriving in Glasgow around 0800 where they hand the vehicle over to a Citylink Gold driver and steward for the onward journey north.

I believe a similar arrangement occurs with the daytime Cardiffs.