1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172 
An early start today, making some calls from the mobile
Page 62
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
to key clients ensuring today's dryers are in and whether any last minute drivers are needed. As a driving agency it is important that we are available 24 hours, every day. With the nature of our clients' business fluctuating by the hour, our success depends on having a large number of drivers to cover all types of work—days, nights, tramping and shunting—and our constant dialogue with the traffic operators. Monday will also see one of the team visiting a majority of the clients. Regular contact gives us the opportunity to present a face behind the phone and resolve any outstanding issues.
TUESDAY
One of he ousiest days in the office with invoicing and payroll. Our ,71 commitment as employers to the drivers, who may have worked c; on several different contracts in the preceding week, is that their Z' wages will be correct and in the bank on time. We all take this & matter very seriouslylike my colleagues Ed and Phil I spend a large as amount of time talking to the drivers on the phone—both those in g work and those waiting for work. Even the drivers not currently on ± assignment need to be kept informed. We also like to keep in
contact with drivers who have left our employment. We are able to maintain a large pool of drivers to cover a variety of customers' requirements and we recognise that without the drivers Atlas wouldn't exist, so we endeavour to give them what they want as well. The culture at Atlas is that we wouldn't ask a driver to do something that we wouldn't be prepared to do ourselves.
WEDNESDAY
One or two early morning calls taken on the mobile. The work this morning has come from a small but valuable customer requesting a one-drop delivery in Newcastle on a Class 2 vehicle. I get in touch with Phil on the way into work and ask him if he would mind covering the job. One of my other offices has a commitment to a customer planning meeting later today, so I will cover in Phil's absence. Flexibility is a huge factor in the success of our business and most of our clients appreciate it when we pull all the stops out to meet their last minute needs. Two drivers came in earlier today on a referral and looking for full-time positions. While we endeavour to help everybody, on this occasion one driver was suitable and was offered work for the following week. The other driver we were unable to help because we didn't have his type of work.
THURSDAY
An early start for me today as one of our clients has suggested we may be able to assist another part of his organisation in Swindon. The meeting at 10:00hrs went successfully and as a result, Atlas will be looking to open another branch in the not too distant future. The Winsford operation has had an amazing day, exceeding all expectations for numbers of drivers—and Ed had even washed the cups before I got back late that afternoon! All payslips were compiled and the Atlas monthly newsletter was included. This Saturday is a chance for Atlas drivers to let their hair down, dress up as Elvis, forget about work and join Ed and Mike for a karaoke social evening at the Bull's Head in Clotton, Cheshire, One thing I believe in strongly is laughter. Every day there's laughter at Atlas—with clients, drivers and among the office staff. It keeps us real—relieves work pressures and tension.
FRIDAY
We have to be up bright and early, with a clear head, because today we must speak to all drivers and all customers. We plan for Friday night through to Monday morning and while this sounds easy enough, some weeks we can be planning up to 50 weekend jobs. We try to influence which drivers will do which jobs as much as our customers let us. This can be a huge help because we know what jobs each driver has handled before. Friday generally ends later as some customers won't be able to confirm requirements until late in the afternoon. Al about 20:30hrs, after the mammoth co-ordination job, all the drivers and clients are happy for the weekend. I believe that the happier the drivers, the happier the customers.
SATURDAY
My morning is spent sat at the dining room table with my phone stuck to my ear, double-checking and making sure everything is running smoothly. When this is done I try to spend as much time as possible with my family. Even this time is broken up with phone calls from existing or new drivers, visits to the house and also calls from clients for last-minute drivers needed for Sunday.
SUNDAY
Another day to make calls and confirm the bookings for Monday morning. More family time; I try to get Out of the house and disappear with the kids for the day. Upon my return to the house later that afternoon I have such a headache that I can't wait for the kids to go to bed and give me some peace! My peace is broken with a booking for a driver for tomorrow morning at 6am. I call the driver to inform him; my son inadvertently attempts to burn down my house while I'm on the phone... its the end of the weekend but I can't wait to get back to the office on Monday morning for a rest!.