Contract delivery driver issues

Dear all

Note - I'm sure this isn't representitve of all contract drivers, however...

I've recently been buying a lot of building materials from a certain builders merchants...on the days when the companys own driver has delivered, he has skilfully navigated the mass of trees and telephone cables to off load pallets and 1 tonne bags....On the day they sent him with a contract driver, the contractor (who allegedly had been doing this for 10 years) nearly took out the phone lines (only stopping after shouts from the other driver). He smashed the hell out of our hedges with bthe crane and couldn't care less.

When I spoke to the manager of the store about this - (to praise the other driver as well) he told me the contractor had managed to trash two of their lorries before being moved on..aparrently he has no come back on the agency due to the paperwork they sign up to. My point is...you may feel inclined if having goods delivered in a difficult location, to insist on a company driver.....any one else have any comments on this?

the shop might have no recourse to the driver, but your contract is with the shop, so you could claim off them in case of damage due to lack of care or competence. it makes no difference to your case if the driver they use is agency, employee, or green with blue hair.

Vicarious liability is the phrase you are after John.

Pete

What? green with blue hair?? I know that bastard, he trashed my trees last year..

He actualy looked like the boat captain from "Jaws", with the same cavalier attitude...I almost expected him to take one look at my driveway and say..."We're going to need a bigger crane".

I didn't go looking for compensation from the store itself as I have a good relationship there...just wanted to let people know my gripe with contract drivers..