Mercedes Axor

For the past couple of days I've been driving our hired Mercedes Axor. We have this until our new trucks get delivered in June or July.

I had thought that our ones would be the same as this but I am beginning to think that we are getting a more basic version. Ho hum.
One thing I know will be missing is the manual gear change button. We can't be trusted to use it correctly.
So it's full auto gear change or nothing.

The dashboard is neat and does it's job but I'm not sure how long it will keep it's 'as new' condition as the finish feels a bit cheap. This picture makes it look a little blue/green, the colours below are nearer the mark.

Much better curtains than the DAF. These let in far less light.

Radio, tacho, interior lights and night heater controls are located above the drivers head.

Under the bunk there is plenty of space for odds and sods but unlike my CF it is a pig to lift up. A couple of small gas struts on the Daf make it easy to lift one handed sitting in the drivers seat. The one on the Merc has nothing so you have to get up and heave it up and then secure it in the open position with a strap. Cheap and nasty but I suppose as a basic cost cutting fleet truck savings have to be made and it all adds up.

So something like this will be my work place in the future. Not the XF Super Space Cab of my dreams but suits the job I do now.

Odds And Sods

Finally a couple of weeks ago 'The Beast' made it to the million mark.

It's been a hard slog to get there as we no longer do long journeys. 350 to 400k a day is about the norm these days.
It looks like I will only be driving CDZ for another couple of months as new trucks are on their way. We have been told they are Axors. I'm going to miss my little DAF.
We have had an Axor on rental for a month or so. Can't complain about it. Does it's job and the auto box seems to work quite well; not as good as an I-Shift but not bad.

Could have done with the extra height in the cab when nights out were common but beggars can't be choosers.

Coffee time near Skipton

I've been thinking about the dreaded DCPC recently. Our company says they are going to sort something out but...........................................
Time is dragging on and I'm seriously thinking about just going ahead and getting the hours credited myself. £80+ a 7 hour session seems to be about the going rate round here. Still, I paid for my own HGV and CPC so I guess this is just another expense to cover if I still want to do a job I like :-((
I wouldn't mind if we were highly paid professionals but as, not a lot above minimum wage, drivers is sort of pisses me off! To be honest though, I do think some sort of training other than the driving test is called for.
I had a 'conversation' with another driver recently. 20+ years in the job and he knew sweet FA about the rules and regs regarding speed limits and drivers hours.

There still seems to be a problem with me replying to comments (or I'm just being thick and doing something wrong) so sorry if you haven't heard back from me.