05:00 on a Saturday morning and a motly crew of drivers gather in the canteen at work.
Destination. Peterborough.
The mission. To collect 10 new trucks.
Shunter Shane has drawn the short straw and is going to be our mini-bus driver for the trip down. Glad it's not me. Who wants 10 back seat drivers?
Just after 06:00 we set off and after a brief stop off at a transport cafe to fill up with bacon butties we soon arrive at the dealers. After a short wait we are issued with our keys and head off into their large yard to collect the trucks.
First problem. The truck Neil is collecting is missing a vital part.
Yes, they have not fitted the 5th wheel. The fitters there have to put down their mugs of tea and do some work.
Problem number two. Phil's truck has a flat battery. More action from the men in the garage.
We sign for the trucks and as they have very little fuel in the tanks we head off in convoy to Peterborough Services to put in 50 litres each to get us back to our yard.
Problem number three. They do not accept our fuel card.
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| What are we going to do about fuel lads? |
A quick chat on the forecourt and it's back on the A1 to the next service station. So running on fumes we head off.
Problem number four. Phil finds out that his truck will only do 50. Guess he will win the fuel economy prize!
We pull into the services and 10 trucks grab every pump available. The families in the 'American Diner' are treated to 15 minutes of chaos as bemused couples out for a Saturday drive find their petrol station invaded by a bunch of badly dressed truckers.
It did cause a stir with all the kids though. They loved it. As did the owner of the garage who had an unexpected sale of 500litres of diesel. Smiley faces everywhere.
A quick blast (except Phil) up the A1 and we soon got back to the yard and spent the next hour filling up with both diesel and Adblue.
I'm going to really miss my old DAF, CDZ. We have had many a good time together and she has only let me down a couple of times :-(
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| My new baby |
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| The new and the old |
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| I'm not looking forward to trying to keep this clean |
