A Weeks Diary

It's been over a year since my last blog so I guess it's time to either carry on with this rubbish or delete the site. Let's carry on for the time being and see how it goes :-)
On the driving front nothing much has changed but work wise there could be a few changes. More of that another time; maybe!

So let's get the party started with a quick diary of the week before last.

Monday.

The alarm clock went off at 02:15. After all these years it is still a shock to the system.
It takes a good 45mins to get my brain into gear after a very strong coffee and a quick shower. Where did the weekend go to? I didn't get half the jobs done that I had planned.

A 17mile drive into work, collect my paperwork and keys, hitch up, and I'm then ready to hit the road to Aspatria in Cumbria.
Pass Scotch Corner after the usual boring two hour drive along the A1 and it's over the A66 to Penrith.
At this time of year it's a glorious drive over the Pennines with the sun just rising behind me. Going in the other direction is a steady stream of Irish and Scottish hauliers heading south.
A one junction dive up the M6 and it's overland towards Wigton and Aspatria, the only distraction being the hundreds of rabbits who just sit in the road. Please move Bunny. At the very last minute they always get out of the way. I hope!

Swop trailers at our customer at Aspatria and head over the short distance to the small port town of Silloth on the Cumbrain coast. The road at best is narrow with just enough room to pass an oncoming car but at times shrinks down to just enough room to pass between the hedges. It can get interesting if a truck comes in the opposite direction but for a change it's all clear.

Slip into the yard where I'm making a collection with just a couple of minutes of driving time left. Twenty minutes later I'm loaded and move round the corner to have a cup of tea and a bacon buttie. I don't often buy from 'Burger Vans' but I must admit I treat myself here.
The couple who run this van are just such a friendly pair that I feel guilty not to stop. A friendly chat, good well priced food and they never fail to wave when it's time to drive off. Customer service at it's best.

Four and a quarter hours later sees me back in sunny Alfreton. Fuel up, do my paperwork and head home. Something to eat; grab some rubbish on TV and bed.

Tuesday.

Another early start sees me off to our factory in Corby.
A blast down the M1, off at Leicester and a run through the early morning gloom to my drop off point.

Have a good old chat with the forklift driver. Another happy worker.

Load up with pallets for a customer in Mansfield. When I get to their yard, that is tight at the best of times, I find major building work going on. I wind up the builders and they do their best to wind me up as I try and tip and then turn around amongst all their crap.

Back to the yard and an early driving finish as myself and two other drivers have a meeting with senior management regarding possible job losses. Happy days.


Wednesday.


A short local run kicks my day off. A full load of foam blocks to one of our customers in Ilkeston. Drink coffee and watch the heavily loaded freight trains roll past as I wait to get tipped.
All blocks off and it's along to the garage that services (!!) our trailers to drop mine off for some much needed work. No trailers to collect so it's a solo run back to the yard. Can't help blowing away a souped up Citroen Saxo at the lights. Childish? Oh yes, but fun!

My next load for a distribution centre in Bradford isn't ready so it's yet another cup of coffee and a chat with a couple of our other drivers who are also waiting for their loads to be got ready.
I'm booked into Bradford for 12:30 so need to be away by 11:00 if I'm going to get there on time.
Time drags slowly. There is a problem on the production line. 11:00 comes and goes.
At 13:00 I'm loaded and on my way; the customer will not be happy. Get to my drop two hours late and book in at the gatehouse. I say sorry and wait for them to turn me away. They don't. Even the yard shunter smiles and points to my loading bay. Bradford is happy today even though it's pissing down!

Into the back of the trailer with a pump truck and 24 pallets of mattress toppers are soon unloaded.

Back to base, then home.

Thursday.

Yet another short local run to Long Eaton outside Nottingham.
50 rolls of foam soon off-loaded then back for another load to Barnoldswick in Lancashire.

Or not.

The production problems have carried on and after waiting 5 hours for my load it is decided to cancel the run for today. Coffee overdose day. Just over one hours driving. Not happy.

Friday.

Another run down to Corby, take the empty trailer to the garage and a solo blast to the yard. Hardly worth going in, still it's Friday so an early finish is always welcome.

Next week I'll be on shunting duties. More to follow...........................................................................

I've not posted for a long time.

I have been back on the road for just over a year and I'm still enjoying it.

The intention was to just let this blog fade away but I've decided to keep it going and update it at regular intervals.
Moans, groans and general observations along with some input from outside sources. 
First update coming soon.
You have been warned!

Goodbye CDZ. Hello YWO.

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.

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 :-(

My new baby

The new and the old

I'm not looking forward to trying to keep this clean

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.