Container Advice

Hi Fellas, recently posted on newbee forum but maybe not the best place for it as not getting much response. Unless i’m being a bit impatient.

This is the type of work that I want to get into as I explained in my other post:

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=147018

For those who don’t take a look at the post what I was really wondering was:

1 suitable for a newbee?
2 popular job?
3 i’ve seen some trucks with lorry loader, some without? What’s best to have?
4 is most of the work using those skeleton trailers that can be lengthened?
5 if you are delivering to a customer how would you unload / or pick up an empty container if you don’t have a lorry loader?
6 little chance of work without class 1?

Is there anything else I can do that would impress employers or make my application stand out?

Thanks for you advice.

ContainerBoy:
Hi Fellas, recently posted on newbee forum but maybe not the best place for it as not getting much response. Unless i’m being a bit impatient.

This is the type of work that I want to get into as I explained in my other post:

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=147018

For those who don’t take a look at the post what I was really wondering was:

1 suitable for a newbee?
2 popular job?
3 i’ve seen some trucks with lorry loader, some without? What’s best to have?
4 is most of the work using those skeleton trailers that can be lengthened?
5 if you are delivering to a customer how would you unload / or pick up an empty container if you don’t have a lorry loader?
6 little chance of work without class 1?

Is there anything else I can do that would impress employers or make my application stand out?

Thanks for you advice.

1. It’s not too difficult for a newbie, be aware that the center of gravity of boxes is usually higher than normal and you have no way of knowing how it’s loaded. Also be aware that no container storage places have signage, they all have different procedures and they expect you to be mindreaders.

2. Not really sure how to answer. I wouldn’t say it’s one way or another.

3. Most don’t have them, it’s usually specialist companies that do and they’ll most likely want you to have previous container experience.

4. The vast majority is, but they’re easy enough to work.

5. Quite simply, you don’t unless they have a way of doing it themselves.

6. If you don’t have a class 1 and want to do containers, I wouldn’t even waste time with trying.

Re your other post, I’d take a C + C+E course that allows you to maximize your CPC hours, I think with Peter Smythe you could get 28 hours just by doing the driving courses. Make the other 7 by First Aid or something like that.

Thanks DJC. I should have posted here first.

I was already a bit dubious about doing lorry loader as doesn’t really appeal to me that much. I did see a job advertised for lorry loader container and they were asking for 4 years experience, so looks like you are spot on. Saved me some money as well .

I suspected I would need a class 1.

Do you ever need to open up the container / go inside. Or is that definitely a no no?

Yeah I had been planning on Peter Smythe.

One last thing is there nothing else you would recommend about additional training or qualifications that would be of use in this line of work. First Aid would be handy in general.

Thanks again.

Container work was my first job after I passed my class 1.
Its more than suitable for a newbie.
Not sure about container work in general but the company I worked for had a never enter the container policy.
You need to open the doors in 90% of places and back onto a bay but thats about it.
One bit of advice if you go for it. Take a book. Sometimes loading or unloading can take hours

ContainerBoy:
Thanks DJC. I should have posted here first.

I was already a bit dubious about doing lorry loader as doesn’t really appeal to me that much. I did see a job advertised for lorry loader container and they were asking for 4 years experience, so looks like you are spot on. Saved me some money as well .

I suspected I would need a class 1.

Do you ever need to open up the container / go inside. Or is that definitely a no no?

Yeah I had been planning on Peter Smythe.

One last thing is there nothing else you would recommend about additional training or qualifications that would be of use in this line of work. First Aid would be handy in general.

Thanks again.

I’d also say plus one with the book :lol. Also pack some trainers for going on runs/walks.

I only ever went inside a box was whilst it was still on the loading bay/ramp and if it had been loaded with steel or something to have a nose at how they’d secured it. Only time I went inside on a delivery was when my paperwork blew into it . And even then I was feeling generous and walked up the ramp (the effort, its uphill!).

I worked for a firm that didn’t have a policy on anything . You’re probably not meant to go in them these days.

Thanks Snowman. Looks like container work it is for me .

DJC:

1. It’s not too difficult for a newbie, be aware that the center of gravity of boxes is usually higher than normal and you have no way of knowing how it’s loaded. Also be aware that no container storage places have signage, they all have different procedures and they expect you to be mindreaders.

2. Not really sure how to answer. I wouldn’t say it’s one way or another.

3. Most don’t have them, it’s usually specialist companies that do and they’ll most likely want you to have previous container experience.

4. The vast majority is, but they’re easy enough to work.

5. Quite simply, you don’t unless they have a way of doing it themselves.

6. If you don’t have a class 1 and want to do containers, I wouldn’t even waste time with trying.

Re your other post, I’d take a C + C+E course that allows you to maximize your CPC hours, I think with Peter Smythe you could get 28 hours just by doing the driving courses. Make the other 7 by First Aid or something like that.

+1…

Well put, particularly the part about mind reading on different sites. Do something different on a site and you can bet yer bottom dollar someone will be round with a cloud of dust behind them telling you what a pratt you are.

I can only add that you’d be wise to get a RHIDES card because it’s the only form of ID the larger container ports will accept. rhides.com/

Happy motoring you box jockey!

ContainerBoy:
Thanks Snowman. Looks like container work it is for me .

Do you have an artic licence container boy? These are taking on. Scroll down to bottom. Looks like they’ll take less than 2 years experience. I have absolutely NO idea what they’re like to work for though

kemball.co.uk

Thanks for the input guys. Getting a better idea of it now.

Now I don’t have licence yet. Just done the cpc theory with top marks. Got the other theories in a couple of weeks. Pretty sure this is the line of work I want to get into so just trying to get myself motivated as its a lot of money to spend without knowing what you intend to do afterwards.

When you park up at the port do they not mind if you clear off for a while. Is it like RDC’s when they take your keys? Do they give you a ring when the contained loaded/unloaded?

ContainerBoy:
Thanks for the input guys. Getting a better idea of it now.

Now I don’t have licence yet. Just done the cpc theory with top marks. Got the other theories in a couple of weeks. Pretty sure this is the line of work I want to get into so just trying to get myself motivated as its a lot of money to spend without knowing what you intend to do afterwards.

When you park up at the port do they not mind if you clear off for a while. Is it like RDC’s when they take your keys? Do they give you a ring when the contained loaded/unloaded?

Ever port is different, but none of them can you just clear off. Southampton, Tilbury, Liverpool and London Gateway you have slots to go in to wait for your box, usually it’s around half an hour until you’re out again. Felixstowe and Portbury you need to go to where your box is and they’ll lift it on there, zoom right in and you’ll see the bays are numbered by the stack.

ContainerBoy:
Thanks for the input guys. Getting a better idea of it now.

Now I don’t have licence yet. Just done the cpc theory with top marks. Got the other theories in a couple of weeks. Pretty sure this is the line of work I want to get into so just trying to get myself motivated as its a lot of money to spend without knowing what you intend to do afterwards.

When you park up at the port do they not mind if you clear off for a while. Is it like RDC’s when they take your keys? Do they give you a ring when the contained loaded/unloaded?

No container terminals you stay on site. They’re very large. Been a few years since been on one but doubt they’ve changed. You can’t walk around them as they’re dicey places. Lots of rules. Only time I got out the cab was to book in at the gate and once on port was after I’d backed onto the lane.

Procedure has changed since this daresay but gives you an idea. For instance at the isle of grain terminal you were given a magnetic card at check in and told your lane. You’d drive through the gatehouses, round to the loading lanes and back onto your number when it was free. Once on you’d get out, go to a card reading machine next to the lane, tap it so it would know you’re there, undo your twist locks and then go and wait away from the lorries. The huge overhead robot crane would come and position itself over the lorry, a bloke with a hand held remote would do the final bits and take off the empty, press a button and the automatic crane would zoom off with your empty and return with your next one.

Always funny seeing someone who forgot the twist locks. I only saw it once and the whole thing got about 2 feet in the air. The bloke on the remote could be a bit keen and if he’d been hasty and pressed the “over to you robot crane” button the whole lot would’ve been sent away at 100feet to the container stacks

It’s at places you go to to deliver and load you can often get out and about. Not so much big distribution centres but I rarely went to these. But you go to a lot of small import businesses that don’t care if you leave and they’ll ring you when tipped. It was a doddle, maybe still is

It’s just I have seen a few comments about having to wait hours and hours, going into town to waste time, etc… Would you know your time slot before you arrive? If not and you got there and found out you have hours to wait do you have to hang around and watch a screen to see when you are being called so in that situation you can’t just bugger off into town for a while? So you only drive into the port proper when you are about to be loaded or unloaded. Rest of the time you’ll be in a queue or some other parking/waiting area?

ContainerBoy:
It’s just I have seen a few comments about having to wait hours and hours, going into town to waste time, etc…

1/ Would you know your time slot before you arrive?

2/ If not and you got there and found out you have hours to wait do you have to hang around and watch a screen to see when you are being called so in that situation you can’t just bugger off into town for a while?

3/ So you only drive into the port proper when you are about to be loaded or unloaded. Rest of the time you’ll be in a queue or some other parking/waiting area?

I’ve broken it down into numbers to try and answer

1/ Are you talking about at deliveries?

Most places want you to turn up at a booking in time or a time window.

2/ No screens at deliveries I ever went to, like I say pretty low tech. Even distribution centres (rarely did these), you just had to wait on a bay for a green light. That’s the worst, going to distribution centres or industrial places and having to wait in a stinking waiting room. Wasn’t common to go to these places though.

Kind of places you go to to deliver they can be pretty low key affairs. Might be a warehouse in some old mill in Manchester with a scruffy looking import firm. I used to go to a farm in the linc wolds that imported quad bikes. Inside the box would be full of these little Suzuki quads . You’ll ask them how long and theyll give you a rough idea. Sometimes you’ve been before and know xyz place took 3 hours.

Waiting at the port can be very quick, in and out. Or sometimes a very long wait. The isle of grain used to have a cafe with the registrations appearing on a monitor when it was your turn. Not sure how other places do it now.

Sometimes you’d go to places like British steel at port talbot or the China clay works in Cornwall to load and it would be in and out. Main bulk of work was small firms which was really good. Swings and round abouts

3/ I only ever was back and forward to the same port, occasionally Felixstowe as we ran for evergreen. Really was a case of pick box up, take it somewhere, back again. Or pick empty up from terminal take it somewhere to be loaded and return. Some places do a bit more dicking around in between like going to rail terminals. I only did that once.

There really isn’t any quizz to it. It was the easiest job I’d ever had in my life

You not doing containers now?

ContainerBoy:
You not doing containers now?

No I left road transport after that. It put me off. Joking

I used to carry an old slr film camera and made sure I got lots of snaps on my last few weeks. Great fun.

Freight Dog:

ContainerBoy:
You not doing containers now?

No I left road transport after that. It put me off. Joking

I used to carry an old slr film camera and made sure I got lots of snaps on my last few weeks. Great fun.

10/10 for not showing off about the new career

Isle of Grain sounds well ahead of it’s time. The only port ahead of that today is Gateway, all the cranes are fully automated there.

DJC:

Freight Dog:

ContainerBoy:
You not doing containers now?

No I left road transport after that. It put me off. Joking

I used to carry an old slr film camera and made sure I got lots of snaps on my last few weeks. Great fun.

10/10 for not showing off about the new career

Isle of Grain sounds well ahead of it’s time. The only port ahead of that today is Gateway, all the cranes are fully automated there.

Ha no God nowt to show about . Now If I was a kept man and dating Kelly Brook I’d be all over that

Yeah that was 2004 they were pretty good actually! Did the Grain shut?

Grain is well close to closing, very little there now, all the automatic cranes are gone, only lanes k,l,m I think you get your box on now, or over at the left hand side, near the railtrack, Gateway put paid to that.

Sapper

I’ve been doing container work for about twelve years now and will continue to do so till I retire , not long now. It is a good job for a newbie, but still needs care some can be unstable and badly loaded. I rarely pick boxes up from ports most of mine come from rail terminals. This is often where you need to be a mind reader.
The boxes are mostly lifted on and off by a lifter a type of very large telescopic fork lift and sometimes by overhead cranes. As some one said make sure the twistlocks are set right, I’ve seen a few trailers lifted up including my own once, one twistlock not fully open. If you are having a box put on make sure the trailer is the right length for the box.
Emptying the container is some one else’s problem you just take it to the address on the paper work. It mostly takes between thirty minutes and three hours, but some times a lot longer. Container doors can be a complete and utter pain in the arse some times, they don’t want to open and they don’t want to close. A lump hammer can be very handy and some times a fork lift to shove them.
There are days when I do very little, last Monday I drove from Sheffield to Durham spent about two and a half hours there then drove back and went home. Yesterday was the other end of the scale I had four different containers on and went to seven different sites two of them twice.
all for now as I have to go.

I have been into Aldi & Lidl where it is self tip with a container

But it really depends where you live I often pick up from Middlesborough ( Teesport ) don’t worry if not been before just let them know at the gate most are pretty good tbh will tell you where & how to go on but if in doubt ask there is normally people around to help

The only real problem is the door as has been said they can be a pain to open & close