A bit of an update

NEW AND WANNABE DRIVERS (INTERACTIVE)
1

Well, it’s amazing how time flies :open_mouth: I just thought i’d put a bit of an update for you all :sunglasses:
Since October I have been offered a variety of different C+E jobs as you could expect at this time of year…I hope this continues after the festive season :sunglasses: So far I have driven curtain sider, box vans, containers, temperature controlled units, Manual gearboxes, automatic & semi automatic, the latter being a very interesting gearstick comprizing of a gearstick , two switches & a button :open_mouth: :confused: :sunglasses: but me, being me, was happy to give it a go :stuck_out_tongue: So after a brief explanation of what to press when :sunglasses: from the guy who useually drives it, So with vehicle checks done, I set about reversing coupling upto a container unit, no problems there :smiley: Already to go, it was for me to follow another driver to our destination, drop containers & bring back another container :sunglasses:
Heading off through the gate out the depot, turning at the T junction & up the hill…simple enough :smiley: If ever there was a time I wished my hands were bigger …it was then!! :blush: I also had clutch on the floor as well !! :stuck_out_tongue:. Juggler springs to mind :open_mouth: :open_mouth: With a bit of fumbleing I managed to get sorted through the lower gears :blush: ajusting accordingly to the weight of the vehicle, speed, & the hill I had to get it up :unamused: :wink:
Once we headed on down the main road, & got into the higher gears, it was ‘plain sailing’ with only the useuall ‘driver awareness’ pending traffic, road conditions, etc,etc. With no instructions on where I was headed for, I had to keep the other driver in veiw…they’d gone :open_mouth:lost in dense traffic :arrow_right: On the motorway, I wasn’t too alarmed because usually at some stage it’s likley you will meet again as it is effectivly one long road , if your are headed out some distance :sunglasses: & sure enough within about half an hour I overtook them , so all was well, & luckily without too much difficulty keep each others vehicles in sight, wether near or some distance away…in the dark! :open_mouth:
Off to the different container areas, following their strict instructions, reversed up ,twist locks off ,into bay…one off , one on, paperwork sorted ,twist locks on, job done ready for home :smiley: Saftey awareness is paramount & must be stricktly adheard to at ALL times :sunglasses: :sunglasses:
What the weather didn’t throw at us that night isn’t worth a mention…there was wind in some parts ,{{{{{ freezing }}}} icey road conditions, the fields sparkled in the dark so thick was the layer of frost, freezing fog was thick too, hindering the journey for a good distance, black ice in many places too, the conditions costantley reminding of the importance to be aware & adjust your driving in accordence to road & traffic conditions :sunglasses: :sunglasses: …Hey we didn’t have any rain!!! :grimacing:
Back to the depot, reversed onto bay, good job done :smiley: Now to start work…scapping the thick ice off me windscreen to get home!! :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:

2

Hi bonnie lass ,
Many thanks for the very interesting reading. :slight_smile:
Perhaps you only made one mistake . :unamused: Remember to place a sheet of plastic across the windscreen of your own vehicle next time there is an overnight frost. :blush:

Errr…tin hat ( and top coat ) at the ready for me . :unamused:

Cheers, cattle wagon man.

3

cattle wagon man:
Hi bonnie lass ,
Many thanks for the very interesting reading. :slight_smile:
Perhaps you only made one mistake . :unamused: Remember to place a sheet of plastic across the windscreen of your own vehicle next time there is an overnight frost. :blush:

Errr…tin hat ( and top coat ) at the ready for me . :unamused:

Cheers, cattle wagon man.

Or newspaper

4

cattle wagon man:
Hi bonnie lass ,
Many thanks for the very interesting reading. :slight_smile:
Perhaps you only made one mistake . :unamused: Remember to place a sheet of plastic across the windscreen of your own vehicle next time there is an overnight frost. :blush:

Errr…tin hat ( and top coat ) at the ready for me . :unamused:

Cheers, cattle wagon man.

Hi CWM, glad you found it interesting :smiley: , it can be difficult writting some topics due to keeping company privacy/confidentiality type of things if you get what I mean :sunglasses:
As it happens, it didn’t appear to be heading towards a frost, when I left the depot I was contemplating going without a jumper, I was plenty warm enough…glad I chucked me jumper & coat in just in case, I did need them a few hours drive from the depot :open_mouth:

animal:

cattle wagon man:
Hi bonnie lass ,
Many thanks for the very interesting reading. :slight_smile:
Perhaps you only made one mistake . :unamused: Remember to place a sheet of plastic across the windscreen of your own vehicle next time there is an overnight frost. :blush:

Errr…tin hat ( and top coat ) at the ready for me . :unamused:

Cheers, cattle wagon man.

Or newspaper

The frost & ice was realy thick, newspaper would have only stuck to windscrean, I’ve tried that another winter ago in desperation …it didn’t work :frowning: Usually I have a piece of carpet(not the foam back stuff), or I use warm water , only the building was locked when I arrived back :neutral_face: :unamused: :unamused:

5

Hi bonnie lass,
I would advise against using warm water onto an iced-up windscreen.
The sudden contact of warm water onto glass weakens it and can result in shattering. :open_mouth: :frowning:
Nowt of a job then, driving without a windscreen in summer ,…and worse in winter . :blush: :unamused:

Cheers, ( bbbbbrrrrrrr ), cattle wagon man.

6

Glad you have got some work. It seems like you are settling in well. Just goes to show that doing WnD on test can lead to plenty of mainstream work (for all the doubters out there).

Looking forward to more good news :slight_smile:

7

cattle wagon man:
Hi bonnie lass,
I would advise against using warm water onto an iced-up windscreen.
The sudden contact of warm water onto glass weakens it and can result in shattering. :open_mouth: :frowning:
Nowt of a job then, driving without a windscreen in summer ,…and worse in winter . :blush: :unamused:

Cheers, ( bbbbbrrrrrrr ), cattle wagon man.

Hi CWM, thanks, I’ll bear that in mind :sunglasses: I’ve been doing it that way for a number of years now, but as you so rightly say ,there is a good risk of one day the glass may shatter :open_mouth: & in the odd event when I have had a windscreen shatter years ago, it has been a stone ,or steel nut thrown up by a passing vehicle…Oh yes, it surley was cold even in the summer without a windscreen :open_mouth: :frowning:

dar1976:
Glad you have got some work. It seems like you are settling in well. Just goes to show that doing WnD on test can lead to plenty of mainstream work (for all the doubters out there).

Looking forward to more good news :slight_smile:

Hi dar, got to keep trying for work, although I am offered a lot of days here & there, there is only so much work I can take on at the moment, alongside my current contract-which is destine to finish not too many months in the future :confused: :sunglasses: :frowning: I am hoping however that maybe I can get sorted with a full time ,on going placement somewhere, in the meantime i’m just cracking on gaining as much experience as poss :smiley:
Yep, there have always been doubters of the wagon & drag , but what I say is , I have not been short of genuine offers for C+E work since passing my test in September with Peter Smythe, I’m happy with that :smiley: :smiley:

Good training foundations build good drivers :smiley:

How’re you doing yourself these days, all good I hope :smiley:
Happy Trucking :smiley: :smiley: :smiley:

8

I am plating cars and vans up and down the country at the moment. Saving to do the OCPC in March. Big things to come in the not too distant future hopefully :slight_smile:

9

get as much experience as you can would be my advice because, although i’ve been driving 12/13 years i stayed with my first employer 11 of them most happy days :smiley: but when i decided it was time to move on i thought rather naively i could walk straight in to another driving job :blush: how wrong was i. it would appear that loyalty counts for nothing. so grab it while you can when you can

10

Sounds like your doing a good job and getting asked back , thats the key as long as you get the job done and bring the vehs back with all the paint on :wink: you will earn a reputation as reliable and that counts for so much , I was driving back last night and from m42 all way down m40 and a34 could of done with rudolf lol pea souper , had about inch of frost around mirror arms lol , really pleased everything going your way , agree with your comment about getting a good trainer thats what makes the difference , keep up the good work enjoy

11

dar1976:
I am plating cars and vans up and down the country at the moment. Saving to do the OCPC in March. Big things to come in the not too distant future hopefully :slight_smile:

Good on yer dar, pleased to see your out & doing, & enjoying I hope :smiley: I was thinking about doing OCPC, but decided not to in the end, But Hey,… I wish you well with yours, you’ve a level head on your shoulders, I’m sure you’ll do well :sunglasses:Good luck with it :smiley: :smiley:

tinytrucker77:
get as much experience as you can would be my advice because, although i’ve been driving 12/13 years i stayed with my first employer 11 of them most happy days :smiley: but when i decided it was time to move on i thought rather naively i could walk straight in to another driving job :blush: how wrong was i. it would appear that loyalty counts for nothing. so grab it while you can when you can

Hi tinytrucker, Thanks for the advise , I am doing any kind of driving job that’s offered, within my legal work boundries, the more different types of jobs I can get …the better!! :smiley: :smiley:. As you say…it’s not always loyalty that gets you another job, even though it suggests you are of good character :sunglasses: I’ll keep on trying :smiley: :smiley:

Jennie:
Sounds like your doing a good job and getting asked back , thats the key as long as you get the job done and bring the vehs back with all the paint on :wink: you will earn a reputation as reliable and that counts for so much , I was driving back last night and from m42 all way down m40 and a34 could of done with rudolf lol pea souper , had about inch of frost around mirror arms lol , really pleased everything going your way , agree with your comment about getting a good trainer thats what makes the difference , keep up the good work enjoy

Hi Jennie, the jobs deffo done good & properly with me…& the paint is still all good too :smiley: :smiley: It sure as 'eck was cold the other night driving down the motorways …window down :frowning: not always from choice :confused: I’ve never come across a window soooo quick to drop totally in point summat of a second :open_mouth: :open_mouth: Then the icey BLAST hits yer :open_mouth: leaving yer a shivering wreck!! :frowning: :blush: Dunno about everything going my way! :confused: I’m here there & everywhere, & very often meet myself going through the front door, lol :open_mouth: :laughing: :laughing:
I could do with a house husband…I’m forgetting how to work the hoover!! :stuck_out_tongue: :laughing: :laughing: How’s things with you jennie …all going good for you I hope :smiley:

12

bonnie lass:
Hi Jennie, the jobs deffo done good & properly with me…& the paint is still all good too :smiley: :smiley: It sure as 'eck was cold the other night driving down the motorways …window down :frowning: not always from choice :confused: I’ve never come across a window soooo quick to drop totally in point summat of a second :open_mouth: :open_mouth: Then the icey BLAST hits yer :open_mouth: leaving yer a shivering wreck!! :frowning: :blush: Dunno about everything going my way! :confused: I’m here there & everywhere, & very often meet myself going through the front door, lol :open_mouth: :laughing: :laughing:
I could do with a house husband…I’m forgetting how to work the hoover!! :stuck_out_tongue: :laughing: :laughing: How’s things with you jennie …all going good for you I hope :smiley:

Doing fine at the mo ta , doing the odd trunk up to Fradley Park at the moment, really enjoy it , the motors are brand new volvos so have a comfy drive all the way up and then really easy scan through the shed unload then wait around for my back load to be ready then back to base ,all the drivers are really nice guys so get to have a chat whilst getting a coffee, was really lucky getting this job as the other night driver is a really good bloke, when first went up made sure I knew where to go and what to do , and he always makes sure im ok before he leaves as he gets loaded first ,
the reversing is now a lot easier for me , after all the worrying about not getting it, just came good on its own , normally take a green trailer with southern storage on the side with a white unit so if you ever see it late at night give us a flash , fri night into sat morning was hell driving back that fog was really thick in places but at least it wasnt raining lol , but boy was it cold :open_mouth: took me till sat night and bath to warm back up :laughing:
Im so glad your enjoying it and getting a varied work load , makes life interesting , dont work too hard :wink:

jx

13

Jennie:

bonnie lass:
Hi Jennie, the jobs deffo done good & properly with me…& the paint is still all good too :smiley: :smiley: It sure as 'eck was cold the other night driving down the motorways …window down :frowning: not always from choice :confused: I’ve never come across a window soooo quick to drop totally in point summat of a second :open_mouth: :open_mouth: Then the icey BLAST hits yer :open_mouth: leaving yer a shivering wreck!! :frowning: :blush: Dunno about everything going my way! :confused: I’m here there & everywhere, & very often meet myself going through the front door, lol :open_mouth: :laughing: :laughing:
I could do with a house husband…I’m forgetting how to work the hoover!! :stuck_out_tongue: :laughing: :laughing: How’s things with you jennie …all going good for you I hope :smiley:

Doing fine at the mo ta , doing the odd trunk up to Fradley Park at the moment, really enjoy it , the motors are brand new volvos so have a comfy drive all the way up and then really easy scan through the shed unload then wait around for my back load to be ready then back to base ,all the drivers are really nice guys so get to have a chat whilst getting a coffee, was really lucky getting this job as the other night driver is a really good bloke, when first went up made sure I knew where to go and what to do , and he always makes sure im ok before he leaves as he gets loaded first ,
the reversing is now a lot easier for me , after all the worrying about not getting it, just came good on its own , normally take a green trailer with southern storage on the side with a white unit so if you ever see it late at night give us a flash , fri night into sat morning was hell driving back that fog was really thick in places but at least it wasnt raining lol , but boy was it cold :open_mouth: took me till sat night and bath to warm back up :laughing:
Im so glad your enjoying it and getting a varied work load , makes life interesting , dont work too hard :wink:

jx

Sounds like your on a cushty number there jennie, it certainly makes life easier if you enjoy the type of work your doing, I’ll keep a look out for you on the road :smiley: though I never know where or when I’m going to be headed for :unamused: :unamused: :smiley:
Happy trucking lass :smiley:

14

Can’t tell you how it feels to read threads like this knowing that I helped most of the contributors gain their licence!

Then I read other posts where people are moaning about the old lorry they’re training in and how hard it is to get gears etc. Just confirms I believe we’re doing the job right.

All the best, Pete :laughing: :laughing:

15

Peter Smythe:
Can’t tell you how it feels to read threads like this knowing that I helped most of the contributors gain their licence!

Then I read other posts where people are moaning about the old lorry they’re training in and how hard it is to get gears etc. Just confirms I believe we’re doing the job right.

All the best, Pete :laughing: :laughing:

Peter ive said it before you go above and beond and will always sing your praises :smiley: :smiley: your definatly doing the job for the right reasons :sunglasses:

16

Peter Smythe:
Can’t tell you how it feels to read threads like this knowing that I helped most of the contributors gain their licence!

Then I read other posts where people are moaning about the old lorry they’re training in and how hard it is to get gears etc. Just confirms I believe we’re doing the job right.

All the best, Pete :laughing: :laughing:

Peter ive said it before you go above and beond and will always sing your praises :smiley: :smiley: your definatly doing the job for the right reasons :sunglasses:

17

Peter Smythe:
Can’t tell you how it feels to read threads like this knowing that I helped most of the contributors gain their licence!

Then I read other posts where people are moaning about the old lorry they’re training in and how hard it is to get gears etc. Just confirms I believe we’re doing the job right.

All the best, Pete :laughing: :laughing:

Hi Pete, I CAN tell you how it feels to have had a realy great trainer with a lot of years of experience, who puts every effort & all skill into every minute of every day’s training, unreservedly, & as jennie says …‘above & beyond’, right up to the desired result…a PASS :smiley: :smiley: :smiley:

it feels absolutely…

FANTASTIC

Thank you very very much Peter for all the effort you put into training me, I’m still so over the moon from my C+E pass :grimacing: & excited for what my driving future now holds for me, many thanks Pete :smiley: :smiley: :smiley: