Reading JTF’s thread, I felt it would be good to diary my week this week. Especially as I will be relocating next week from Inverness to Glasgow. Therefore this will be my best chance to do this.
Have worked with my employer 10yrs on and off. Always office based. Recently they have expanded into light plant, required lots of class C drivers and offered training to existing staff. So start of July 2014 I passed class C with just three minors. We only use little 12t Daf LF’s with hydraulic ramps and air suspension. Lots of safety kit, cameras, warning buzzers, sidescan etc. annoying but actually really useful.
So 0710: arrive in yard and see I’m loaded already. Just the one tower light for RAF Lossiemouth. Clock in, coffee made, card in tachometer 07:25. Daily checks are done and dusted quickly. All ok. Straps out and climb aboard. Just the one required as the lorry has a tow pin for securing towable plant.
- Ready to roll. Quick chat to see if the other drivers need a hand and I’m free to go. Our mob are pretty heavy on monitoring speeds so it’s the long 40mph drag out to Elgin. I tucked in behind our other lorry so it looks like it’s his fault were going so slow
RAF bases can be a pain. You need an ■■■■■■ to get on. So pull up at gate just after 9. Call the contact. 2mins later and I get a chap on the window. Were good to go. Usually takes 20min! Forkie was busy so I winch the light down the ramp. Deafened by the fighter jet starting his engine 30ft from me! 
0925. Pass posted in at the gate and it’s back to Inverness. Decide to stop for brekkie first. Nip into Asda hoping for a hot roll. Nothing!! So a ham sarnie it is. 15 break done.
1100: back in depot hoping for a good second run. My tray is empty. Not good. After trying to look busy I get a collection for a skyjack platform. I dropped it at an industrial unit round the corner on Friday. Customer complaining it wasn’t suitable. Well It does have stickers all over it warning you it won’t work on an incline! The yard is on a slope. Mmmm.
1230: lunch, soup n pie.
1300: Nothing ready, so I start fishing for stuff to do. I overhear that we need a 3t excavator from Peterhead and they need a 1t dumper from us. I quickly work out that I could do it in my driving and duty hours. Manager says no O/T this month. I negotiate an early finish Friday instead. So start to load. Dumper doesn’t even turn over. Been sat for three month. Jump required. Have to wait for paperwork.
14:20 finally on the road. It’s gona be tight. Takes 3 and a bit hrs to get to Peterhead. I push my luck with speed somewhat and roll in to Peterhead with 2hr 56min showing. Dumper needed a jump again to get it off. Loaded and strapped excavator in record time. 8 mins after pulling in I’m away again.
17:45 another 15 break at another Asda. 
1810, heading for home. Just outside Aviemore. So head for Keith. Got hour and a half left on tacho so take it easier. Pull into Shell Garage at Keith with 8min left. Coffee n half hour to kill. Annoying as I’m only an hour or so from home where a curry is sitting waiting for me 
21:12 , Home at last. Just shy of a 14hr shift and into a 10hr drive. Longest shift since I started.
I didn’t take any pics today. Didn’t fancy being at the wrong end of a rifle in Lossiemouth! 
Hopefully get some pics tomorrow. Not much planned yet. However most of our work is same day rather than planned.
If your not bored to death I will update throughout the week.
cracking diary mate, try to get a few pics along the way 
